DAY-BY-DAY, ALL YEAR ROUND
<body> <table border="0" width="180" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="180" align="left" colspan="2" valign="bottom"> <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0px"><font face="Montserrat" size="1">TITLE</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="180" align="left" colspan="2" valign="top"> <p style="margin-top: -2px; margin-bottom: 2px"><b> <font face="Montserrat" size="2">THE BREATH OF THE SOUL</font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="180" align="left" colspan="2"> <font face="Montserrat" size="1">AUTHOR</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="180" align="left" colspan="2"> <p style="margin-top: -2px; margin-bottom: 2px"><b> <font face="Montserrat" size="2">JOAN CHITTISTER</font></b></td> </tr> </table> </body>

THE BREATH OF THE SOUL
JOAN CHITTISTER

The North American, award-winning author and Benedictine nun Joan Chittister is one of the most popular names of our day; not only by her books, which make a great emphasis on prayer, but also by her ministry as a world-class speaker.

The Portuguese publication of The Breath of the Soul by Paulinas Editora actually incorporates two books: The Breath of the Soul and God’s Tender Mercy.

The first one comprises forty-two reflections over time spent with God, which can help us acquire the right attitudes for prayer. In The Breath of the Soul, the author bases each section on a sentence from historical mentors in spirituality, from Julian of Norwich to Francis of Assisi, and then conferring her own personal touch, complementing it with a daily mnemonic, before finishing with a portion of Scripture. She suggests that these lessons should be read without following a definite order, but according to the reader’s interests.

The second, shorter part of this book delves into mercy, as well as the guilt and healing associated to it. According to the Portuguese publisher, this “2-in-1” book format is totally reasonable as it allows a broader look to the author’s full work, which calls for a mature spiritual walk.

Father Tolentino Mendonça praises Chittister as being a relevant author for those who seek inspiration and spirituality, “as was Thomas Merton in his time [read article on p. 29], or more recently, Henri Nouwen [p.20]”


THE BREATH OF THE SOUL, BY JOAN CHITTISTER, PUBLISHED BY PAULINAS EDITORA, LISBON