Margaret Silf

Excellent, excellent book for the person who longs to know the movements or workings of their interior life. The book offers concrete ways to discover ourselves and the way we make choices with the ultimate aim of setting us on course toward interior freedom - something God greatly desires for all of us. It comes about as we dip deeper into our heart and discover and rediscover our deepest authentic desire. That desire is authored by God at our earliest formation. Hence, we are set free to be who we truly are created to be. This seems to be the great theme of the book. But it is not just a tell us book. It offers exercises, methods, tips and imaginative stories for the reader to try out and look into. It does this without being dogmatic or pushy. All of it is a gentle aid to us to help us on the journey of self-discovery. There, if we're open and willing to risk, we will likely discover a loving God we never imagined so loving.… (more)

This is a great introduction to the profound insights of St. Ignatius of Loyola's "Spiritual Exercises." Margaret Silf is an amazing story teller and creative writer. She introduces the reader to the life story of St. Ignatius and how it gave rise to the exercises. The majority of the book reflects on the First Week of the exercises which center on learning to discern the inner movements of our hearts. Only when we reach the very end does she introduce the Second, Third, and Fourth Weeks touching only briefly on the heart of those exercises. Each chapter ends with a dozen or so suggestions for prayer and reflection. Therefore, this is a book that you digest over a long period of time. This book really is a companion for your inner journey. As Silf writes,

"Take it gently, and enjoy the landscape as you go ... The more you savor the journey, the more you will benefit from it."… (more)