The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality

Summary: A discussion of Christian spirituality rooted in an understanding of desire and the incarnation.

I owe the discovery of this book to my sister, who first asked me if I was familiar with the work of Ronald Rolheiser. I’m so glad she asked because it led to the discovery of this work on the nature of Christian spirituality. In it, I discovered a writer able to express profound ideas in clear terms. It reveals to me someone who has lived through to the simplicity on the other side of complexity.

Far from the denial or suppression of desire, Rolheiser recognizes that desire, or eros is a fire within us and central to our spirituality. He expresses it in this way:

“Spirituality is about what we do with the fire inside us, about how show more we channel our eros. And how we do channel it, the disciplines and habits we choose to live by, will either lead to a greater integration or disintegration within our bodies, minds, and souls, and to a greater integration or disintegration in the way we are related to God, others, and the cosmic world.” show less

Again, Rolheiser -- a Catholic priest in the Order of Mary Immaculate, based in San Antonio, Texas -- gets at the deeper issues surrounding our desire for a felt-sense of God. This book might be good for those who find themselves in the "dark night," spiritually, who feel as though they don't know where God is leading them or why they're being led there. All of Rolheiser's books emphasize God's mercy, profligate love, and unfailing presence, without placating, pandering, or giving false reassurances. With the one small nit being that he uses the word "inchoate" WAY too often, this is another excellent book by Fr. Ron.

Audience: Mature persons of faith who may find themselves in the dark night of the senses or a dark night of faith. This show more book is full of reality—takes a very practical approach to faith—and, as such, provides a solid foundation for true Christian hope. show less

This is an excellent book for those struggling to define their spirituality and for those wanting to explore it. It is the most unique and quite possibly the most biblically honest exploration of the intimacy that Christ wants to have with us and wants us to have with one another. I would suggest that you read it carefullu, but eagerly!

Channeling the deep, mysterious desires of our hearts, Ronald Rolheiser leads readers from restlessness to peace, showing a contemporary path to authentic and healthy spiritual life--now featuring a new reader's guide!

Excellent book! Rolheiser writes for the ordinary person and makes your faith something personal.

This book is for those searching to understand spirituality and how to apply it to their own life.

This touched on so many issues in my own spiritual growth as a follower of Jesus!