Book Review: Simplifying the Soul

Paula Huston is a lay oblate of New Camaldoli Monastery and Hermitage in Big Sur, California, which is the monastery where I am also an oblate. I have met her once at New Camaldoli; of course, we did not talk to each other. We are, though, friends on Facebook.

I was introduced to New Camaldoli through another of Paula’s books, The Holy Way.

Simplifying the Soul is based in Lent, which she describes as “a lengthy annual version of my short monastic retreats.”  Lent is the season in the liturgical year which focuses the most on humility, the deep spiritual and scriptural value of recognizing, appreciating, and living from our true selves. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues through to the celebration of Easter Sunday.

Many people can find Lent vaguely challenging and ill-humored, a potential source of feeling guilty or ashamed.

In Simplifying the Soul, Paula Huston appreciates Lent as a time to look deeply inside, find clarity and simplicity in the midst of the complexity that surounds us, and take tangible steps to recognize and address the temptations that muddle our lives. Within the context of her depth of understanding, drawing from historic and contemporary monastic wisdom, she suggests inspired and practical steps to draw us into the silence and the cleansing simplicity of Lent.

If you have questions about Lent, or are looking for new ways to appreciate the depth of the season, or would appreciate some guidance in the spring cleaning that Lent provides, Simplifying the Soul is an excellent place to begin.

What distracts you from the clarity of simplicity?