Rekindled: How Jesus Called Me Back to the Catholic Church and Set My Heart on Fire

Product Description

Winner of a second-place award for popular presentation of the faith by the Catholic Media Association. Mallory Smyth has been where many young Catholics are today. But the difference between her and other fallen-away Catholics is that she figured out that when she overlooked the shortcomings of the Church as an institution, she fell in love with Jesus and rediscovered the beauty and truth of her faith.
In Rekindled, Smyth’s raw, relatable account of her own disillusionment and departure is sure to resonate with anyone who has struggled to feel at home in the Church. For anyone who has left the faith or has one foot out the door, this powerful book just might illuminate a path back home—to a Church that is both holy and in need of perfection.
Shallow homilies. Hypocritical authority figures. Trite answers to pressing questions. These and other shortcomings of the Church have led plenty of Catholics to question their faith—or to abandon it entirely.
Rekindled is for those who have left the Church and those with one foot out the door. Smyth’s account of her own disillusionment and departure is relatable and honest. She understands and validates the pain and doubt that many Catholics and former Catholics feel. Smyth also provides you with practical guidance for keeping your faith even when what you encounter in the Church falls short:

How to recognize Christ’s presence even in the most mediocre Mass experiences.
Strategies for finding faithful role models when authority figures let you down.
Where to turn when the answers and pastoral guidance you receive don’t reach the heart of the issue.
How to find fulfillment in Christ and in the community of the saints even when joy seems to be in short supply in the Church.

Review

“At a time when so many young people are confused and searching for moral clarity, Mallory Smyth’s story of coming back to the Catholic faith,
Rekindled, demonstrates the power of the Catholic Church to give young people what they need.” —
Emily Stimpson Chapman, Creator of The Catholic Table, Coauthor of
The Catholic Almanac

“I loved
Rekindled—it is quick, concise, and super transparent
. Mallory Smyth’s honesty is a gift to so many Christians and Catholics alike and
Rekindled is an essential read for parents of adult children who have left the faith or have become lapsed in their practice. This book belongs in every Catholic home.” —
Jenny Uebbing, Blogger at
Mama Needs Coffee, Creator and content director of Off the Charts

“
Rekindled is a gripping story about how we should move past surface-level deficiencies in the Catholic Church and embrace the beauty of Catholicism’s timeless truths. I highly recommend it.” —
Trent Horn, Staff Apologist at Catholic Answers, Author of
Why We’re Catholic

“This book will become a great aid in helping others find the fullness of joy in the Catholic Church!” —
Sarah Swafford, Catholic speaker and author of
Emotional Virtue

About the Author

Mallory Smyth is the content manager at Walking with Purpose. She previously worked as director of program growth for ENDOW and as a recruitment manager, development officer, and missionary for FOCUS.
Smyth earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Louisiana State University. She has spoken at ENDOW and FOCUS conferences, including SEEK. Smyth has been a guest on EWTN and her writing has appeared in Radiant magazine. She lives in Littleton, Colorado, with her family.