Posted January 12, 2011 Book: Light in the Darkness: A Christian Vision for Unstable Times Author: Catherine Doherty Madonna House Publications, Ontario, Canada, 2009, pp.96 An Excerpt from the Jacket: Catherine Doherty was a realist whose life spanned most of the twentieth century. She saw clearly what happens when we live as if there were no God. She also knew what we could become through God’s grace. Beginning with personal conversion, she calls us to restore our lives and all creation to the Father’s loving will. An Excerpt from the Book: A Never-Ending Struggle Perseverance is love in action, a means by which the wings of the Holy Spirit can sweep away temptations. Perseverance says, “Be patient for just another minute. When you started out, you were in love with God --- what has happened?” and the temptations curl up and depart, for what can they do against this steadfastness begotten by perseverance? Perseverance faces life head-on. It never says, “But,” or “If things were different.” The language of perseverance is always a “yes” to God. The only thing that can triumph over perseverance is when I do my own will. In the face of that kind of treatment, perseverance slowly dies. But it can be revived with one sentence: “Lord, I am sorry. Not my will, but yours. The fight against self is never ending. Only when I am in my coffin will I be able to say I have been faithful to the end. Today I can say that by the grace of God, I have been faithful for many years, but I don’t know if I am going to be faithful this Friday, or next Saturday, or Sunday! I shall only know I have persevered when I see Christ. Table of Contents: Wisdom in a nuclear age “Am I my brother’s keeper? Whom shall we worship? It begins with us Overcoming fear A radical solution When we don’t want God Making God’s family Revolution of love Surrendering to receive Hold on to your saint! The martyrdom of loving one another Take my yoke upon you Perfect security Conforming to the world Just anger The suffering that transforms us How am I to atone? On the Brink of war . . . . God’s greatest gift Faith for all cultures Growing in faith Beginning again