Toward the light
The book was mentioned, though not emphatically, by one of the most unforgettable teachers I have had in my life, Sir Tus. I was Grade 5 then.
He told the class, in a simple sharing, in a brief mention: “I am reading a book entitled ‘My Angel Daniel’ by Vassula Ryden. It is a good book.”
I constantly reminded myself of that book. After years, I may have forgotten our Grade 5 lessons, but I remembered the book — so well, that it was the item on my Christmas wish list in my senior year in high school.
My friend Candice gave me the book. And I was happy.
I have not read everything in the book yet, but looking at it, scanning through its pages, reading random texts, gave me comfort. During my low and desperate moments — recently — I held the book as if it would shield me from the darkness that was chasing after me. It did, somehow.
Until I learned that the book — all of Ryden’s — are heretic. (source 1) (source 2)
And I kept asking the question: How can something that gives me that much comfort be heretic and non-Catholic? All along, I thought that the book was God’s grace for me.
All along, I thought the book would save me.
* * *
Father Mike lent me another book, authored by a priest, as consolation perhaps. It was his friend’s gift to him back in 1997.
Arise from Darkness — Benedict Groeschel
Arise from Darkness aims not to answer any of these questions. But it provides insights. It helps give meaning to our sufferings which seem to merit no sense at all.
The book was not helpful in comforting me — the same way Ryden’s heretic book did — but it gave me hope. It did not take me out of the darkness I was in, it did not even make me see the light, but it helped me help myself.
This book will give sense to what seems senseless. I recommend this book to all who has suffered in one way or another, to all who is suffering, to all who wants to arise from darkness. •
He told the class, in a simple sharing, in a brief mention: “I am reading a book entitled ‘My Angel Daniel’ by Vassula Ryden. It is a good book.”
I constantly reminded myself of that book. After years, I may have forgotten our Grade 5 lessons, but I remembered the book — so well, that it was the item on my Christmas wish list in my senior year in high school.
My friend Candice gave me the book. And I was happy.
I have not read everything in the book yet, but looking at it, scanning through its pages, reading random texts, gave me comfort. During my low and desperate moments — recently — I held the book as if it would shield me from the darkness that was chasing after me. It did, somehow.
Until I learned that the book — all of Ryden’s — are heretic. (source 1) (source 2)
And I kept asking the question: How can something that gives me that much comfort be heretic and non-Catholic? All along, I thought that the book was God’s grace for me.
All along, I thought the book would save me.
Father Mike lent me another book, authored by a priest, as consolation perhaps. It was his friend’s gift to him back in 1997.
Arise from Darkness — Benedict Groeschel
“I don’t think that the human mind is or even will be large enough to give a satisfactory answer to these questions: Why does evil occur? Why did the God who made the world so beautiful permit it to be scarred with such terrible wounds? Why does God, who is light, permit such darkness?”
Arise from Darkness aims not to answer any of these questions. But it provides insights. It helps give meaning to our sufferings which seem to merit no sense at all.
The book was not helpful in comforting me — the same way Ryden’s heretic book did — but it gave me hope. It did not take me out of the darkness I was in, it did not even make me see the light, but it helped me help myself.
This book will give sense to what seems senseless. I recommend this book to all who has suffered in one way or another, to all who is suffering, to all who wants to arise from darkness. •