A Living Gospel: Reading God's Story in Holy Lives

A Living Gospel: Reading God's Story in Holy Lives

In his latest work, Robert Ellsberg, the author of many acclaimed works on the saints, looks on the “living gospel” that is written in human lives. From biographical reflections on traditional saints and spiritual masters (including Dorothy Day, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Flannery O’Connor, and Oscar Romero), he reflects on what it means to read the spiritual text that is written in such lives. From that, we learn to read our own lives in the same light. “Robert Ellsberg has written perhaps the most essential illuminant for these darkening times. . . . This is an indelible meditation on living, breathing holiness. . . . For the stories gathered here -- the lives of some half-dozen not-yet-sainted but certainly saintly, among them Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Flannery O’Connor, and [Dorothy] Day herself -- are presented with such nuance, in all their complexity and shadow (scrubbed of neither sin nor flaw nor foible). Ellsberg has more than met his hope of making saintliness a participatory endeavor, one open to any and all.” — Barbara Mahany, Chicago Tribune “A tremendous and compulsively readable book. One of the best books on the saints I've ever read.” — James Martin, SJ, author, Jesus: A Pilgrimage and My Life with the Saints “Robert Ellsberg’s A Living Gospel is the most meaningful work of hagiography I have ever read. He doesn’t just describe saints; he takes us into their spirit and their spirituality. This book will stretch your ideas of what it means to be holy in this day and age.” — Joan Chittister “This book is a thoughtful account of what makes a truly faithful life, reminding us that God is always at work within each one of us. Ellsberg describes the process of holiness,that gradual movement into alignment with God’s will, with incredible perception and wisdom. The examples of lives well lived (including Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, and Henri Nouwen), along with his depiction of grace, humility, and justice are challenging, meaningful, and life-giving.” — Jim Wallis, New York Times bestselling author of America’s Original Sin, editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine “Drawing on a lifetime of reflection on saints and holy lives (including those he has known), Robert Ellsberg calls our attention to the deepest function of such stories: to help us recognize the patterns of grace in our own lives, and to respond more faithfully to our own call to holiness.” — Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation “In this beautiful book, Robert Ellsberg shares the gift of the saints—not unreachable, perfect people, floating in prayer, but real human beings who lived close to the ground, who sought to follow Jesus despite their own flaws and their moments of doubt and disbelief; in other words, people like us. Robert’s own life has been shaped by his encounters with such figures. Isn’t that the way it is for all of us? We come to know Jesus through those who love him. And through their witness we find the courage to take one step, and then another, along his path of discipleship.” — Sister Helen Prejean, author, Dead Man Walking Robert Ellsberg, publisher and editor-in-chief of Orbis Books, is the author of many books, including All Saints, Blessed Among All Women, The Saints' Guide to Happiness, and Blessed Among Us (based on his daily reflections for Give Us This Day). A former managing editor of The Catholic Worker, he has edited the selected writings, diaries, and letters of Dorothy Day.