"Sacred Wounds": Healing Through Coaching
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Sacred Wounds: Stories of Redemption, Healing and Growth was released by Catholic coach and M.D. Claudine Noel earlier this year. It is an anthology of writings by 21 women who share their moving testimonies of transformation. Many Catholic women will find their struggles relatable and moving. Some readers may even find a path forward in their own search for healing from their internal wounds.
This book reminds me of this passage from the closing address of the Second Vatican Council:
The hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of woman is being achieved in its fullness, the hour in which woman acquires in the world an influence, an effect and a power never hitherto achieved. That is why, at this moment when the human race is under-going so deep a transformation, women impregnated with the spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid mankind in not falling.
What Are “Sacred Wounds”?
First, if you are sensitive to certain topics, this book (and book review) may not be for you. Sacred Wounds is based on true stories of women who have suffered many kinds of wounds and deals with subjects that include childhood abuse, violence, cancer, phobias, eating disorder, miscarriages, infant death, infertility, separation and divorce, single motherhood, anxiety, poverty, homelessness, and more.
Although these are important discussions we should be having as Catholic women, if you feel that any of these subjects are too sensitive for you right now, you may want to skip this one. For some women, the book may be helpful in shining a light on the difficulties of being a modern Catholic woman. For others, one or more of these subjects may be too distressing for the reader.
Holt describes these wounds as “heart wounds.” She explains:
The message of this book is simple: Your wounds are sacred. They aren’t something to be ashamed of. Even Our Lord retains His wounds in heaven. … Healing is possible. No one is ever too far gone for God’s love and mercy—unless they choose to reject it.
What Is Life Coaching?
According to Psychology.org, “Life coaches draw on their specialized education, unique life experiences, and targeted training to help people identify and work toward key personal development goals.”
Each of the stories in Sacred Wounds has a common theme: a Catholic woman who, amid difficult struggles, sought help and found transformation. Each of these women found a way not only to overcome her struggles but help others do the same by becoming a Catholic life coach with her own unique niche.
Here are some of the benefits of life coaching, according to the testimonies within this book:
Better understanding thoughts and our beliefs about ourselves and our life circumstances.
Learning to recognize the lies we believe about ourselves.
Overcoming a crisis of meaning and purpose.
Overcoming feelings of overwhelm and burnout.
Career guidance, including help with leaving or avoiding toxic work environments, reentering the workforce, gaining a better work/life balance, and spending more time with family.
Becoming better able to handle the stressors of life, including motherhood, career, and marriage.
Becoming more forgiving of oneself and others.
Finding community in speaking to a woman of the same faith and similar life experience.
Whom Is This Book for?
I would recommend this book for Catholic women:
Seeking to improve their thoughts.
Experiencing life struggles.
Seeking postive transformations.
What I Liked Best About Sacred Wounds
The best thing about Sacred Wounds is that it’s filled with true stories from real Catholic women. The stories portray what it’s like to be a modern Catholic woman. It is not easy to keep our responsibilities in perfect order; it’s difficult to juggle faith, family, career, social life, and self-care on a daily basis. Moreover, it can be impossible to manage these aspects of our life when we are suffering internally.
This book can benefit women who are seeking reassurance that they are not alone in the struggles they are experiencing. We all have heavy crosses to carry, and we feel a heavier weight during different seasons of life.
I also appreciated that each story concluded with a biography and contact information for each contributor. If a reader wants to connect with a writer of a story that resonated with her, she can.
What I Didn’t Enjoy About Sacred Wounds
Some of the stories in Sacred Wounds were difficult to get through because of the heavy subject material. Most stories highlight the reality that life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Although there is much more to be joyful and grateful for before the Lord, the truth is that our lives are marked with suffering and internal wounds.
I am grateful that all the stories are short in length and end with transformation. However, there were moments I had to put the book down and take a deep breath, as some of the subjects struck a chord with my own life experiences.
Ana K. Perez is a Catholic wife, mom to two daughters, and a freelance writer. She received a certification from the Pastoral Formation Institute at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. She loves her family, homeschooling her children, volunteering in parish ministries, music, blogging, and reading. Connect with Ana on LinkedIn, her writing portfolio website, and blog.