This small and compassionate book is an exploration of ways in which the Catholic tradition has encouraged its adherents to enter the chaos of others joyously and courageously as a way of imitating God's entrance into their own chaos.
This well-written and passionately argued book hits exactly the target for which it is intended: anyone interested in the pastoral life of the church.
There is energy in these pages, the kind of energy that's contagious. I challenge you to read this book and not be affected by it. I predict that you will wind up not only valuing mercy as a virtue and identifying it gratefully in others, but you will also desire a greater share of it as part of your own spiritual DNA. Be prepared for a stunning read and a real gift of light.
Legions of students have heard Father Keenan speak of mercy as our willing entry into the chaos of another person. Now, in this most personal and deeply spiritual of his works, this distinguished moral theologian and priest tells us what mercy means to him. In clear and lyrical style, Keenan explores mercy in its biblical roots, the history of the Church, and the contemporary world. The meditations on mercy in light of September 11th and of the Church’s sex abuse scandal shine as gems of spiritual autobiography. This is pastorally grounded and compelling spiritual reading that speaks to all of us.
In a world starved for compassion and kindness, Father Keenan's book, The Works of Mercy, brings a sense of expectation and hope for a better future. By describing how the Catholic tradition has honored the command of the Gospel to practice the works of mercy, and also how contemporary Christians continue to fulfill Christ's command to love one another, Father Keenan invites the reader to go and do likewise. Written in a style that is both profound and practical, the book, rich in its use of Scripture, is ideal for theological reflection on both the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. In a world filled with suffering, the whole Church can benefit from focusing on these words, whether an RCIA group, an adult education class, a small faith sharing group, or a class preparing for confirmation.
At a time when loud voices seek to make out that the center of Catholic identity is partisan adherence to religious ideology, here we have the voice of Jim Keenan, gentle and lucid, who brings us back to the real heart of the Catholic faith: mercy received and mercy acted out. Hooray for Fr. Jim's unequivocal but vulnerable unfolding of the truth that authentic Catholic identity is given us as we dare to let go of our identity by daring to enter as equals into the pain and confusion of others just as Our Lord entered into ours.
This small and compassionate book is an exploration of ways in which the Catholic tradition has encouraged its adherents to enter the chaos of others joyously and courageously as a way of imitating God's entrance into their own chaos.
This well-written and passionately argued book hits exactly the target for which it is intended: anyone interested in the pastoral life of the church.
In a world starved for compassion and kindness, Father Keenan's book, The Works of Mercy, brings a sense of expectation and hope for a better future. By describing how the Catholic tradition has honored the command of the Gospel to practice the works of mercy, and also how contemporary Christians continue to fulfill Christ's command to love one another, Father Keenan invites the reader to go and do likewise. Written in a style that is both profound and practical, the book, rich in its use of Scripture, is ideal for theological reflection on both the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. In a world filled with suffering, the whole Church can benefit from focusing on these words, whether an RCIA group, an adult education class, a small faith sharing group, or a class preparing for confirmation.--Katarina Schuth, O.S.F., Endowed Chair for the Social Scientific Study of Religion, St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, University of St. Thomas
At a time when loud voices seek to make out that the center of Catholic identity is partisan adherence to religious ideology, here we have the voice of Jim Keenan, gentle and lucid, who brings us back to the real heart of the Catholic faith: mercy received and mercy acted out. Hooray for Fr. Jim's unequivocal but vulnerable unfolding of the truth that authentic Catholic identity is given us as we dare to let go of our identity by daring to enter as equals into the pain and confusion of others just as Our Lord entered into ours.--James Alison, Catholic theologian, priest, and author of Faith Beyond Resentment and On Being Liked
There is energy in these pages, the kind of energy that's contagious. I challenge you to read this book and not be affected by it. I predict that you will wind up not only valuing mercy as a virtue and identifying it gratefully in others, but you will also desire a greater share of it as part of your own spiritual DNA. Be prepared for a stunning read and a real gift of light.--Doris Donnelly, PhD, Director, The Cardinal Suenens Center, John Carroll University
In this compelling and evocative work, Keenan sheds new light on the Christian tradition of mercy. With his characteristic erudition and enviable fluency, Keenan reveals the multidimensional nature of mercy, highlighting how the works of mercy are structured into all aspects of Christian life and identity. The updated material in this new edition reconfirms how needful of mercy the world continues to be. Moreover, it captures beautifully the way Pope Francis has evoked and embodied this theology of mercy. Elegantly written, this book is as much a meditation as it is a work of theology.
Pope Francis has called for a “Church of Mercy”—but what does that require of us today? James Keenan shows us the way, incarnating Christian moral wisdom in vivid accounts of suffering and succor. Keenan takes us from a Tijuana jail cell, through the cancer wards at a Boston teaching hospital, to a little bistro called Sweet Inspiration in the Philippines. A consummate teacher, he equips us to recognize and respond to the urgent pleas for mercy in our own lives.
With characteristic skill at combining profound theological insights with engaging narratives, James Keenan provides an inspiring account of the works of mercy essential to Christian living. This edition’s enduring guideposts from the riches of scripture and tradition, resonant personal accounts, and creative updates enable readers to discern God’s invitation to show mercy amidst the chaos of our daily lives. The Works of Mercy brilliantly illuminates the heart of discipleship as we live it out in our ordinary relationships.
James F. Keenan, SJ, is one of the church's most vibrant, influential, and sensible theologians. His work on mercy and compassion, as well as his larger work on moral theology, has had a profound influence on my own life. His writings, based on Scripture, tradition, and experience, are accessible, inviting, faithful, provocative, and inspiring. Father Keenan has helped to teach me how to think about life, and, more importantly, how to live.
Father James Keenan, SJ, is both one of the brightest and one of the most accessible of Catholic moral theologians. He brilliantly combines vast learning, a lucid writing style, and the ability to offer real-life examples, to enable his readers to live virtuous, compassionate and joyful lives as Christian men and women.
Father James Keenan, SJ, is both one of the brightest and one of the most accessible of Catholic moral theologians. He brilliantly combines vast learning, a lucid writing style, and the ability to offer real-life examples, to enable his readers to live virtuous, compassionate and joyful lives as Christian men and women.
The Works of Mercy is a new spin on an old and worthy topic: a distinctive Catholic morality. Keenan brings together social problems, personal ethics, and Catholic prayer and liturgy to create what might be termed a 'moral spirituality.' In this wonderful and wise treatment, the corporal and spiritual 'works of mercy' are no mere works—they are joyful orientations of Christian faith and hopeful pathways of human solidarity.
Psalm 136 insists that God's mercy endures forever. James Keenan gives flesh and blood to that scriptural act of faith in this brilliant medley of story and reflection. Keenan's work is a stunning example of how a deeply learned theologian sensitive to the pastoral needs of people serves the People of God in urging us to make real the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
