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Geelong Deanery |
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Your Sorrow Is My Sorrow: A Book ReviewYour Sorrow Is My Sorrow, Joyce Rupp, Crossroad, $24.95, 183 pages Sr Joyce Rupp is a bestselling author in the field of contemporary Christian spiritual guidance, possibly best known for her book May I Have This Dance? Her latest publication, Your Sorrow Is My Sorrow: Hope and Strength in Times of Suffering, is a deeply felt companion for those seeking strength and inspiration in the amidst of suffering. Sr Rupp is a member the Servants of Mary community. In this book she draws freshly on her Servite tradition to reflect in depth on the sorrows of Mary, and has come to a profound appreciation of Mary as the embodiment of divine compassion. The author writes: ‘The painful pieces of Mary’s life help us to get through our own rough-edged moments. We see how she too questioned what was confusing and unclear, how she needed others to be with her in her pain, how she reflected on her experiences in order to find meaning. We also see how her faith sustained her, and how her son gave her the strength to endure. We discover that we are not alone in what is most difficult for us.’ The seven traditional sorrows of Mary presented by Rupp are: The prophecy of Simeon, The flight into Egypt, The loss of the child Jesus in the Temple, Mary meets Jesus carrying his cross, Mary stands beneath the cross of Jesus, Mary receives the dead body of Jesus, and Jesus is laid in the tomb. A chapter is devoted to each sorrow, consisting of: (1) An imaginative account of Mary’s experience told as if in her own words, (2) a lengthy reflection that makes links between our experiences and those of Mary, (3) six original poetic prayers, (4) a guided meditation, and (5) a series of questions for personal reflection and/or group discussion. Crucial to Rupp’s presentation is her understanding of Mary not simply as a historical and biblical figure, but also as symbolic of ourselves and others. ‘The qualities of Mary as the eternal feminine are symbolic of the qualities within us, whether we are male or female. Likewise, her sorrows can also be metaphors for the difficulties we experience in our lives. By entering into Mary’s sorrows we can find there a vast resource of courage and wisdom. These painful pieces of Mary’s life can enable us to find meaning and inspiration.’ The attractively presented volume includes illustrations by Mary Southard CSJ. Kevin Mark |
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