My mother gave me a copy of "Praying Our Goodbyes" in 1998, shortly after the death of my son. I am just now getting around to absorbing its wonderful, tender message. I especially like the parts on taking quiet times to reflect on the loss of a loved one. Many may have anger or disappointment with God when a loved one dies and Joyce addresses that and focuses on how our prayers change with loss. She includes many meaningful prayers for various losses in our lives. ---Alice J. Wisler, "Slices of Sunlight, A Cookbook of Memories"

My father died just months ago and it has been very hard to accept. This book was given to me by a relative and has been such a blessing to my spirit. It gives hope and helps turn that darkness to light. The path is still difficult at times but the inspiration this book has brought me has been a great comfort in my life.

The author's words are profound and provide comfort and guidance to those suffering through the various good-byes of life. It helped me work through a very painful relationship break-up. Her description of the "existenstial ache" was a particular comfort and is something we can all relate to. It helps to know one is not alone in one's "aloneness". The prayers and exercises are healing.

I thought Sr. Rupp's book was very helpful in getting me to face up to what grief was. My sister-in-law recently lost a daughter via murder and I needed to know how to comfort someone in that stage (and also myself and other family members). She has great insight into compassion and tenderness for those suffering this tragedy. The book goes into timely suggestions and great prayers for anyone suffering loss of ANY kind! I truly found this book SUPERB!

Joyce Rupp has her usual grace when people are in the midst of darkness/depression and feel very far away from God. Rupp explains that this darkness we encounter is normal and can and does bring us closer to God. When we feel the light of God is minimal to non-existent, we somehow manage to hold unto hope to find the long lost joy in our God who is present and embracing is in some manner. Her examples give hope and are accurate to give us hope if we are in the midst of a dark journey. Finding the darkness areas aid us in our relationship with God and to be expected.

Because this thoughtful, down to earth book is organized by month you DON'T GET that, OH NO, I'VE FALLEN SO FAR BEHIND THAT I'M CHUCKING THE WHOLE BOOK feeling that you get with so many books that have daily reflections (including the allegedly simple Simple Abundance). You can refer to the book daily, every couple weeks, or once a month and find it tremendously worthwhile. It also seems to be acceptable to people of all Christian denominations

Joyce Rupp captures the experience (running the gamut from anxiety-laden to peace-filled) that people desiring to deepen their relationship with God go through. One gets the feeling that Rupp is an admittedly fallible but patient and wise teacher who has been there herself. May I Have This Dance is a book (like Anne Lamotte's Traveling Mercies) that I feel comfortable recommending to friends who aren't particularly religious, but are seeking some indefinable thing (comfort? a new vision of God? insights about their own actions?).

Joyce Rupp creates a simple outline for the dance of life with God. These monthly meditations follow 12 themes which focus one's inner life in a depth of prayer with "litanies, creative writing, guided meditations, and ideas for reflection and journal writing". These inspirational suggestions may be used by one's self, or in groups to guide the participant in a lovely, inspiring, experience with God.

Prayers to Sophia is a touching and beautiful collection of prayers to a wisdom God. Over and over again, I found Joyce using words to express my own heart feelings when trying to articulate my God experience. I am grateful for her generous, honest and open sharing of her own personal experiences in these prayers.

Prayers To Sophia features fifty prayers drawn from Joyce Rupp's personal journal and share with the reader her relationship with Sophia that is emersed in poetic metaphor and life experience. Also featured are quotations from the Wisdom literature, questions for personal reflections, and suggestions for journaling combined to gently nudge seekers toward their own spiritual journey of discovery. Also highly recommended is Joyce Rupp's early work, The Star In My Heart: Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom.

These are very rich chants with contemporary language that is deep and engaging. They are easy to sing and are filled with a plethora of nuances that enhance a meditation and prayer practice. Very highly recommended.

Joyce Rupp OSM has a special way of presenting Catholic spirituality in a simple and easily digestible way, with gentle nourishment. Her gift for helping the reader to focus on her/his own spiritual journey makes "Fresh Bread" a must-have for any Catholic who seeks some gentle guidance and nurturing while journeying.

Joyce Rupp's Inviting God In: Scriptural Reflections And Prayers Throughout The Year is a collection of scriptural reflections and prayers to encourage readers to remember to stop and pray. It's so easy to get surrounded by the chaos of everyday life and forget that God is always there, waiting to be let in. Inviting God In is a thoughtful and recommended spiritual reminder to carry worship and love in one's heart.

Out Of The Ordinary features more than 125 thoughtful compositions drawn from author Joyce Rupp's treasure trove of unpublished work. Herein contained are attentive prayer resources for a wide spectrum of needs and times, including resources for groups, individuals, prayer rituals, guided visualizations, reflections, and poems -- suitably for open or closed meetings, prayer sessions, and days of recollection. When used within the context of worship and small group prayer, they can be duplicated without cost or written permission. Out Of The Ordinary is further enhanced for students of spirituality with a collection of prayerful, Taize-like chants that Rupp composed to accompany the many rituals outlined in her book. The musical notation of these chants is contained in the Appendix, and are also available on CD or cassette.

This book has provided so much comfort for myself and the people that I have purchased copies for. With so many of us losing ones we love, it is so comforting to hear such heartwarming and tearful stories from a caregiver. I applaud the book and highly recommend it to anyone grieving. Thank you so much for a wonderful book. I can't say enough.

This book was refered to me by an Author friend during a recent illness and passing of a family member..What a comfort..What a blessing...It is perfect not only for Hospice cases but for those who have terminaly ill loved ones at home... Harris Grenoble Indianapolis,Indiana

This book is filled with examples of people who learned to die with dignity through the help of a compassionate Hospice caregiver. It's a look at what transpires as life ebbs away, and it offers encouragement to caregivers via prayers, meditations and "one step" ideas to help get through the day.

This is one of the most satisfying, uplifting, and encouraging devotion books I've read in many years. It's thought-provoking without being 'preachy'. I love the way the chapters are set up and the quotes included in each chapter are awesome.

And we can all relate to the cup as a metaphor for our lives...whether empty, full, overflowing or even cracked! I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a devotion book that really relates to everyday life.....you won't be disappointed.

In The Cup of Our Life, Joyce Rupp, OSM, offers practical suggestions and meaningful content to aide the spiritual pilgrim in developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. Once again, she draws on her own lived experience in offering insight, prayer practices, and meditations that will help the reader connect the routine of her/his life to a growing communion with a loving God.

Organized on a daily basis, Rupp's book encourages the reader to use an ordinary cup (or mug) to invite God more closely into one's pain, suffering, joys, hopes and struggles. She explores six major themes in the spiritual life, each one followed by prayer suggestions including litanies, creative writing, ideas for reflection and journal-keeping, and a celebratory ritual. Throughout, the author manifests a profound trust in the transformative power of the in-dwelling God, and in the dailiness of God's presence with all those who seek with a genuine heart.

Rupp's style is informal, accessible, poetic and, at times, profoundly moving. She is a fine writer and spiritual guide, sharing her experiential insights with great freedom, clarity and lyric simplicity. This is a book I have returned to more than once for its prayerful sensitivity, poetic language and wisdom. I recommend it highly.

I have been following Joyce Rupp for 6 years now. I was grieving a great loss when I stumbled upon "Praying Our Goodbyes". Since then, I have obtained all of her books. I feel that anytime I can read her books is just a blessing. I feel that The Cup Of Our Life slowly opens up our hearts to the treaures that lie within. I can't say enough about this book and the author.

Carym@tellink.net