Mary Treacy O'keefe

A great book to understand true believers in Christ who are Roman Catholic.

Having experienced the death at age 54 of our mother Josephine, my brother and best friend Cam at age 49, and our beloved daughter Maria at age 19, I could fully appreciate the meaning references to thin places.

My brother Cam's prayer reminder when he saw a cardinal (bird)as after his death I think all of us in our family shared rare experiences with this bird species and were reminded that Cam was with the Lord, a trophy of His Grace.

My daughter Maria led us down a path of thin places with over 200 hospitalizations in a ten year period. Her surgeries often involved the nerves, back, and brain though there were many others and all were nerve racking for us. It seemed as though here very existence was a thin place, as her life's existence was on a day to day basis. So the awareness of the sights and sounds of medical surroundings, which were often unpleasant, and the spiritual reality of God's presence were often intertwined.

During my recent, 2011-12, residence chaplaincy at St Vincent Medical Center, Cleveland, OH I was able to begin to appreciate first hand the Roman Catholic faith, in fact as a college student I participated in a spirit filled Roman Catholic sponsored charismatic renewal. Additionally I have many friends who are both evangelical and Catholic.

So this book helped me to better understand where they are coming from. In it you will find references to and definitions of rights, rituals and practices (centering prayer, healing touch, spiritual director, soul friend, and many others) which were referred to when I was serving as a chaplain at St. Vincent's, but never really explained.

Mind you that just because I understand and appreciate them now does not mean I necessarily always agree with them.

The part I had the most difficulty with was the significance of things. The Catholic faith is steeped in the importance of tradition, papal decrees, and things they refer to as Holy such as holy water or holy oil or especially our differences on the communion elements. Then there are all the teachings about Mary and the Saints, and then praying to them.

My Conscience Bears witness with the Holy Spirit That the 5 Solas of Reformation,Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone and glory to God alone, confirm what is revealed in God's Word. Further I believe that the First covenant made with Israel was a lesson in the Holiness of God, and an instruction not about holy things but about the Holy One and further that we will never meet the standard without a Perfect Sacrifice and the shedding of blood.

Second when the Second Covenant was given, Scripture clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit will Himself write His Law on our hearts. That through the redeeming act of Christ himself true believers are made Holy, indwelt by His Spirit, that we would become One with Him.

So to see my friend bury a 'bath tub' in the yard to sell their house is to me grievous, it goes from being faith to superstition. Yet does He not also 'know' Christ. In the same way he seems to be blind I confess there are probably areas that I am blind to cultural or personal areas of blindness.

One thing I do know that God is unchanging. He will not die, He will not lie, He will not deny himself. He is Holy, Just, Pure, Merciful, Eternal... His Redeeming Love is as great as His eternal attributes. My poor feeble mind will never be able to comprehend fully God's Great Love, although I daily strive to comprehend more of it.

So if God works outside 'the box' of my experience what is that to me? Like the laborer in the vineyard it is enough that I receive my own reward (not that I deserve it in the first place).

If you choose to read the book, I trust you will identify with the Thin Places where we hear God's voice specifically addressed to you.

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