The Mystics Would Like a Word, Shannon K. Evans
The Mystics Would Like a Word, Shannon K. Evans
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The Mystics Would Like a Word
Six Women Who Met God and Found a Spirituality for Today

Author: Shannon K. Evans

Narrator: Shannon K. Evans

Unabridged: 5 hr 33 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/10/2024


Synopsis

Discover a rich legacy of audacious women who forged a spirituality that is more inclusive, surprising, and empowering than we ever imagined.

“The feminist reading of women mystics I’ve wanted for ages . . . invites us into the hopeful possibility for communal healing that we desperately need right now.”—Sarah Bessey, bestselling author of Field Notes for the Wilderness and Jesus Feminist

Is there a Christian spirituality that embraces the entire reality of womanhood?

The answer, Shannon K. Evans suggests, is an emphatic yes. There is a spirituality that meets us in every part of our lives, developed by the women who came before us. Six mystics—Teresa of Ávila, Margery Kempe, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux—revealed a faith big enough to hold the female experiences of sex and desire, the yearning for bodily autonomy, the challenges of motherhood and identity, as well as life with male authority and—sometimes—violence. These women, self-determining, stubborn, and unapologetically themselves, asked questions in their time that are startlingly prescient today, and fought for women’s experiences to be heard, understood, respected, and recognized as holy.

In The Mystics Would Like a Word, readers will discover the story of Christian faith and spirituality as told by these extraordinary and wise women, one that speaks directly to today’s unique experiences, and leads to wholeness, healing, and spiritual vitality.

About The Author

Shannon K. Evans is a Catholic contemplative who is on the spirituality and culture editor the National Catholic Reporter and is a valued collaborator with the Jesuit Conference of the U.S. and Canada in both writing and speaking capacities. She is a frequent contributor to Franciscan Media’s website, magazine, and products and leads retreats at various Franciscan spirituality centers around the Midwest, as well as an increasingly well-known name in both Catholic and Protestant spaces. Shannon is the author of Feminist Prayers for My Daughter; Rewilding Motherhood; Luminous, a guided journal; Embracing Weakness.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Cassie on July 31, 2024

Having studied female medieval mystics as an undergraduate, I was excited to pick this up and read about how the author connected those writings to the world of today. I hate to say it, but I was disappointed. I enjoyed the author’s humor and writing style for the most part. She was quick to admit s......more

Goodreads review by Keri on December 23, 2024

I was looking forward to the release of this book all year. I’m so sad to only be able to give it 2 stars. If you’re looking for a blog-style narrative connected to the author’s personal experiences, this book would be right up your alley. If, however, you’re looking for a book that focuses primaril......more

Goodreads review by Ezra on December 23, 2024

I greatly appreciate that Shannon K. Evans has brought renewed attention to six incredible women: Teresa of Avila, Margery Kempe, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Therese of Lisieux, and Catherine of Siena. It has inspired me to learn more about them and to read more of their writings. I was h......more

Goodreads review by Emma on January 24, 2025

A bit heartbroken to only give this two stars; I’ve had high hopes for this book since it was announced. Two of these saints are so dear to my heart and spiritual life. There’s a lot to the author’s somewhat unconventional place in the Catholic world that I have deeply appreciated. And this book fel......more

Goodreads review by Rebecca on December 29, 2024

Thank you for writing this. This was very timely and helpful as I am learning and unlearning about who and how to connect with the Divine. The stories about the mystics in this book and the author herself brings me a lot of hope. I have very little knowledge about these saints and was fascinated by......more


Quotes

“In this lively, accessible account of some of my favorite women mystics, Evans shows how their lives can illuminate, uplift, and transform ours.”―Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy and Ordinary Mysticism

“Evans’s down-to-earth truth-telling nourished my spiritual journey and strengthened my contemplative life. My hunch is that it can nourish your life, too.”—Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, author of Hunger for Hope, former leader of Nuns on the Bus, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient

“With humor and humanity, Evans guides us all with the particular wisdom of women, welcoming us into a larger, weirder, and more compelling spirituality than we commonly encounter today.”—K.J. Ramsey, therapist, and author of The Book of Common Courage

“Evans reminds us that our modern, twenty-first-century life still holds space for the feminist lessons of the mystics, helping us craft in our own time what our spirituality looks like in this hurting and curious world.”—Kaitlin B. Curtice, award-winning author of Native and Living Resistance

“Writing with candor and urgency, Evans reminds us that the church and spiritual life also belong to women—and that liberation for women can’t help but turn into justice for the world.”—Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking and River of Fire