When I first became interested in the philosophy of personalism several years ago, I quickly encountered the concept of communion that personalist philosophers discussed. For years I was not sure what they meant by “communion.” 

I have a strange relationship with Robert Johann’s book “Building the Human” (New York: Herder and Herder, 1968, pp. 192). It is a relationship that I don’t have with any other book. 

In last week’s column I quoted a statement from Father Ron Rolheiser in his book “Wrestling with God: Finding Hope and Meaning in Our Daily Struggles to Be Human” ( New York, Penguin, Random House, $22.00, pp. 198) in which he claimed that we should give to the poor because such generosity will make us healthy. 

I cannot remember when I became very interested in what philosophers, theologians and spiritual authors said about the mystery of love. Many years ago, it just seemed to happen that everything I taught or wrote was in some way or other related to the mystery of love. Quickly I learned that not only was the mystery of love a topic that greatly interested me but that it was a topic that seemed to interest just about everyone. Early on I learned that every person needed to be loved. This was the way we found ourselves as creatures of God. This was the way God created us. 

In last week’s column I mentioned that I was concerned that occasionally in silent prayer I have a feeling that might be a kind of emotional fear of God. I wondered if it was really fear or just awe, amazement and wonder at God’s proximity. 

When I think about my ideas or images of God, I find them very beautiful and attractive. These ideas I have learned from the scriptures and from the very best Catholic theology. I believe that I could spend the remainder of my life meditating on the meaning and mystery of God, Whom I believe in, and I could always go deeper because there is an infinite depth to the Infinite Love Who is God. 

Rereading Ronald Rolheiser’s “Wrestling with God: Finding Hope and Meaning in Our Daily Struggles to Be Human” (New York: Image, 2018, pp. 198, $22.00) has been a fascinating experience. 

In rereading Ronald Rolheiser’s exceptionally good book, “Wrestling with God” (New York: Image, 2018, pp. 198, $22.oo), I think I have learned an important lesson which I should have known previously. There are books that are so good that they not only can be read more than once but probably should be read more than once. 

During the pandemic I have read what seems like a countless number of books. I am not even going to try to count them. Besides reading books that I had not previously read, I found myself returning to books that I had previously read and correctly thought deserved a second reading. 

When I read in the April issue of Commonweal Peter Steinfels’ excellent review of Sarah Shortall’s Soldiers of God in a Secular World: Catholic Theology and Twentieth Century French Politics (Harvard University Press, $49.95, 352 pp.), I knew I had to read the book. Even reading Steinfels’ review took me on a short trip down nostalgia lane.