BOOK: 'Blessed Are the Bored In Spirit'
Geoffrey Phelps
Mar 7, 2008 12:45 PM

COLORADO SPRINGS. Mark Hart successfully avoids the stereotypical teen identity crisis, self-help, turn-and-repent book. Instead, "Blessed Are the Bored in Spirit: A Young Catholic’s Search for Meaning" (Servant) points young Catholic adults away from complacency and toward a more dynamic

spiritual life. He covers all the main places that young Catholics could be confused or complacent: from "fear of the Lord" and the Mass to premarital sex.

Hart begins with his own conversion story. The big difference is that it is not the story of his first conversion, but of his second conversion — from a minor sinner to someone radically in love with Christ. Key to his second conversion was his rejection of complacency.

That chapter is the heart of the book. It sketches out the road signs and guardrails for the road to true happiness, including reconciliation, suffering and counsel.

While "Blessed Are the Bored in Spirit" does not break any new ground, it provides young Catholics with the answers they need in language they will understand. Hart is serious where it’s needed and funny when appropriate.

This book’s message will help almost any young person reading it. Hart will give some the guideposts needed to stay Catholic and happy, while he will give a wakeup call to others and save them some suffering later.

This book would be a wonderful gift for anyone: from a young person just getting confirmed to that troubled Catholic youth you see in the pew each Sunday. Adults could benefit from reading this book, too.

"Blessed are the Bored in Spirit" is a step above other books that seek to help young people find meaning in their lives.