Joan Chittister ─ Essential Writings

Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun, is one of the most popular and prophetic religious voices in the world today. In her many books and countless speeches, she has addressed the burning social issues of our time—justice, peace, the role of women, and the survival of the planet. She has explored the deepest questions of human existence, including love, suffering and death, the quest for happiness, and the meaning of life. She has probed the word of God, the message of the gospel, the call to contemplation, and the challenge of faithful living. To all of these she has brought her characteristic courage, honesty, and above all, passion. This volume, more than any other, captures and distills her spirit and her message for women and men today—including reflections on her own journey, why she remains in the church, and what sustains her faith and hope.

Mary Lou Kownacki is a Benedictine nun in Erie, Pennsylvania. She is the author of A Monk in the Inner City: The ABCs of a Spiritual Journey. Mary H. Snyder is professor at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. She was the editor of Spiritual Questions for the Twenty-First Century: Essays in Honor