He and I

by Gabrielle Bossis

In this timeless spiritual classic, readers share in the profound and touching experience of Gabrielle Bossis, a French nurse and playwright, as she hears the inner voice of Jesus in the core of her being.

Recorded in her diary from 1936 to 1950, their tender exchanges capture Jesus’s enduring presence in our daily lives, his insistence on serving others with kindness, and his encompassing love for humanity—and show that ordinary men, women, and children can experience an intimacy with Christ.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Spirituality, Faith, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 1969

About the author

Gabrielle Bossis (1874–1950) was a French Catholic laywoman, nurse, playwright, actress and mystic, best known for her mystical work Lui et Moi, published in a very abridged English translation as He and I.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this right after college and am reading it again now. Gabrielle Bossis was a French woman, a single actress, who had interior locutions and wrote them down in a diary. The spirituality in this book meshes with mine and builds me up and helps me focus with a great perspective. Good for morning meditations more than a straight read-through. One of my many favorite quotes from it is "The more Christian one is -- that is, the more one is Mine -- the kinder one is. So you be the kindest of all women." - Jesus to Gabrielle Bossis

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book on the love of Christ for a soul. It is the diary of a French woman, Gabrielle Bossis, and the locutions or intimations she had from Christ towards the end of her life. It is so beautiful it made me cry several times. Throughout the book you feel as if it is Christ talking personally to you and you are inspired to love Him back and make your life a beautiful gift for God.

This book could also be used as a springboard for mental prayer. There are many short entries that could be meditated on at length.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

My most favorite book if you want to grow closer to Jesus; amazing sensitivity -- many Wows!!
I read this book many years ago and bought copies for my Mom and sisters and gave it as gifts. Rereading and growing through it again.

[Caroline Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredibly beautiful, and I believe everyone should read this. I had never heard of Gabrielle Bossis before, and all would benefit greatly from the sweetness and tenderness of His voice to her. It’s literally like Jesus is your spiritual director for 307 pages. What a unique and wonderful opportunity. It’s His words to her the entire time (recorded from 1936 to her death in 1950), with no lay man as an author.
“When you try to speak to me of the past, I’ll place My hand over your mouth and you will hear words of tenderness and mercy that will melt your heart.”

[Priyanka Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

In LOVE with this book! I have read and re-read this book a few times now because there is so much depth between the lines that you simply cannot grasp with one go. I do admit I think this book is probably more suited to a spiritual audience since the author is a practicing Catholic. Even still, I think anyone would be able to appreciate the depth and beauty of her conversations with God, especially because she is not a nun in a convent but a budding writer and actress! It is not just a pretty icing on the cake version of her life, it also includes the difficult conversations she has with Jesus about her struggles and difficulties.

[Josefina Yolanda Ibarle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was reading the book, I could not help but feel God speaking directly to me. I could not read the book in its entirety all at once. As I go through the days in my life, it was as if I was having conversations with God. It was as if I was being guided, even in trivial matters.
Even after having finished the book, I can't help but reread the book again and again - having another encounter with Jesus.

[Bhashini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book. I read it from cover to cover and now I dip into it randomly now and again when I want to feel that tender, intimate connection with God.
Highly recommended if you need a spiritual lift.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reveals this laywoman's development of her relationship with Christ. She describes His encouragement and guidance in her daily life. The chapters of the book can be used as a source for inspiring meditation.

[Rachel Thooft · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. I loved this so much.

[Vincenzo Maria Affinita · Rating 5 out of 5]

«[parla Gesù] Sai quello che facciamo scrivendo queste pagine? Togliamo il pregiudizio che l'intimità dell'anima sia possibile solo per il religioso nel suo chiostro, invece il Mio Amore segreto e tenero è in realtà per ogni anima che vive in questo mondo» (punto 1795 - 12 gennaio 1950).

[Deb]

This one is a recommendation from a bookseller that I had scribbled on a deposit slip more than a decade ago and recently found tucked away... Providence... tender and lovely.

[Karina]

My pastor's comment on the book: http://musingsfromthepastorsstudy.blo...

[Christina Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone wanting a deeper relationship with God.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be reviewing this one for Catholic Company on my blog within tbe week, but for now I will just say it is definitely one to add to your spiritual reading list.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very touching book in the most simple of ways. It gave me inspiration on what kind of relationship we have with him and the relationship he wishes to have with us

[Kenneth Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ones complete ones.

He and I is without a doubt one of the greatest private revelations ever given by Jesus Christ. Oh My Sacred Christ a heart that could melt the very Universe.

