The Gardens of God
The Gardens of God
Foreword by Paul Murray, OP
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“The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed” (Gen. 2:8). From the very beginning of Scripture, key moments in God’s plan of salvation have played out in gardens, from the Garden of Eden to the Garden of the Resurrection.
In The Gardens of God, Cardinal Arthur Roche reflects on these gardens as images of the spiritual life. The sorrow of Gethsemane, the joy of the empty tomb, the intimacy of the enclosed garden, and the hope of paradise all speak to different moments in the journey of faith. Initially developed as retreat talks for bishops and priests, The Gardens of God will also appeal to all the faithful, inviting them to again walk with God in the garden of the soul.
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What People are Saying
“The strong pastoral and contemplative challenge of The Gardens of God invites reflection at many different levels, but its core message was summed up once in a brief, memorable statement by St. John Paul II: ‘The minister of the Gospel must possess and pass on that knowledge of God which is not a mere deposit of doctrinal truths, but a personal and living experience of the mystery.’”
— Paul Murray, OP, Professor at Angelicum University, from the foreword
“‘In the garden of humanity on the move, gardeners of the caliber of Cardinal Arthur Roche are striving to enliven the project of Jesus Christ to restore the world willed by the Creator, his Father. Tirelessly, he sows in all hearts the words that give life; he heals wounds by pouring out the living water of the Holy Spirit; he recalls the Savior's promise to create a new Earth, a lush garden forever saved by love, peace, and justice for all. This book is a true guide for any gardener who yearns to bear fruit in the garden of his own life.”
— Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, Cardinal-Archbishop of Quebec, Canada
“Cardinal Roche offers us meditations on what are in effect archetypal biblical gardens. Remarkably, the entire arc of the story of salvation is enacted in these gardens, beginning in Eden and climaxing twice, first in the garden of the empty tomb of our Lord’s Resurrection, and finally in the enclosed garden of each believer’s heart. I am given hope as I move through these gardens, seeing in them what I might have otherwise missed without the cardinal as guide.”
—Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, Abbot of Mount Angel Abbey
“In this thoughtful and well-crafted book, Cardinal Arthur Roche offers inspiring insights into the metaphorical image of the Church as God’s garden. The nine chapters, beginning with ‘Tending the Garden’ and ending with ‘The Enclosed Garden,’ offer deep meditations that will nourish the faith journey of priests, religious, and laity alike.”
—Donna Orsuto, Director of The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, Professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University