Circling to the Center, One Woman's Encounter with Silent Prayer
Paulist Press, New York/Mahwah, N.J., 2001
Susan Tiberghien tackles the spiritual memoir to luminous results. While her style is contemplative, she reflects on earthy matters, her childhood summoned up the by death of her father, her marriage to a Frenchman and moving away to Europe, her parenting an adopted child, her caring for an aging mother-in-law.
The author draws from Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, and incorporates themes from Taoist, Hindu, Sufi, and Native American cultures, along with insights of Jungian psychology.
"Everyone who yearns for a deeper life of prayer will delight in this book... The story rings true; it is not speculation about life, but life itself breaking through words." William H. Shannon, Silence on Fire
"Beautifully written and illusrated, this ecumenical document of sharing can inspire each of us to follow our own path of contemplation and prayer." Robert Hinshaw, C.G. Jung Institute, Kusnacht, Switzerland
"This is a wonderful book on prayer, engaging and penetrating...This thought-provoking, prayer-provoking book is surprising in its ability to speak to the individual reader and call forth our own desire for God." Spiritual Book News