The Holy Longing.

Book Review


Rolheiser, Roland. O.M.I. The Holy Longing. A search for a Christian spirituality. Doubleday 1999.
R.R.- a specialist in the fields of spirituality and systematic theology. Writes a column in the Catholic Herald.

Comment. Henry.
I feel that I have made a discovery with the first reading of Father Rolheiser’s book. He is an evangelical Roman Catholic whose treatment of the topic of spirituality is inspiring and encouraging. His writing is comparable to that of Henri Nouwen. This book would be a valuable addition for anyone’s library that has a passion for spirituality.

We all have desires, like a fire, within us. “What we do with the fire, how we channel it, is our spirituality.” (7) We all have spirituality. To not be spiritual is to not know who you are, to not have an identity. Our soul drives our energy for life and holds together in terms of who we are, spiritually. It is within our soul that we experience chaos and/or order. The religious symbols of these two extremes are fire and water. Everything experiences energy (fire) as evidenced by growth and development.

There are struggles involved in Christian spirituality. There is the struggle with “the nature of spiritual energy”. (22) The opposite of depression is delight. There is the problem of busyness. Balance in Christian spirituality is impacted by “a bevy of divorces”, (33) e.g.religion and eros, spirituality and ecclesiology, private morality and social justice, etc.

“We live in a world that is rich in most everything, except clarity in the area of spirituality.” (45) A brief overview is given of the history of spirituality re: Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Secular Society. Four essential truths are identified: “Private




prayer and morality, social justice, mellowness of heart and spirit, and community as a constitutive element of true worship”. (53) The presence and practice of these truths result in genuine spirituality.

Christ’s incarnation is central to how we record our calendar days, A.D., B.C. It should be central to the life of anyone who calls himself/herself a Christian. This is discipleship. It is the central mystery of Christianity. It began with Jesus and has never stopped. It continues in each of us who claim to be his. It is demonstrated when we become part of the answer to the prayer to have needs met. As Christ’s body on earth we can transmit healing just as Christ transmitted healing when he was touched. “Your touch is Christ’s touch.” (89) In many situations God uses us to meet the needs that are prayed for. “A Christian spirituality is always as much about dealing with each other (in community) as it is about dealing with God.” (99) Being a member of such a community through baptism and consecration comes with responsibilities. Nine reasons are given why we should go to church.

“The paschal mystery is the mystery of how we, after undergoing some kind of death, receive life and a new a new spirit.” (145) (Suffering, death, and transformation.) E.g. the grain of wheat that is sown. Spiritually, with new life comes a new spirit. The paschal process happens in different stages of our life, in our dreams for our life, in our understandings (ideas). “Good Friday, Easter Sunday, the Forty Days, Ascension and Pentecost,” (147) are paschal events on the Christian calendar. Paschal involves grieving. “Good grieving consists of letting go and letting it (grieving) bless you.” (164)

Justice and peacemaking are part of spirituality. Social justice must go beyond private charity. “Social justice is about how systems affect us, especially adversely.” (172) The Biblical foundation for social justice was put in place as part of creation.



People were created equal and shared the earth equally. They were given the responsibility to look after the earth. The earth had (has) rights and needs. Such a system protects the vulnerable and there is evidence in history the church has exercised this kind of justice. “Nonviolent peacemaking” (179) is part of such justice. It must happen at all levels of relationships. Naivete contributes to the failure of peacemaking. You can’t fight violence with violence. Note: The topic of international peacemaking was not a part of this discussion. Too bad. Peacemaking calls for a “vow of love.” (180) e.g. Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery. “Redemptive violence” (184) is not an acceptable method of peacemaking.

“Sexuality lies at the center of the spiritual life.” (182) It is a force for love or death. The author makes a distinction of sexuality and genitality. Aloneness was never God’s plan. A healthy Christian spirituality of sexuality is anchored in four fundamental principles that have to do with its sacredness, a covenantal commitment, a leading to sanctity, a protection by chastity (reverence). “In the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable we eventually realize that, here in this life all symphonies remain unfinished.” Karl Rahner.

“We live in a post- Christian situation within which the culture no longer carries the faith for us.” (216) Spiritual life is sustained by prayer. The continual refusal of truth can bring a person to the point where he/she “can look mercy in the eye and call it a lie”. (227) That is unforgivable. Honesty is a foundation for spirituality. Spirituality is sustained in community through ritual. The most significant rituals are daily, simple and often private. E.g. mass and devotions. Our worship and service which are essential to spirituality are impacted by our understanding of God. “What we see outside of ourselves (God and God things) is very much colored by what is, first of all, inside of us.” (240)