Cardinal Robert Sarah. Catechism of the Spiritual Life. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2022. Hardback $21.99. eBook $9.99. 336 pages. Available from the publisher.
A few years ago, a priest friend encouraged me to read the book titled The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Cardinal Robert Sarah. I admit that I don’t usually read books by Cardinals, however, I did so at his recommendation. The work was filled with so many wonderful spiritual insights that I relished it from Christmas to Lent, meditating on it daily. I have pondered its significance several times since then and quoted it numerous times in articles that I’ve written.
Whenever I have the opportunity to read something from Cardinal Sarah I am delighted because he relates the most profound spiritual truths in such a conversational way. In his new book Catechism of the Spiritual Life, Cardinal Sarah breaks open the truths of our faith for readers afresh. He offers wisdom on the importance of Eucharistic worship and the sacraments as well as the Cross, the Holy Spirit, and the Resurrection.
It’s no secret that the Catholic Church is going through an identity crisis. “A Christian without sacraments and without the Eucharist is a walking corpse,” reflected Cardinal Robert Sarah. He reminds us that it is the sacraments, as revealed through Sacred Scripture and Tradition, which provide our heart-to-heart encounter with God. By following these signposts, we will rediscover who we are and receive an outpouring of Divine grace, mercy, and healing.
Cardinal Sarah explains, “When Christian communities decline and sputter out, it is because they have lost their faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist.” Especially during this time of Eucharistic Revival, this book affirming the centrality of the Mystery of our Faith is a great gift for the life of the Church. It will help readers reignite their devotion to the Liturgy and Sacraments and share their Faith with others.
A reviewer shared: “Through the use of moral, liturgical, and sacramental tools that allow us to nourish our spiritual lives, the book gives the keys to bringing about a daily transformation of our souls . . . . The result obtained is a rich prayer guide adapted to a time when inner life is being undermined by a very noisy and sometimes frantic society. However, Cardinal Sarah is not limited to the question of inner life and makes use of this work to make several useful reminders of the Church’s place in the world.”
Whether you are a believer looking for spiritual reading or just beginning to learn about your Faith, Cardinal Sarah’s Catechism of the Spiritual Life will draw you closer to our Lord and bless your life—and the lives of those around you.
Members of the media may send an email to Sophia Institute Press’ Director of Publicity, Sarah Lemieux at slemieux@SophiaInstitute.com to receive a physical or digital copy of Catechism of the Spiritual Life, and/or to schedule an interview.
