Living Memento Mori by Emily DeArdo Publisher: Ave Maria Press (2020)
eARC, Paperback (128 pages)
Via: NetGalley
Rating:
Reading Challenges: Read 2020
Synopsis
Emily DeArdo knows what it’s like to live with a keen awareness of her own mortality. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age eleven.
DeArdo draws on the medieval Christian practice of memento mori (remember you must die) and shares her personal story with unique and compelling insight into the meaning of Christian life and death. Using the Stations of the Cross to frame her explorations, DeArdo leads us to trust in God’s providence as we confront suffering and death, develop enduring spiritual strength, and courage along the way.
Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon
My Review:
We all know that the Christian life is full of suffering and that suffering leads to death… but that doesn’t mean we are going to like suffering.
Just think for a moment about your own life. I can bet it isn’t all sunshine and roses. That may be the life that you show through social media, especially Instagram, isn’t the whole truth. The whole truth of our lives involves suffering. No one gets through this life without suffering. There is also the Cross.
One thing I like to remind myself when I am suffering or going through a hard time is that Jesus never promised us an easy life. Instead we were told to expect persecution and suffering. We were told we would need to follow in the footsteps of Our Lord… and that involves the Cross.
Emily does a really great job reflecting on the Stations of the Cross and tying her own story into them. Her life really has been lived remembering that death is coming and she shares that with us. She also includes meditations for the Stations of the Cross at the back of the book which are really lovely.
Have you ever considered the place of suffering in your life?
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley for
review consideration. This in no way affects my opinion of the title
nor the content of this review.
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