What do you think?
Rate this book
Walking Together: Discovering the Catholic Tradition of Spiritual Friendship
Addressing a growing modern hunger for deep soul friendships, popular New York Catholic columnist and Our Sunday Visitor blogger Mary DeTurris Poust looks honestly but hopefully at today's culture, where people feel increasingly isolated despite the advent of myriad gadgets designed to keep them "connected." In ten practical chapters, Poust explores issues such as commitment and acceptance, the virtues that make for a lasting friendship, the importance of listening, open communication, and praying together. Readers will find here the guidance and encouragement to take the next step in developing spiritual friendships in their lives, one of the basic necessities of spiritual life. Poust profiles inspiring spiritual friendships from the past such as St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare, and St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. She also examines famous contemporary friendships, like those between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien or Thomas Merton and famous Zen master D. T. Suzuki. Each chapter concludes with "Food for Thought"--reflection questions and a prayerful meditation.
173 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2017
This is an informative topical treatment of the concept of spiritual Friendship. The book is divided into 10 chapters of equal lengths, each of which ends with three study questions (which did not engage me) and a meditation. While the book kept me in my head and not my heart, I did find some useful material for blog posts and several interesting pieces on saints who were spiritual soul mates. Although not mentioned in the book, I believe St. Pope John Paul II had such a platonic spiritual friendship with a woman whom his staff discouraged from visiting His Excellency, but whom St. Pope John Pual told to come right through the door and stay for dinner.
The last chapter on pilgrimmages with a subtitled section, Approaching Life with a Pilgrim Heart, provided fodder for a piece I'm writing, so I found it to have value, although a dry read overall.
The last chapter on pilgrimmages with a subtitled section, Approaching Life with a Pilgrim Heart, provided fodder for a piece I'm writing, so I found it to have value, although a dry read overall.
July 4, 2018
Had to read this for my youth group, it was okay but really boring, I found myself falling asleep during some chapters.
August 1, 2012
Easy read about a deep and all-too important, yet largely neglected topic of deep, meaningful, close spiritual friendship. Pagan philosophers and Catholic saints alike have expounded on the need and value for such deep and close friendships over the centuries. The author is clearly a seriously devoted Catholic but is very much on the Novus Ordo side of spiritual praxis and the like; however, her message rings true because spiritual friendship is firmly a part of traditional Catholic life.
Among the many areas covered, I would highlight these (listed in no particular order):
1. The word "friend" is used much too loosely in the English language, in the US in particular. Oftentimes, most friendships are superficial and temporary (e.g. work associations).
2. Deep and close friendship means being vulnerable and opening up your true self to another; this kind of friendship is severely lacking in modern society because of increased mobility and over-sexualization of the culture (i.e. as if being close to another = sexual relations)
3. Spiritual friendships can be between clergy and laity, older and younger, and of the opposite sex. With regard to the latter, marriage should be the best spiritual friendship between two opposite sex people, but it need not be the only kind and there are historical examples of not-married-to-each-other opposite-sex saint "couples" to provide examples for the potential good of such a "brother-sister" in Christ relationship. The one caveat is that one's marriage is always put first and not damaged by such a friendship; having a friend of the opposite sex does not automatically equate to something wrong as both neo-Puritanical and Freudian modern culture would dictate.
4. Good marriages and healthy familial bonds should never remain enclosed unto themselves; such bonds should become "contagious" to the larger community and encompass friendship outside of the family. Friendship is not in competition to marriage and family life, but a logical and loving extension and component of that marriage and family.
5. Spiritual friendship is one of God's ways for man to help each other get to heaven. Friends are close and vulnerable for the sake of working out their salvation as equal partners in the quest to attain heaven.
A quick 160 pages which hopefully can get more Catholics to embrace the need for and seeking out of spiritual friends or strengthening those friendships already in existence.
Among the many areas covered, I would highlight these (listed in no particular order):
1. The word "friend" is used much too loosely in the English language, in the US in particular. Oftentimes, most friendships are superficial and temporary (e.g. work associations).
