My Soul To Keep: Tools for Staying in a Changing Church

by Carol Bonomo

Can a book on the spiritual life be a "fun read"? Yes, if it's written by best-selling author Carol Bonomo. In My Soul to Keep, Bonomo addresses the How does a spiritual seeker unpack her bags and stick around? How does she know that the next pit stop on the spiritual journey isn't the one she's been seeking all her life? This book provides answers to those questions by adopting the framework that St. Benedict established in his Holy Rule with its emphasis on "tools for good works." Using the rich traditions found in Catholicism, her monastic affiliation as a Benedictine oblate, and her personal experiences as wife, convert, and recovering alcoholic, Bonomo explores eight such Mary, the Eucharist, the Divine Office, the rosary, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Days of Obligation, the Rule of St. Benedict, and devotion to the Sacred Heart. These tools help build personal constancy amid the changes and crises that afflict church life in our tumultuous times.

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2004

Reviews

[Rachel Kopel · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this, the third of Carol's *Catholic* trilogy, she covers many of the *tools* of being Catholic. However, in her usual fashion, Carol covers the tools from her own perspective and how she has used them in her life. I enjoyed reading about the history and tradtions of Novenas, the Rosary, Holy Days of Obligation, and the others she covered, as well as her own particular and often humerous interactions with them. I enjoy her writing and hope she will take up the pen again and let us know what she is currently pursuing.

[Jan Berentsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great read. Sort of a "selfie" trek through the rituals that keep the author close to the Catholic church. As a Protestant, I was looking for more depth in the description and history of the sacraments and rituals that are meaningful to church-goers. A couple of interesting nuggets, but not enough to recommend it to others.