"Praying with facility, developing a supportive community and practicing poverty, chastity and obedience in daily life do not come with the flick of a wand," writes Joseph Rayes, O.F.M., in this warm and conversational book on the vowed fire. -They come only as the fruits of a long journey - no, more than a journey, a pilgrimage.”
The author writes knowingly about the “daily ploddings”, the daily pilgrimage of the vowed life. Each chapter offers insights for all those men and women just beginning their lifelong pilgrimage and those who are already on the journey:
1. On Pilgrimage to the Kingdom - “The kingdom of God happens, every time I accept God's plan for me and for the world”.
2. The vowed Pilgrim - "The present moment calls for our undivided attention to respond to God's call to seek the kingdom. Pilgrims walk in the here and now."
3. The vow of Chastity - "My struggle to integrate my genital feelings with my needs for friendship and intimacy were difficult, but I eventually found I could grow and come alive in the struggle.”
4. The Vow of Poverty - "Poverty is playing and dancing before a God who delights in the attention we give him by trusting him with our lives."
5. The Vow of Obedience - "The obedience Jesus taught hinges on the ability to hear and to respond to the loving overtures of a God whose love is unconditional and steadfast.”
6. Community: Context for the Pilgrimage - ”Kissing lepers, is what community life is about, to let other flawed human beings into our flawed life. That's where community begins.”
7. Player: Empowerment for Pilgrims - ”Each religious just has to decide to pray, set aside a time and be faithful to it.”
8. Pilgrims on Pilgrimage: Summing Up the Vowed Life – “A pilgrim knows that in the very striving is the attainment.”