Redemption Road: From Grief to Peace through Walking the Camino de Santiago

by Brendan McManus (Foreword)

Sometimes the best cure for a wounded soul is a really long walk . . .

One June morning, Fr. Brendan McManus stepped out for a much-needed walk—to be exact, a 500-mile hike on Spain’s renowned Camino de Santiago. A few years earlier, his brother had committed suicide, and the tragedy left Brendan physically, psychologically, and spiritually wounded. Something radical was required to rekindle his passion for life and renew his faith in God.

Redemption Road is the story of a broken man putting one foot in front of the other as he attempts to let go of the anger, guilt, and sorrow that have been weighing him down. But the road to healing is fraught with peril: steep hills and intense heat, wrong turns and blistered feet. Worse still, a nagging leg injury could thwart Brendan’s ultimate goal of reaching the Camino’s end and honoring his brother in a symbolic act at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Constantly tempted to quit his quest, Brendan relies on the principles of Ignatian spirituality to guide him on his journey from desolation to consolation.

For anyone going through the process of grieving, Redemption Road offers real hope— not that the path to peace will be easy, but that Christ, who himself suffered and died, will be with us every step of the way and lead us at last to wholeness and healing.

Genres: Travel

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2014

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some repetition, but very meaningful. The connections to spiritual journeys are excellent.

[Mattyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve now read at least five books that are narrative accounts on the Camino. This is among the best. Each book usually tries to take a unique spin on the Camino, art, architecture, history, the community, and most succeed pretty well. This particular book is the first by a believer. The rest seem to be part of this genre of atheist/agnostics who scoff at the religious aspects. I guess there was a time that this made them look smart but mostly they just look like shallow thinkers and shallow people. Now the focus of this book in reality has nothing to do with the spirituality or religion or history of the Camino but being a Jesuit priest, Brendan cannot help but mention St. Ignatius about every other page. Now some might find this annoying but the ideas of St. Ignatius end up being so applicable to everything that is happening to him that it somehow works very well. Also importantly he is making this trip while he struggles with the suicide of his brother. You can feel the grief at times but it just fits so well with the story that everything really comes together. I guess the book was just so honest and he wasn’t trying to convert anyone or show them how smart he was because he knew that stars are just nitrogen that everything about the book felt very authentic. Also interesting is that he decides not to follow the most common route, at least for a while, which added something to the book also. Overall one of the best accounts I have read of the Camino so far. I’d really like to hear from intellectual Catholic who can accept the problems and history of the trail but bring a modern perspective to the relevance of religion today to the idea of pilgrimage. Something that gets at the idea of Sacramental Imagination. If feels like the books take an either or approach. Either you are like this priest and religion is so obvious you barely need to discuss it or religion is something only of the past and nobody believes any of that stuff anymore. What about the people who balance the struggle now, the Catholic both/and, the pilgrims of old weren’t fools, at least not any more so than we are all now. I’m still looking for the great Camino book...

[Mark Gannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I have read about the Camino that blends both personal and religious reasons for walking The Way. Brendan McManus gives us a frank description of his journey and why he is doing it, and how he deals with the question of belief and how doubt can affect a priest. You really connect with the author, and there are times you groan in sympathy and cheer in support.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

not so much on the aftermath of suicide so was a bit disappointed

[Mojca Rudolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zelo rada berem knjige iz Camina. Zanimivo je, kako vsak avtor odkriva nekaj drugačnega in kako, kljub podobni romarski poti, vsak najde nekaj svojega.
V tokratni knjige se na Camino del Norte odpravi jezuitski duhovnik Brendan, ki prihaja iz Irske. Težko preboleva bratov samomor in pomisli, da mu bo takšno romanje morda pomagalo. Toda Camino mu ne prizanaša, kar trikrat bi ga skoraj končal, toliko težav, predvsem zdravstvenih, se mu je pojavilo na poti.
Kar je bilo moteče, so bili nešteti komentarji pod črto. Veliko bolje bi bilo, če bi marsikaj od tega, predvsem razmišljanja in besede Ignacija Lojolskega, na katerega se veliko opira, vnesel direktno med tekst. Morda se je temu izognil, da knjiga ne bi bila tako zelo povezana z vero, a zelo hitro se mi teh komentarjev ni dalo več brati. Morda lenoba, morda nezanimanje, a bolj sem spremljala avtorja in njegovo romanje. Nekakšna klasika Camina je tole, z opisi soromarjev, prenočišč, preživljanja dnevov, a morda malo premalo avtorjevega razmišljanja ob vsem tem.

