In the midst of such a chaotic and troubled world filled with so many challenges and uncertainty, I often find myself asking the question, “How am I being called to respond to all of this?” As I have been continually searching for this answer, I’ve recently become fascinated with the beatitudes. I have always found the beatitudes a bit difficult to describe or even comprehend, because they call us to look at life from a completely different perspective, from God’s perspective. They call us to respond to the craziness of life in a different way, one that almost seems incomprehensible, by trusting in God’s promises, bringing hope to a world that so desperately needs to experience the blessings of God.
When I discovered Father Mark-Mary Ames’ new book on the beatitudes as a source of hope, I knew that I had to check it out! I had the wonderful opportunity to meet him last January at the SEEK Conference and was so inspired by his humility and authenticity, qualities that are so apparent throughout this book!
This book is split into two parts. Part 1: Blessed Like Jesus, which describes how each beatitude helps us to understand what it means to be blessed like Jesus and how God makes a promise connected to each beatitude. Part 2 dives into a description of each of the beatitudes, which begins with a very personal, relatable story from Father Mark-Mary, continues with a description of how Jesus is blessed by that particular beatitude and also explains how we are called to live that beatitude in our own lives. The conclusion of each chapter is my personal favorite part of the book, which describes an example of how the Blessed Mother experienced that beatitude and how she can help us to live that beatitude as well!
I have recently shared this book with several students at Immaculata, who have really enjoyed reading it and have commented specifically on the relatability of Father Mark-Mary and the joy he expresses throughout his writing. I am actually using this book to help with several upcoming retreat opportunities for both students and alumni at IU. I was certainly inspired by this book, and I highly recommend it as a better way to understand the beatitudes, explain them to others, and to bring hope to our fractured and troubled world!
Ames, CFR, Father Mark-Mary, Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes, West Chester, PA: Ascension Press, 2024.
Book Review Submitted by Sister Christina Marie Roberts, IHM