Guest Columnists

In a recent column, Father Ron Rolheiser cited James Hillman’s 1993 book “Suicide and the Soul.” Hillman addresses complex issues that “go against common sense, medical practice and rationality.” A “restlessness” can invade a person’s soul and body and create distress, conflict, and even insanity. According to the Gospel writers, Jesus engaged in battle against overwhelming agitations. He fought against his own temptations in the desert and expelled demons from individuals.

Soon after I entered the convent, our group (of twenty-four) began having information sessions with the Postulant Director. Of course, we really knew very little about what convent life would be like when we entered. On the first day we got a big shock when we were brought downstairs to the dining room and saw that there were tables and stools, not chairs. That wasn’t too bad. We were young and with one exception, no one had back trouble yet.

Billions of men and women down through the ages have tried to solve the problem of loneliness, each in his or her own way. Even the saints suffer from loneliness. St. Augustine described it as the human condition, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee O Lord.”

People have asked me: How do you prepare your soul to receive inner peace? It’s a good question because inner peace is a gift from God, and you need to know how to accept it, and make it your own.