Book Description
Sister Molly Monahan had been drinking, quietly and compulsively, for years when she finally decided to attend her first AA meeting. There she found the emotional support that AA is famous for-but she also found a surprising source of spiritual strength. In this unique book, she reflects on how a nonreligious group brought about such a powerful reawakening of faith-and explores gratitude, community, forgiveness, prayer, and many more subjects of interest not only to alcoholics but to anyone on a spiritual quest.

"Monahan's unique understanding of both the human and spiritual side of alcoholism forms an important, personal understanding of theology in action." (Library Journal)


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A surprising and enlightening assessment of AA--its basic tenets and how it works on the spirit--by a nun and recovering alcoholic. When Sister Molly Monahan joined Alcoholics Anonymous she was looking for the help and support she needed to stop drinking. But what she found was something more, something that surprised her: a deeper spirituality than she had ever experienced in her religious community. How could a nonreligious group espousing the most basic of spiritual beliefs have anything to teach a nun who had already spent three decades steeped in the values, rituals, and traditions of the contemplative life? The mystery of the effectiveness of AA has yet to be explained. This book looks at that question in new, interesting, and important ways. In Seeds of Grace, Sister Molly Monahan traces her progress through the Twelve Steps and identifies the lessons that Alcoholics Anonymous has to instruct all of us about grace, forgiveness, community, and, in AA parlance, "the God of our understanding." Along the way, through a series of meditations, she shares her insights on why AA works, how it works, and how it has changed her life and the lives of millions of people.


About the Author
Sister Molly Monahan entered her religious community after graduation from college in 1953, and became a member of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1983.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Sister Molly Monahan had been a nun for the better part of three decades when the misery of compulsive drinking drove her to seek help for her alcoholism. She began attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and found the support she needed to stay sober. At the same time, she found something more, something that surprised her: a spirituality deeper than she had experienced in her religious community, which led to a reawakening of her faith.

How could a nonreligious group espousing the most basic of spiritual beliefs have anything to teach a nun who had spent thirty years steeped in the values, rituals, and traditions of the contemplative life? The mystery of the effectiveness of A.A. has yet to be explained In Seeds of Grace, Sister Molly Monahan approaches the question from a new perspective that will appeal to anyone who has ever marveled at the power of this movement to change lives. Drawing on her experience as a Roman Catholic nun and a member of A.A., she explores subjects of interest not only to alcoholics, but to all spiritual seekers: conversion, enlightenment, grace, forgiveness, gratitude, community, prayer, the part that feelings play in the spiritual life, and a "spiritual awakening" that brings one to peace, freedom, and service of others. Along the way, in a series of meditations, she shares her insights on why A.A. works, how it works, and how it has changed her life and that of millions of others.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Much attention has been paid in recent years to the spiritual underpinnings of that quiet fellowship known as Alcoholics Anonymous and its famous "12-step" recovery program. Monahan, a Catholic nun and self-described alcoholic who knows the program from the inside out, writes about AA's spirituality from a refreshing, insightful perspective. In doing so, she has remained true to AA's revered 11th and 12th traditions of maintaining anonymity by using a pen name. Weaving knowledge gleaned from more than 40 years as a religious woman into her personal experience of AA, which spans 17 years, she manages to mine the depths of the program without making its members, and especially herself, appear saintly or overly pious. At AA meetings, she writes, "I heard the truth of my own feelings, faults, and sneaky motivations played back for me with uncommon honesty." The narrative draws heavily from AA's "Big Book" and the 12 traditions and 12 steps that form the program's foundation. Monahan overlays AA's principles with the purgative, illuminative and unitive stages of growth in the spiritual life, explaining how she recovered not only her sobriety through AA, but her spirituality as well. This book--part candid memoir, part spiritual meditation--is sure to attract readers who are familiar with AA, as well as those who will be interested purely in its message of spiritual renewal. (Mar.) Forecast: This book has great crossover potential into several markets: 12-step recovery, spirituality, women's issues and health. Riverhead plans to protect the author's anonymity with online, print and radio interviews. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Is Alcoholics Anonymous a secret organization? What does it offer members? Can a book by a recovering alcoholic speak to those in and out of AA? The seamless reflections in this hopeful memoir not only reflect Monahan's (a pseudonym) experience as an alcoholic and as a believing, practicing Christian but explain AA better than any treatise or manual might. Most readers will come away from this concise sharing of wisdom with a deepened understanding of alcoholism and an appreciation of AA and without feeling as if they've been preached to. Some aspects in particular take time to comprehend, such as the idea that the disease of alcoholism affects a person first spiritually, then mentally, and finally physically and that recovery happens in the opposite order. Believers can find much to relate to as Monahan speaks clearly and without reservation about the essentials of life and of faith. Monahan's unique understanding of both the human and spiritual side of alcoholism forms an important, personal understanding of theology in action. All public library collections will be enhanced by the direct style and the weight and strength of Monahan's ideas. Leroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach P.L., FL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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