[Devs38 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about walking the Camino de Santiago as a true pilgrimage, which in the case was intended to address and dispell grief. The backstory is compelling, about losing a brother to suicide, and the deep and lingering effects of grief and despair. I really liked that it wasn't a pre-packaged triumph of success. Father McManus had numerous serious setbacks that put the trek in jeopardy. It was very suspenseful waiting to see what he would do in each predicament. An excellent description of the scenery, people and the unique camaraderie enjoyed on the Way. You don't need to be Catholic to enjoy this absorbing book, but if you are there's extra poignancy and profoundness. Just a great and inspirational book.

[Kathleen Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book about the author's journey on the Camino and his spiritual journey as he seeks God's presence and peace after a tragedy in his family. I learned a lot about the Camino -- the history, heat, hills, beautiful scenery, blisters, and the close bonds that people develop with fellow travelers.

[Bev MacMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book as I am a fan of St Ignatius and the author relies on the teaching of St. Ignatius as he encounters difficulties on his pilgrimmage and also since walking the Camino is on my bucket list.

[Ruth M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read while walking Camino

I liked the narrative, although, like all Camino narratives, it is a little short on description. I suspect that this is due to the fact that editors don't want the story bogged down with details that only other pilgrims might be interested in.

[Kitty McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. Lovely descriptions of the walk, with Brendan's personal journey outlined

[Diana Agacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspiring book. I love the discernment process of St Ignatius ‘there is always a reason for everything’. Truly recommend this book.

[David Campton · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read this at the same time as reading the fictional "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" which created an interesting compare and contrast in my mind... and sadly this book did not fare well in the comparison. SPOILER ALERT for those who haven't read the other book - both involve the protagonist in a pilgrimage inspired in part by the suicide of a loved one... But I fear that the fictional account offers a healthier resolution. I got increasingly frustrated with this author's repeated pattern of unrealistic goals, physical breakdown and spiritual depression, but on reflection I genuinely believe that this is a function of self-blame for his brother's death and an unhealthy manifestation of a "penance" theology and self-mortification that is an enduring feature of some aspects of Irish Catholicism. I would have liked greater reflection on the terrain of the journey and his brother's story, with fewer unexpanded references to Ignatius and Ignatian spirituality... ironically if some of the notes on Ignatius and Jesuit practice had been integrated into the text it may have been less frustrating and much more informative to a non-Catholic such as myself. I would actually be wary of recommending this to someone dealing with grief, particularly with the suicide of a loved one, especially given the practical response to such bereavement that he offers in the appendix (although on a second, less intense reading of the book I am perhaps less critical of this ritualised approach to grief - my overarching feeling on that front being "Whatever works" although from my the evidence of this book I am still not convinced that it worked for the author.) It has, however, been successful in convincing me never to attempt the camino, as my obsessive personality might lead me to a self - abuse that would make this author seem like a paragon of careful preparation and pacing oneself.

[Tim Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Brendan McManus is a Jesuit Priest from Northern Ireland. After the suicide of his brother he finds himself drawn to walk the Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrimage route across the North of Spain. At times grueling he finds himself also on an inner journey which is more significant - struggling to come to terms with his brother's death. He experiences a roller-coaster of emotions that moves through grief and anger to hope, gratitude, and acceptance. He describes with honesty, humor, and great humanity both the hardships and the moments of joy and beauty experienced along this long, hard road to recovery. Using his formation in Ignatian Spirituality, he weaves insight from this Jesuit tradition to understand the consolations and desolation he experiences along the way.

Very powerful read particularly for those struggling with grief and loss.

[Simon James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most gripping book you will ever read and at times you may feel like giving up on it, but maybe that is half the point. The end moral is a simple, but an important one for everyone, not just suicide survivors.. people may not always know/care for our struggles, but that doesn't devalue the fact that we have come a long way.

[Nancy Jurss · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Brendan McManus's brother committed suicide, he felt physically, psychologically, and spiritually wounded. He chose to walk the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile hike. He has his ups and downs, but ultimately it serves as a process of healing for him.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very personal journey by an Irish Jesuit on the Camino de Santiago, in memory of his brother Dónal who had committed suicide. Very reflective and compassionate.

[Lisa Corona · Rating 4 out of 5]

So enjoyed reading about Brendans experience being I am planning the same trip!