The Joy of God

A corpus of spiritual sagacity * Catholic Herald *Sr Mary David had an exceptional gift for friendship. The Joy of God, drawn from her notes, letters, and talks to novices … shows why. Her joy, which was her hallmark, was a gift but it was also a choice, the fruit of effort, of very great, consistent generosity and courage, and of suffering. She was a disciple of joy. * The Tablet *If ever a book title conveyed its content, this one certainly does … That theme of joy, rooted in Christ, runs throughout the chapters, which have been skilfully put together from talks and letters to her novices. They deal with subjects such as growth, freedom, and darkness, and, while written for enclosed nuns, show how such a life develops deep insights into universal subjects. Liberally sprinkled with useful quotations from saints great and small, the book is easy to read. The chapters address how we are to grow in our consecration to Christ, whether that be through baptism or religious profession. * Church Times *

Sister Mary David Totah OSB (1957-2017) was a Benedictine nun. American by birth, after a stellar Oxford degree and PhD, she joined the Benedictine Community at Ryde in the Isle of Wight. Her books include The Spirit of Solemnes, A Divine Gift, The Consecrated Life and In the House of Christ.