Sister Ignatia: Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous

by Mary C. Darrah, Bill Pittman (Foreword by), John C. Ford (Foreword by)

This is the story of Sister Mary Ignatia Gavin, a hospital admissions officer who courageously arranged for the hospitalization of alcoholics when alcoholism was viewed as a weakness rather than a disease.

Sister Mary Ignatia Gavin epitomized the spirit of love, service, and honesty that today are the hallmarks of Alcoholics Anonymous. As a hospital admissions officer in the 1930s in Akron, Ohio, Sr. Ignatia befriended Dr. Bob Smith, co-founder of AA, and courageously arranged for the hospitalization of alcoholics at a time when alcoholism was viewed as a character weakness rather than a disease.

Genres: Biography, History

394 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jenny Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gift, and I am really enjoying it. It is written by a recovering woman who knew Sister Ignatia when the writer was a child. She is open about her reverence and love of her subject. AA history is added in at the beginning in a general way, then as the book progressing into the specifics of Sister Ignatia's work, more details are given of AA history that were new to me. That was nice. I also really appreciate the author's research into several components of Sister's life before the time of her breakdown. This all helped to set the stage for what happened to her, even though the writer does not claim to know definitively what happened. She has access to much information from people who knew the Sister. It is sad that apparently documents were lost that were in possession of a priest who was gathering information, who committed suicide not too long after Sister died.
Finished, have several people who will read this after me. Near the end author goes into how the Catholic church saw alcoholic priests and nuns. This was very interesting. On the whole I saw how so many basic tenets of addictions treatment came from Sister Ignatia's beliefs and rules for her own patients.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of Sister Ignatia is interesting, but this book is poorly written. The story is very slow moving, jumps around, and uses odd language (an overwhelming number of references to her as “an angel”). I would find another biography instead of this one.

[Donald Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring book about an incredibly disciplined woman. It would not surprise me if she were eventually sainted by her church. This was a well documented biography that could have been much more had not a lot of data been lost by an alcoholic in relapse. It was written in a spirit obviously touched by the love, tenderness and yet rigid discipline of the subject. This is also a good perspective on the history and grace of the Alcoholic's Anonymous program.

Sister Ignatia's impact on the treatment of addiction has been proven as very insightful and enduring. Her prediction of the "age of sedation" is so accurate it is awesome (in that word's traditional rather than current use). Simplicity, humility, love, kindness and generosity in spirit and action are this woman's legacy. We should all aspire to live a life half the value of hers.

[Kevin Estabrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through my work with recovering addicts at New Directions this year, I was inspired to write my History of the Diocese paper on Sister Ignatia, who "epitomized the spirit of love, service, and honesty that today are the hallmarks of A.A."

[Jason Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and unbiased.