River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey by Sister Helen Prejean

Abstract

Reviewed by: River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey by Sister Helen Prejean Nancy Small River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey. By Sister Helen Prejean . New York: Random House, 2019. 289 pp. $27.00. River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey . By Sister Helen Prejean. New York: Random House, 2019. 289 pp. $27.00. Sister Helen Prejean is well-known for her bestselling book Dead Man Walking and her work to abolish the death penalty. So it may come as a surprise to learn that she once believed it was enough to pray to God to right the world's wrongs. Following Jesus included doing works of charity, she believed, but had nothing to do with working for social change. River of Fire illumines the twists and turns of the spiritual journey that shaped her for the work that has become her life's passion. This beautiful spiritual memoir is alive with the youthful energy of spiritual discovery and awash in the wisdom of a seventy-nine-year-old sharing lessons learned along the way. The story begins when eighteen-year-old Helen bursts through the convent doors of the Congregation of St. Joseph and announces that she has arrived. She writes with humor and honesty about the austere years of novitiate. Yet here she was steeped in the "mystical tradition [End Page 83] that taught me to stay alert to God's mysterious presence in my own heart and the world" (118). This book sheds light on the life of a nun coming of age when the church was in a major state of change. Her writing conveys the seismic impact of Vatican II and captures the spirit of a church riding a tidal wave of transformation, convinced that God was the wind filling its sails. Readers will be enriched by her understanding of how monumental the Council was for those living its changes and sisters like her who educated the laity about them. She offers valuable insights into how Vatican II changed the church's understanding of authority, morality, its place in the world, and the people of God. Woven into River of Fire is a powerful story about a heart trying to be true to God while being pulled by love in different directions. Love's power and pitfalls come to light through stories of sisters who drove her crazy, the blossoming of a lifelong spiritual friendship with a beloved sister, and an intimate relationship with a priest that tugs at her heart even as she finds herself falling more deeply in love with God and religious life. A particularly poignant story highlights a graced time when Sister Helen realizes the truth of her calling in the context of God's all-encompassing love for her. As she unpacks this experience with a trusted friend, she sees clearly what she must do to embrace the truth of God's call in her life. Her story reveals love's power to draw us more deeply into authentic relationship or pull us further away. River of Fire will speak to spiritual seekers, those discerning their call in life and all who long to live with purpose and passion. It offers spiritual wisdom gleaned from a life devoted to a deeper understanding of and relationship with God. Sister Helen heard the words that stirred her soul toward social justice at a community retreat. The candid comments of her sisters helped her recognize what she needed to do once she was awakened. They challenged and supported her, reminding the reader of the power of spiritual community and trusted friends in discerning God's voice. [End Page 84] It took years for Sister Helen to awaken to the call to work for social justice. She accomplished much in education and spiritual formation during those years. Still, there was a chapter of life that could not be written until she was ready to embrace new ways of thinking and living. Her story emphasizes how important time and watering seeds of change can be in the process of spiritual growth. It also shows how our beliefs about the right way to serve God can change in ways we might never imagine. Sister Helen speaks about the...