Overview

Edited by Anne McCarthy, Linda Romey, Jacqueline Sanchez-Small, and Katie Gordon

…if we’re wise we find a book like this one …with every hope we ever dreamed, and every word we remember of its insights, and all the joy and possibility it ever brought to all our wishes and all the promises we promised before these times to celebrate the rest of life.--from the Afterword by Joan Chittister, OSB

“Encounter Mary Lou’s phenomenal gift for turning hearts gently to the beauty and sacred all around us, and for courageous acceptance of death while relishing life with joyful endless curiosity and gratitude.”ꟷDr. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland 1997-2011; professor emeritus, Children, Law & Religion, University of Glasgow 

“If you're lucky, over the course of your lifetime you get to walk some of the way with people who know just what word to offer you. I'm thrilled new readers will get the opportunity I had to experience the accompaniment of Mary Lou.” ꟷJohnny Zokovitch, executive director, Pax Christi USA

“Mary Lou Kownacki's fierce tenderness and prophetic vulnerability resonate deeply.” ꟷKate McElwee, executive director, Women's Ordination Conference

“One of our greatest teachers of a spirituality of nonviolence. Mary Lou’s book is one I will return to for insight and consolation on the everyday journey of peace.” ꟷRev. John Dear, author, The Gospel of Peace; director, www.beatitudescenter.org

“Mary Lou Kownacki’s journal is a treasure.” ꟷMarie Dennis, Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, Pax Christi International

“Mary Lou Kownacki proves here, once again, that she is just the kind of healer we need today.” ꟷMickey McGrath, OSFS, artist, author, story-teller, and speaker

“Here’s the mystic, fully engaged, in wonder, in pursuit of justice, in endless questions, seeing God’s face in all of it.”  ꟷTom Roberts, former editor, National Catholic Reporter

Mary Lou Kownacki, a Benedictine nun and writing partner of Joan Chittister, was an activist in the Christian nonviolence movement and blogger of “Old Monk’s Journal” a 12-year collection of personal and spiritual writings offering rare glimpses into monastic life and the best-loved feature of the Monasteries of the Heart website.

These lovingly chosen selections including those when Kownacki was nearing the end of her life, offer timeless wisdom on faith, community, activism, and the things that truly matter.

Mary Lou Kownacki (1942-2023), a Benedictine Sister of Erie, shared the Gospel’s call to peace, justice, and beauty with her city and the world. An activist, she led Benedictines for Peace and Pax Christi USA; a visionary, she founded a children’s arts program and a soup kitchen; a poet, she wrote several books, including A Monk in the Inner City. She collaborated with Joan Chittister for decades, in their writings and through Monasteries of the Heart (monasteriesoftheheart.org) and Benetvision (joanchittister.org).

Cover Design: Ponie Sheehan

Cover Art: Helena Hertz_Unsplash

Also Of Interest

Related Materials

Click Here For The Table Of Contents

Click Here For Chapter 1