2. Deep and close friendship means being vulnerable and opening up your true self to another; this kind of friendship is severely lacking in modern society because of increased mobility and over-sexualization of the culture (i.e. as if being close to another = sexual relations)
3. Spiritual friendships can be between clergy and laity, older and younger, and of the opposite sex. With regard to the latter, marriage should be the best spiritual friendship between two opposite sex people, but it need not be the only kind and there are historical examples of not-married-to-each-other opposite-sex saint "couples" to provide examples for the potential good of such a "brother-sister" in Christ relationship. The one caveat is that one's marriage is always put first and not damaged by such a friendship; having a friend of the opposite sex does not automatically equate to something wrong as both neo-Puritanical and Freudian modern culture would dictate.
4. Good marriages and healthy familial bonds should never remain enclosed unto themselves; such bonds should become "contagious" to the larger community and encompass friendship outside of the family. Friendship is not in competition to marriage and family life, but a logical and loving extension and component of that marriage and family.
5. Spiritual friendship is one of God's ways for man to help each other get to heaven. Friends are close and vulnerable for the sake of working out their salvation as equal partners in the quest to attain heaven.
A quick 160 pages which hopefully can get more Catholics to embrace the need for and seeking out of spiritual friends or strengthening those friendships already in existence.
February 2, 2011
I've come to realize, over time, that I have quite a few different kinds of friends. There are friends who are with me for a season, friends who I know through social media, and friends who I have the joy of being related to. There are friends who are more like acquaintances and friends who are more like family.
One of my favorite recent reads, Walking Together: Discovering the Catholic Tradition of Spiritual Friendship, by Mary DeTurris Poust, which I received as a review copy, has made me consider another kind of friendship that's essential: spiritual friendship.
And you know what? After reading this, I realized something wonderful: I have a spiritual friend! I do! (Actually, I think I may have more than one, but one came to mind right away.)
This book is a gem of wisdom and insight, especially in an age of digital isolation. We need true spiritual friends now more than ever, when information is instant and feedback is constant. We need to be able to tap into the holy and sacred in other people, and this book will guide you.
You might find yourself nodding and recognizing those spiritual friends who already exist in your life. You might, on the other hand, find yourself longing for a spiritual friend after reading Walking Together.
DeTurris Poust offers suggestions that will strengthen existing friendships and help you take them to the "next level" and perhaps transform what began as "BFF" into "BFF...eternally." She taps into both the ancient stories of saints and current lives of living Catholics to build what I've come to think of as a manual for growing into a better Christian.
I highly recommend this book, whatever your state in life.
One of my favorite recent reads, Walking Together: Discovering the Catholic Tradition of Spiritual Friendship, by Mary DeTurris Poust, which I received as a review copy, has made me consider another kind of friendship that's essential: spiritual friendship.
And you know what? After reading this, I realized something wonderful: I have a spiritual friend! I do! (Actually, I think I may have more than one, but one came to mind right away.)
This book is a gem of wisdom and insight, especially in an age of digital isolation. We need true spiritual friends now more than ever, when information is instant and feedback is constant. We need to be able to tap into the holy and sacred in other people, and this book will guide you.
You might find yourself nodding and recognizing those spiritual friends who already exist in your life. You might, on the other hand, find yourself longing for a spiritual friend after reading Walking Together.
DeTurris Poust offers suggestions that will strengthen existing friendships and help you take them to the "next level" and perhaps transform what began as "BFF" into "BFF...eternally." She taps into both the ancient stories of saints and current lives of living Catholics to build what I've come to think of as a manual for growing into a better Christian.
I highly recommend this book, whatever your state in life.
January 28, 2013
Worthwhile reading for anyone interested in spiritulity whether individuly or with a friend or book group. The advantage of reading with a friend or friends is the discussion that would enrich each one.
October 8, 2016
Covered aspects of profound and deep friendships that I only suspected existed. Wonderful & hope-filled. Loved it !
August 5, 2016
Absolutely delicious!
Read
February 11, 2018A really thought provoking book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews