Enduring Grace: Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics by Carol Flinders, Book Review Example

Background

Living in the middle of an ill-stricken world and a place where morals is likely considered as a low-end result of religious dogmatic, it could be realized that it is hard enough to find good examples of people who could give proper inspiration on how to live life better according to the moral values that are seemingly acceptable. Relatively, the search for ‘saints’ have been a considerable aim by the Catholic church to be able to find inspirational individuals who are expected to provide a good sense on what goodness is about and how likely such source of inspiration could provide an indication on how others could copy the same works. The same is the aim of Carol Flinders in presenting the names and the biographies of seven women of grace namely St. Clare of Assisi, Mechtild of Magdeberg, Julian of Norwich, St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Catherine of Assisi, and St. Teresa of Avila. Focusing on these individuals, Flinders tries to create a picture that not only women, but also other individuals would likely be able to get specific inspiration from. Copying their examples is specifically the primary purpose of the reading and is also the identified message of the said written work from the author.

About the Author

Carol Lee Flinders is noted for her works on religious distinction on what morality is about and how it is applied in the field of modern social living. Earning a PhD in Comparative Literature, it could be realized how she was able to come up with the most common yet informative ways of presenting her ideas through writing. She was also notably known for her fondness of writing about natural foods and cooking [recipe] books.

In her desire to continue crating more inspirational materials, she has written Enduring Grace to make an assumptive condition on how she is able to affect those who appreciate the materials she write. Through this, she was able to practice most of the theoretical basis of mystical studies that she teaches in several institutions dedicated to improving theological understanding of the students. Considerably, it could then be realized that the impact that her writing has on her readers do not only last for the time being, but her writing makes it a point that the lessons learned from her written works become effectively remembered by her readers through time.

About the Book

Flinders’ book is most likely a collective presentation on the biographies of seven outstanding women who were able to make a difference in the societies that they had been living in. Sacrificing their time, efforts, and their whole lives for the betterment of the life-welfare of others, these women were understood to have specifically dedicated their whole being in the service of others. In her writing, Flinders made it a point that her message was clear and that it would be able to appeal to the thinking and the reaction of her target readers. Considerably, such value of the book is better defined through the way she presented each character based on her understanding of their individuality. She also utilized some of the referential research materials she used to make an indicative source of dictation on how the women lived and who they really were not only in the face of history but also towards those whom they really affected in the communities they served. Applauding their works and giving specific indication on how they changed their lives and the lives of those whom they affected, she wished to strongly provide a model for those who are hoping to seek for influential and inspirational individuals who could change their point of view towards life. She also hopes to also give her readers the possibility of developing moral values as the basis of their personal development and the way they affect others.

Content Critique

Focused, this is one word that could describe the way she managed to present her personal ideas about the persons she wanted to describe to her readers. Utilizing her personal opinions and the way she analyses the worth and value of each individual [specifically based form how much theories apply from that of the indicative lessons she learned in her studies], she was able to make the approach rather personal like as if she is speaking to her readers directly. In less than 200 pages, the life of seven women were mirrored accordingly in her writing.

Research provided a more specific foundation for her writing. In this work, Flinders made it a point that even her opinions and claims about how she analyzes each of the seven women was supported by proper research and deep understanding from the works of other writers like herself. Looking through the record of history, Flinders considered making a specific indication on how she personally sees each individual and how much history supports her idealism about each of them. One matter to consider is the fact that she did not play any favorites in the way she considered each person as a saint and as a model individual.

Being a feminist though, the content of her presentation often applauds the power of women to change the society. Relatively, it could assumed that this condition of her writing is often assumed by others as a deflection from the supposed purpose of the book to define a more religious path of distinctively finding saints who could serve as inspirations to people of the modern society. Offering themselves to the world and to people whom they do not have any blood connections with, simply make them extra-ordinary. In her writing, she made it a point that her readers would understand her fully especially in relation to how she insists on the genuine characteristic of each individual and how they could be copied accordingly. With the approaches she utilized in coming up with the overall content of her book, Flinders tries to make sense out of the supposed source of inspiration she was pointing out in her writing. As a result of her efforts, the book has been widely accepted in both scholastic institutions and in theological establishments of learning that provide guidance to students as they go through the desire of indulging themselves more into the morals of being a Christian.

Writing Critique

In defining the writing approach used by Flinders, I would have to say it is rather effective especially in sending a message to readers who would simply want to know about the overview that she has to offer about the seven women who she mentions to have endured life with grace. Relatively, she insists on the fact that each individual has her own characteristic that should be realized fully by her readers. Her opinions about each individual were obvious at every turn of the book’s pages. Perhaps, this is the reason why the said reading could be said to be a more personal than a research-defined writing about the people involved.

Considerably, the organization of thoughts by Flinders could be accounted as efficient in presenting her ideas as well. Although most readers would enjoy such approach, it could be realized that for some readers who want to know more, who want to realize learning from a deeper perspective based on facts would not be able to get the gist they expect from the said material. As said earlier, being a feminist, Flinders’ views about Christianity, Catholicism and the supposed ‘goodness’ that such elements of the society imposes becomes slightly affected by the lessons and implications of feminism that she is most likely attached with. This could either hurt or improve the reading’s value. On my part though, I see that this approach has slightly jeopardized her desire of making the book a source of inspiration for those who want to know more about sacrificial ways of Catholicism. The church was considered based from a secondary importance compared to how the womanhood of her characters was given worth in the entirety of the reading.

Overall Reaction and Reflection to Writing

Overall, I could say that this book is a good read especially or those who would like to explore matters in a more informal manner specifically giving attention to personal opinions and analysis of the individuals discussed. Flinders took best command of her thinking and somehow, this command made her written work much easier to understand. I do not think though that this book would suffice scholastic requirements. It could be used as a reference or a reading-basis for particular subjects but definitely not the main book due to the fact that her approach was more personal and in depth research on the lives of the individuals was not handled properly by the author.

Reference:

Flinders, C.L. (1993). Enduring Grace: Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics. Harper One Publications.

Stassen, G.H. (2006). Living the Sermon on the Mount: A Practical Hope for Grace and Deliverance (Enduring Questions in Christian Life), Jossey-Bass Publications.