In the Footprints of Loneliness by Catherine Doherty

by Catherine de Hueck Doherty

Meditations--when you hear an echo in your heart. The greatest pain of the world today is loneliness. Loneliness is a part of the journey of faith. When loneliness comes upon you, you want to go and hide in some corner--self-pity carries you like a big, huge wave on a beach all full of stones. You see that beach in your mind and you think you are going to be broken up on the rocks... But in the depths of every heart there is a garden enclosed. This garden is Gethsemane, and the enclosure is a meeting place for the Beloved, God. If you enter into this garden, you will hear the incredible sounds that Jesus the heartbeats of God. God put loneliness in your heart so that you would hunger for him, and learn that unity with him brings unity with all. Catherine Doherty experienced what it was like to be alone and abandoned. Now, she shares meditations written in her poustinia and in the hustle of her life dedicated to the poor. Out of these experiences over many years came this book--which she fervently hoped would offer consolation to those who have trod the footprints of loneliness in their walks of faith.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Ekaterina Fyodorovna Kolyschkine Doherty, better known as Catherine Doherty, CM (1896-1985) was a social activist and foundress of the Madonna House Apostolate. A pioneer of social justice and a renowned national speaker, Catherine was also a prolific writer of hundreds of articles, best-selling author of dozens of books, and a dedicated wife and mother. Her cause for canonization as a saint is under consideration by the Catholic Church.

Reviews

[Kara Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled a bit with this book--it wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was both simplistic and yet super complex. It was somewhat more philosophical rather than practical. I think essentially it didn't offer a lot of solutions for certain kinds of loneliness, like a lot of times it didnt go deep enoguh or directly answer my particular struggles. I feel like I'd have to reread the book a few times to truly get it.

Some things I did highlight though:

"One can go through life with shallow greetings and senseless questions, but if you try to love this type of person, his "Hi" interferes. This person does not want to shed his loneliness nor reveal himself. He doesn't want to communicate even with the people he's in love with or who love him." (54)

"It is very simple--we have lost the ability to laugh, to enjoy ourselves. We have lost the joy of the simple things that were so good. The evenings with father and mother when little children were told fairy tales and went to sleep dreaming the beautiful ladies and the like." (63)

"First of all I have learned to differentiate between solitude and loneliness. There is a vast difference between loneliness and solitude, an incredible difference between loneliness and those who choose to enter into the silence of God. These two must never be confused because their confusion leads to more loneliness into defiance of faith." (67)

"There is television, the mechanical friend....it is a monster that swallows up people whole.....Television precludes any type of friendship except the empty greeting....One returns loaded down with packages from different stores, sets them on the table, sits down, and nonetheless remains in an abysmal loneliness." (68-69)

"Self-pity is a deadly thing. It kills all understanding, because once I wrap myself up in the mantle of self-pity, I am blind and as deaf as portrayed in the gospel." (79)

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Doherty, foundress of the Madonna House apostolate, provides short, poignant reflections on the role of loneliness in the life of Christians. This little booklet served me well as a devotional for my daily prayer time.

I especially appreciated her distinguishing between two kinds of loneliness: the "loneliness of God", which is our heart's yearning for its Creator and Redeemer and is a good thing; and earthly loneliness, which is not a good thing but is rather the consequence of our isolation from each other and from God.

Short and thoughtful.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful gentle meditations on loneliness, and how they can be a place to meet God.