Book Review: He and I

December 8, 2005

EDITOR'S NOTE: This book review is sponsored by the Religious Education Media Center as a service to those interested in developing their own spirituality. Books featured in this column can be borrowed from the diocesan media center.

You may request this or other books by writing Deacon Larry Sitzman, Religious Education Media Center, 1821 Jackson St., Sioux City, IA 51102, e-mail him at larrys@scdiocese.org or phone (712) 255-7933.

Father John McGuirk, pastor at St. Joseph in Wall Lake and St. Martin in Odebolt, offers this review of He and I by Gabrielle Bossis, translated and condensed by Evelyn M. Brown, published by Medias Paul.

The book which I chose to review is, "He and I." For over 35 years, I have read and reread this book. To me it is one of the most understandable and clear pictures of what mysticism is. It is not an analytical presentation of the stages of spiritual life, but a letter of love from Christ that pours out its essence in page after page. It is very readable and simple, not filled with philosophical terms, but very deep in the language of love that can only come from God.

Its author, if you can call her that, is Gabrielle Bossis. She was born in 1874 a shy, quiet youth who grew into a very lively and sociable adult. Her father was from the wealthy middle class, so she had no need to worry about money. She was artistic in heart, loving music, painting and doing sculpture, she enjoyed much horse riding and dancing.

She would hardly appear to be a candidate for a mystical and contemplative life. From a young age, she would seem to hear a mysterious voice. A Franciscan priest became her spiritual director and realized the depth of her soul. He encouraged her to be a sister, but she felt called by this voice to live in this world for Christ alone and she refused many marriage proposals.

As years went on she began to write "moral comedies" that became very popular in France and beyond. At the age of 62, admist her many travels in producing plays, she began to record her message from Christ from 1936 to 1950. They began very short and hesitantly and became more lengthy and confident as they proceeded.

The heart of the message, repeated over and over again, but new freshness every time, is how much Christ loves us. At first, the message is almost overwhelming, so sincere and deep are the expressions of personal love Christ has for each individual. And, as if this isn't enough, he speaks of how much he needs and wants our response of love back. He says, "You realize how much a person is touched by sensitive, caring responses, much more is God because he is much more sensitive and caring."

Yet there are also many very clear calls in these pages to realize our nothingness and great need for humanity. It is a constant call to depend on him alone for our strength and to live daily, deepening our oneness until we step into eternal life and experience it in full.

The famous church historian, Daniel Rops, thoroughly loved this book and called it "one of the most authentic masterpieces of the spiritual life." He saw its beauty lying in its simplicity, whereas some of your profound theological and doctrinal discourses can lead you away from this deep personal closeness to God.

At times, some references seem shocking. He tells Gabrielle that we imprison him in our tabernacles and signs of the crosses and don't offer him deeper love. He says, "Tenderness honors me more than reverence" and "Do you know what we are doing in writing these pages? We're removing the false idea that this intimate life of the soul is only possible for religious in the cloister. In reality my secret and tender love is for every human being living in the world. There is not one who does not have a mysterious yearning for it."

I would really encourage you to read and reread this book. At first, you will be shocked by its love, but if you let it, it will grow on you and you will understand the call he gives when he says, "Give yourself a rest from saying prayers so that you may enjoy my love."