By Joan Chittister. Published by Fortress Press, 2022. (USD 12.75). Reviewed by Marie Skidmore

This small 80-page book is a powerful challenge to embrace our current era and explore new answers to the three Catechism questions: Who is God? What must I do to gain heaven? Why did God make us?

Joan writes of God present in all creation — that we are swimming in the energy that is God who holds us in being and calls each to wholeness and unity in creation.

She challenges us to move from the “me” — individualistic “my salvation” — to becoming God’s agents in Earth. And to move from a theology of domination and the superiority of a Western world-view, to being co-creators, morally responsible for continuing the work of creation which God has entrusted to us.

She critiques the Church’s lack of commitment to gender equality and to care for our current world. For example, missing Mass on Sunday is listed in some catechisms as a mortal sin, whereas profiteering from fossil fuels is not.

Heaven is here in our universe, she claims, and false notions of God have stopped us from seeing and understanding that “wherever I am, is the site of my union with the Life that gives life”.

I give this book my highest recommendation. It has the potential to help us create life-enhancing spirituality for our personal, communal and planetary lives. Please devour it!

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 287 November 2023: 31