Someone recommended Lisa Samson when I asked about favorite authors of Christian fiction, and I took the bait and borrowed The Passion of Mary-Margaret from the library. The novel was published by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 2009, and I must say I was surprised. Not only was the story absorbing and eminently readable, it was very Catholic. That’s not what I expected from an evangelical writer and an evangelical publisher. The book reminded of something as I was reading, and it was only after I finished that I realized what it was: it has a “Touched by an Angel” feel to it, only with a lot more Jesus than Touched By an Angel ever saw fit to indulge.

Sister Mary-Margaret is seventy years old, and she’s already anticipating the day when she will see God face to face. Since that day could conceivably come at any time, even though Sister Mary-Margaret is in good health, our narrator decides to write down the events of her life and the things she’s learned in the past seventy years.

Because Sister MM is getting older, she move easily between past and present, a fact which makes the timeline in the book a bit confusing in places. The story concentrates on what is happening in the present and moves without warning, sometimes with very few transitional signals, into the past and the events of Sister MM’s youth and the beginning of her life as a religious (similar to a nun). Then, the story takes a detour into the mystical as Sister MM has conversations with Jesus, a Jesus who appears whenever he wishes in bodily form and tells Sister MM whatever he wants her to know.

It took me a little while to get into the flow of Samson’s story and style. Sister Mary-Margaret’s voice is practical, somewhat humorous and irreverent, and at the same time spiritual in the best sense of the word. She’s in the world, but not of it. She’s fully aware of sin and suffering in this world, but also in tune with the heartbeat of Jesus and His love for His broken creation. I thoroughly enjoyed Samson’s story of the awakening and spiritual journey of this Catholic religious sister and her unorthodox journey with Jesus as guide. I’ll be looking for other books by Lisa Samson. Any suggestions?

More reviews of The Passion of Mary-Margaret:
Lisa at 5 Minutes for Books: “I have a little trouble with the mysticism contained in the story. Remember, I told you Lisa Samson likes to push the envelope a bit? Mary-Margaret sees Jesus, talks to Jesus (and He talks back), has tea with Jesus. I can’t decide whether this contributes or detracts from my personal endorsement of the novel.”

My Friend Amy: ” . . . this novel is so completely lovely, so full of reality and yet so bathed in the love of Jesus that it moved me deeply, and in short, makes me feel like a better person for having read it.”

Relz Reviews: “Brilliant characterisation by Lisa brings Mary-Margaret, Jude, Sister Angelica and every other character to grace the pages of this book, to tangible life with their failings and strengths authentically displayed.”