Couriers of Grace: My Daughter, the Sacraments, and a Surprising Walk of Faith - Softcover

Sullivan, Nancy Jo

4.29

7 ratings by Goodreads

9781594716799: Couriers of Grace: My Daughter, the Sacraments, and a Surprising Walk of Faith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 159471679X ISBN 13: 9781594716799

Publisher: Ave Maria Press, 2017

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Testifying to the life-changing and joy-giving power of the sacraments, Catholic author Nancy Jo Sullivan shares how moments in her life and that of her late daughter Sarah--who had Down syndrome--unexpectedly triggered a renewed faith and deeper relationship with God and others.

With startling and courageous clarity, Nancy Jo Sullivan recalls the journey that led her to renew and reclaim the faith of her childhood that had gone dormant until she experienced it through the eyes of Sarah, her child with Down syndrome. Her artfully told story challenges us to see the sacraments anew, deepening our own faith and reminding us of the beauty in each sacrament.

Small events in Sarah's life--in which her daughter's vision and voice helped those around her to realize the preciousness of their life and faith--trigger Sullivan's reflections on moments in her own life and on the sacraments. Childhood memories of almost drowning surface at Sarah's baptism, as Sullivan feels the same powerlessness at the thought of raising her disabled daughter that she felt when she thrashed desperately in the water. Through the words of the priest as he pours the baptismal waters on Sarah, Sullivan realized how Baptism draws us from the overwhelming waters in our life to the light of life with God. Our journey with Sullivan continues through the sacraments until the end of Sarah's life, when memories of Sullivan's father's fatal heart attack collide with her internal debate of whether it is time for Sarah to receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Sullivan realizes that this sacrament, so often associated with death, is really meant to give us life and hope.

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About the Author:

Nancy Jo Sullivan is a Catholic author, speaker, and retreat leader who has spent more than twenty-five years as a faith formation director and coordinator at a number of parishes in Minnesota.

Sullivan has a bachelor's degree in English with supporting courses in theology from the College of St. Catherine. She is the author of seven books, including A Book of Grace Filled Days, What I've Learned from My Daughter, and Moments of Grace. She previously worked as a contributing writer, researcher, and concept developer for Guideposts Books, as well as a contributing writer and editor for Multnomah-Random House Publishers.

The mother of three grown daughters, Sullivan lives in Richfield, Minnesota. Her eldest daughter, Sarah, is deceased, and Sullivan now finds purpose in encouraging the bereaved and supporting families who raise children with special needs.

Review:

"For those of us who have ever taken the sacraments for granted without truly discovering the remarkable grace of sacramental joys all around us, Sarah and Nancy Jo Sullivan serve as our guides to seeing God's bountiful grace all around us. Don a tiara or grab your crown, linger over these lovely pages, and prepare to have your heart expanded and your soul sweetly serenaded." --Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author of The Handbook for Catholic Moms

"We are constantly surrounded by signs of God's presence, yet so often they go unnoticed. By opening her heart and sharing the intimate story of her daughter Sarah's earthly journey, Nancy Jo Sullivan awakens the reader to the signs and wonders of God in everyday life and, at the same time, draws us into the seven sacraments in a new and profound way. Like the sacraments themselves, Couriers of Grace invites us to slow down, encounter Christ and 'breathe in the fragrance of God's unconditional love.' If you've ever wondered where God was during the trivial times, the trials, and the triumphs of your life, this book is a must read!" --Kelly M. Wahlquist, Founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization and editor of Walk in Her Sandals

"Anyone who knows and loves a person with special needs will relate to the stories and reflections shared so skillfully by Nancy Jo Sullivan in this book." --David and Mercedes Rizzo, Authors of Spiritually Able: A Parent's Guide to Teaching the Faith to Children with Special Needs

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