All are welcome to join discussion on ‘Searching for and Maintaining Peace’
Southern Nebraska Register
The Catholic Diocese of Lincoln’s One Book + One Diocese program will hold its next book discussion evening on June 10 at 7 p.m. at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward.
Father Benjamin Holdren will present on the book “Searching for and Maintaining Peace” by Father Jacques Philippe. A discussion will follow Father Holdren’s talk.
The book discussion is part of a year-long series of talks by diocesan priests on four of Father Philippe’s books. The first event was held in April in Holdrege and featured Father Jay Buhman of All Saints Parish leading a discussion on the book “Time for God.”
“Searching for and Maintaining Peace” is a modern-day classic focused on spiritual growth. Father Philippe, an accomplished writer and a member of the Community of the Beatitudes in France, examines peace of the soul as a way to grow in holiness.
“Underlying ‘Searching for and Maintaining Peace’ is a disposition of becoming more and more childlike,” Father Holdren said. “In our search for peace, we get into trouble when we’re taking it onto our shoulders in trying to bring about spiritual growth. Father Philippe goes back to Jesus’ quote, ‘Without me, you can do nothing.’
“What does it look like for us to take that teaching of Jesus seriously?” Father Holdren continued. “What does it look like for us on a daily basis practically to live out of that truth? What does it look like for us to be able to receive Jesus’ help and Jesus’ peace in order for us to give that away to others?”
The One Book + One Diocese program is part of the diocese’s celebration of the Jubilee Year, which focuses on mercy, hope and joy. Father Holdren said “Searching for and Maintaining Peace” is a good book to read relating to those themes of the Jubilee Year.
“I have never met a peaceful person who’s not joyful. I’ve never met a joyful person who’s not peaceful,” Father Holdren said. “The two are really tied together and Father Philippe in the book talks about peace being a necessary corollary of love. I think we could probably say peace is a necessary corollary of a lot of things that we’re searching for in life, including happiness.
“In this Jubilee Year, we want to get into the spiritual posture of receiving from Jesus. Without Him we can do nothing. Peace is kind of this necessary pre-condition for being able to receive the joy of Christ. There are some beautiful promises Jesus makes in the Jubilee Year where Heaven is really opened to being able to receive special graces… Searching for peace, searching for joy, being open to that, there’s going to be special graces during this year to be able to remain with Jesus in those ways.”
The book presentation and discussion at St. Gregory the Great Seminary at 7 p.m. June 10 will last about an hour. Refreshments will be available.
In addition to the upcoming presentation in Seward, other One Book + One Diocese events are scheduled for Aug. 26 in David City with Father Adam Sughroue focusing on Father Philippe’s book “Fire & Light” and Nov. 21 in Lincoln featuring Father Ryan Kaup on the book “Interior Freedom,” also by Father Philippe. All are encouraged to attend the events in person, but they will also be streamed live and available on demand on the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln YouTube channel.
It is helpful but not necessary to read the book being discussed before the event. Oftentimes, the discussion will provide a framework for reading, or re-reading, the book.
The books featured in the One Book + One Diocese program are available to purchase individually or at a discounted price as a bundle from Gloria Deo in Lincoln.
