Foreword by Brian Grogan SJ

‘this book sparkles…the author’s style brings hope and consolation…there’s something in these pages for everyone.’  Africa magazine

‘rich with insight… one finds oneself recalling and mulling over it in a fruitful way later…a wonderful and fruitful book, which can be recommended warmly’   The Irish Catholic

‘…presents loneliness as a great opportunity to hear God speaking and to know oneself and others’   Intercom

‘perceptive and moving book…a good choice for a parish reading group’  The Way

Loneliness and connection are not enemies, rather two facets of everyone’s life. We just need to get to know them. That’s especially true of loneliness, so that, far from being oppressive or a threat, it can become an opportunity or a learning point. Through loneliness we can learn to bond with ourselves and with others. Far from consuming our self-esteem or wearing us out, aloneness can prove an ally in the exciting and complicated battles of life. All we need to do is to discern the heart song of loneliness, so we can learn how to guide our emotions to cope with it.

This heart song consists of our acceptance and desire, our lucidity and awareness, our memory and hope, our faith and inner turmoil. All of that is in this book: loneliness and connection. Silence and music.

José María Rodríguez Olaizola SJ is a Jesuit priest and writer. His fields of interest are theology, sociology and spirituality. He is currently head of institutional communication for the Society of Jesus in Spain. He has an active social media presence, with pastoralsj and rezandovoy among his projects. Among his best-known works are Joy, Even at Night, Today is Now: Solid People for Liquid Times and Ignatius of Loyola Never Alone.