Going Solo – Valentine’s Day Book Release

This Friday, Going Solo: Encouraging Single Catholics will be released by En Route Books and Media (available at Enroutebooksandmedia.com or Amazon.com).  It is a work of love and encouragement based upon a weekly Prayer. Every Sunday, prior to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, our deacon prays an “around-the-world” prayer that includes, “our dedicated single persons.” That part of the prayer reminds me that, as a never-married single, I am no more or less important to God than any of his other children; though at times I have felt that way. 

From virgin to non-virgin, divorced or widowed, the book is specifically designed to empower and encourage single Catholics to live their fullest life in the imitation of Christ - yet that is no easy task.  Since humanity’s original fall from grace, we tend to live in contradiction to our Father and Creator, even as new creations in Christ.  Consistently inconsistent, the human moral compass whirls around in a state of flux from one generation to another, for we are unable, without the help of God, to point consistently North.  The result is that we are easily lost in a glut of opinions.  With God, however, the direction is clear, for throughout all ages, places, and peoples it is in him that we are provided a dependable and certain truth.  God gives meaning to this life, and when we are regenerated in the waters of baptism, he becomes a loving Father.  With our new nature we have the ability to find love, the joy of adoption, peace and eternal life that this world cannot offer.   

Based on Sacred Scripture, our ancient Catholic faith, and God’s holy will for the single person, the reader will come away with not only knowledge, but “how to” activate their intellectual faith; for as St. James put it, our faith is about knowing and doing.  Still, the doing portion can be a challenge for us.  In a world that considers the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus Christ out-dated (like some fashion or perishable good), it is vital to believe and practice (with confidence) that the ever-present God, who neither improves nor degrades, remains eternally in vogue.     

In this work I have attempted to address several states of singleness, and though I am not experienced in all, the moral thread that ties them together is to be holy as God is holy.  It is my hope that God's inspired word, a few “been there done that” examples, and some practical suggestions, that the reader will be encouraged to understand their faith more clearly and practice it with confidence.  Whether being single is temporary or permanent, unwanted or embraced, this little book will provide tools to assist single Catholics to live each day in a dedicated “Solo” state.