Your Sorrow Is My Sorrow: Hope and Strength in Times of Suffering

I just finished reading the book and am using it in bereavement ministry! Joyce Rupp ties Mary’s suffering to ours in a most powerful way. I have been a widower twice myself, a cradle Catholic and appreciate her bringing us on this journey with Mary!

This is a beautiful book about the reality of sorrow within Mary's life but also in the life of each person. Joyce Rupp's analysis and the connections she makes shows how transformative suffering is if we acknowledge it, allow ourselves to be vulnerable and are willing to walk with others and allow them to walk with us in sorrow.

Excellent book. It was given to me by a friend (who couldn't remember the author - just that it was an excellent book and provided help for her. She had just bought a couple of copies. She gave it to me to give to a friend who was losing her husband to cancer. I started skimming through it before I sent it off, and within the week my husband was diagnosed with cancer and our lives turned upside down. Joyce Rupp is my favorite spiritual author and this book didn't disappoint. I kept that original copy, but it helps me so much that I bought 2 others and gave them away. I am a spiritual director and have also used it with my directees. Joyce wrote this book after soliciting the input of others. It lets you know you aren't alone in this journey called life with all it's ups and downs. There are stories by other people who have gone through/are going through sorrows. There are prayers that give you strength and comfort when you want to cry out in your pain or feeling lost. There are meditations that help you find peace in the middle of chaos. There is HOPE. I highly recommend it.

This book is excellent! Easy read and packed with helpful information to dig deeper into prayer. Highly recommended.

I purchased this book because I was looking for meditations on the sorrows of Mary, I liked the idea of reflections from Our Lady's point of view, and the reviews were all positive. My first hesitation came in the Introduction, when the author reflected on her experiences at a Buddhist temple. Farther into the book, I felt a discomfort, but couldn't put my finger on it. Then, I got to page 55 where the author is talking about "Herods" in peoples' lives (in her reflections on the 2nd Sorrow of Mary - the Flight into Egypt). She states, "We may have to leave a religion, or a congregation, that has lost the essence of its spiritual inspiration and has become a source of inner death rather than spiritual life." A writer being faithful to the magisterium (the teaching authority of the Catholic Church) would not say that! The teaching of the Catholic Church is that it is the one true faith, instituted by Christ. The "essence of its spiritual inspiration" comes directly from the Holy Spirit and therefore can never be "a source of inner death," but is in fact always the source of life. Then on p. 56, the author talks about a woman minister who was struggling with keeping her homosexuality a secret from her congregation. The author speaks glowingly of this woman's coming out and how well she was received and states, "she was free of the 'Herod' of secrecy that had pushed and cornered her so many times." An author faithful to the magisterium would not use a female minister, let alone a lesbian one coming out, as an example to be modeled. At this point, I stopped reading the book and did what I should have done in the first place -- looked for evidence of authentic Catholic teaching. I checked for an imprimateur (A Catholic Bishop's mark that nothing in a book is contrary to Catholic faith or morals) - there is none. I looked at the scripture citation copyright notice -- references are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, but it does not state that it's the Catholic Version, which must mean she used the regular, protestant version. And, I researched the author, whom I discovered has a reputation for mixing Catholic teaching with new age spirituality. I also read that she has spoken at conferences where occult practices are featured. She has a masters in "transpersonal psychology", a branch of psychology called "the classic approach in New Age" by a pontifical council. I tore up the book and threw it away. If you're looking for a meditation on Our Lady's Sorrows, pass this one by and keep looking for one that is authentically Catholic.

THIS BOOK IS A BEAUTIFUL REFLECTION ON THE SORROWS OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER. JOYCE RUPP BEAUTIFULLY CALLS YOU TO RELATE YOUR LIFE SORROWS AND STRUGGLES WITH THOSE OF MARY. I FEEL THIS BOOK OFFERS HEALING TO THE READER. IT ALSO REINFORCES THE NEED TO TRUST GOD AND HAVE PATIENCE IN OUR LIFE SITUATIONS. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK, AND I HAVE GIFTED IT TO a FEW FRIENDS I KNEW COULD USE THE HEALING PRESENCE IT OFFERS. :-)

This is a book for anyone who is going through a sorrowful time......death of a loved one, divorce, rejection, depression and fear.This is a book of HOPE and much love. I have bought several copies to pass along to others going through tough times. It is uplifting, and puts our sorrows and grief into perspective......it is a Catholic Book, but all believers, my friends included, have embraced this book. Joyce Rupp, author is awesome.....all her books are uplifting, full of faith.

I have been a fan of Joyce Rupp for years. This book, tastefully done, gorgeously illustrated, and written with Joyce's customary wisdom arrived in my life at just the right moment. To say it was key to my recovery from my son's death does not do it justice. I recommend it highly to anyone recently, or not so recently, bereaved as essential reading. I intend to keep an extra copy as a gift for the next person I know experiencing a loss.

The author is one of my favourites and her books are always well written and inspirational. This particular book is not new but was strongly recommended by a friend. I am looking forward very much to delving right into it.

Loved this book. Great source of spiritual energy and sustaining guide during hard times

Excellent theme. The book is very well written. The message is inspiratonal. Will certainly consider reading other works by this author.

good product

A useful resource book containing some beautiful prayers.