All I Am: A Catholic Devotional For Discovering Who You Are In God

In this devotional for teens, Caroline Pignat invites young people to think about God and their own unique and personal relationship with God whose love is beyond anything that we can describe, imagine or fully comprehend. In five carefully-crafted sections, she guides readers on an exploration of our identity, our purpose, our gifts and giftedness, as well as all the struggles, strengths and stresses that together make up the reality of our daily lives. As we work through this book, she challenges us to look at all of these things through the lens of faith, demonstrating that one's faith is not just one aspect of our lives but is at the core of who we are and everything that we do. This book “helps you better know who you are - by better knowing who God is.”

Each of the five sections is subdivided into three different “God is..” chapters. Within these chapters, there are six daily reflections that begin with a verse from scripture and are accompanied by a quote (these come from an assortment of saints and theologians from throughout the ages), a prayer and several questions to inspire readers to apply what they have just read to their own life situations. This precise and well-organized structure succinctly leads readers to contemplate the truths that each section presents and to think about their own lives and relationships in the context of these reflections.

Pignat has created a practical, well-organized and highly-accessible guide that will be an invaluable resource for teens as they navigate the tumultuousness of their everyday lives. The quotes that she has selected are thoughtfully-chosen and come from a wide range of men and women whose faith journeys are a source of inspiration. She uses a conversational tone that draws readers into the reflection and invites them to really think about each point that she raises, but that never feels overly academic or didactic. And the questions that she provides challenge readers to not just read the book but to enter into it as a personal journey of self-discovery in light of God's love and goodness and grace.

All I Am is contemporary and relevant to the lived experiences of most teens and offers clear and thought-provoking ideas about how to relate to God in the midst of daily life challenges. Sensitive to the concerns of her audience, Pignat provides food for thought, inspiring new perspectives on living out one's faith in very real and practical ways and profoundly beautiful depictions of who God is and how very much He loves us. While it is ideally-suited for teens, this adult was also inspired and uplifted by this book.