[Sue King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Everyone should read it.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

My father-in-law adores this book and has been urging me to read it for ages. I always wanted to, holding Christian books in the highest esteem myself. I just didn't want to ask him if I could borrow it cause I knew how much it meant to him and that he might not want to part with it. Finally though he offered it, so I willingly took it and got started straight away.

Basically this book contains the diary entries of a French woman during the late 1930s and early 1940s, who believed she heard Jesus Christ talking to her in her mind. The entries contained in this book are primarily Jesus's words (of comfort, love, encouragement and wisdom). Were this book to be proven 100% true, as opposed to the writer imagining it all, it would be quite remarkable. However - and it does pain me somewhat to write this - I am not entirely convinced she was genuine. I mean, I believe that she believed. I just don't entirely think she was actually hearing the words of our Lord. My reasons for this are complicated and challenging to me; I mean to explore them and put them into words someday.

A nice book, to be sure. And there's no pressing reason why it might not be genuinely true. Also, it is translated from French so its original power might have been diminished somewhat. I just don't know where I stand in regards to it, and I can't help thinking Christ would have shared conversation with this woman (had He chosen to) of a more profound nature than common Christian platitudes.

[Bonnie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful reflection and modeling of what it is like to commune regularly with Christ. Since I am not Catholic, I could not relate to the Mary sections, but it was a very reflective prayer journal. It helped me focus on Christ. My only caution to readers is that this was one woman's recorded conversations with God and not to be taken as Scripture or biblical truths to quote. They are "reflections" on the truth of Christ. The Bible is where to go to receive the grounding truth she references. She does not even make a claim that her book is doctrine; she is very clear about that.

[Cynthia Sullivan]

Love this book. Glad to meet others who also have read it.
I have a question in the front on my edition there is a quote from the book “be assured of My loving kindness that as others are blessed by these words your cup of joy will overflow in the same proportion. Every reader will receive the same measure of grace. And all will become members of one united family,the family of my intimate friends. “
Somehow I did not see this when I read it and I have been searching for it in the body of the book.
Would anyone know year, date of this entry?

[Jacob Eichten · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sensitive early 20th century French woman records her inward dialogues with Jesus. Charming at times, and not without insights for the spiritual life, but nothing that rises or plunges the distance to rouse my own recognition in her story. I came away unmoved and unsatisfied, lost interest near the midpoint, after what seemed to be no end of a thin stream of platitudes which for her soul no doubt reverberated with significance, but did not so for my own.

[Pamela Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this book for many years and in 2020 decided to read it as a devotional and I’m so glad I did. It was good to remember that Jesus wants to spend time with me, He cares about the difficulties I’m encountering and He is there with me. Gabrielle’s internal intimate dialogue with Jesus brings her and the reader into the realm of God’s all encompassing love for mankind. Each one of us is precious to Him. I highly recommend reading He And I to draw closer to God.

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so much I have to read it again. But this time, I’m going to read it according to the dates Our Lord spoke to Gabrielle. I feel the words will give me a more deeper understanding if I read each passage more slowly on the specific dates. This book definitely brought me closer to Jesus. One of the most important things He constantly talks about is Love. Love is everything. I’m going to try and love more. Jesus is with me always. He is everywhere and always ready to listen.

[Kassie R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a long time to read and by the last section I was pretty much done enjoying it. It is beautifully written, but repetitive and I’m unsure that is actually took place. A lot of good in this book about God’s mercy and love, but again a lot of the same things over and over again. I guess if it was true maybe God would tell this woman the same thing over and over again, but a dairy of over 300 pages is a lot.

[Melissa Montenegro · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me 4 years to read this book, not because it was long or a difficult read but because I had to take breaks from what felt like an intimate, private encounter between Gabrielle and Jesus. There were some sections that reminded me of the sweet love St. Therese of Lisieux had for Jesus. Overall, this was a reminder that relationship with God is meant to be intimate and we can ask of Him anything at any place at any time. The entire book is a brautiful prayer.

[Valentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many many times the book (italian translation).

Jesus speaks to us in xx century, to let us understand now what we really need for us and to reply to His love for us. A lover asking us to catch His love and try to love him. Very easy to read. I'd like an more complete work, it is not the full work, available perhaps only in french. Changed my life.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that shows that lay women in the world can have a very deep spirituality. Christ speaks to her throughout her days and reveals His love. Makes the relationship with Christ so personal.

[Anna Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every paragraph of this book is a spiritual steak dinner. Take is slow and let the words of each entry sink in. The personal revelations of this French laywoman have given me so much consolation and infused my prayer life with new life.

[Akhil Paulose Pulikiyil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystical conversation
So much Love of Jesus Christ for a person, 'there is no greater love'

[Bia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindo, lindo, lindo! Senti falta de mais conteúdo mariano, mas amei ❤️