By Bishop George H. Niederauer Ave Maria Press (2004). 128 pp., $9.95.

Silver is just one of the many images which Bishop George H. Niederauer uses in his book "Precious as Silver: Imagining Your Life with God" (Ave Maria Press, 2004) to explore what it means "to live in the world as disciples, guided by the Spirit of Jesus." The questions around which these reflections are structured are familiar: What is God like? How does God see us and treat us? What does it mean to be a disciple? Does God have a plan for us? How should we pray? How do we serve God in the Church?

Bishop Niederauer himself admits, in his introduction, that "these are ancient issues …, and each has already been dealt with at greater length and in greater depth by theologians and spiritual writers." Nevertheless, drawing upon his own personal reflections as well as his experience as spiritual mentor and retreat director, the bishop brings a fresh approach to these very basic issues. Just as Jesus, when he addressed such questions, used images from his everyday life -- yeast, sheep, salt, vines, wheat and weeds -- to convey his message, the author draws upon images from contemporary life -- construction sites, silverware, side altars and park benches -- to explicate the implications of living a life centered in Jesus and his teachings.

Bishop George Niederauer will sign his book "Precious as Silver," at the Gift Shop of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Aug. 22 following the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Masses.

Bishop Niederauer's style is straightforward, almost conversational and often times humorous. Do not, however, let the apparent light-heartedness of the book's tone mislead you. The reflections the bishop offers in response to these fundamental questions are both insightful and compelling. His commentary on the occasions on which Jesus said "no" to a request is consoling as well as life giving. He also proposes that, rather than Paul, Ananias's dialogue with God in the ninth chapter of Acts makes him the "model of conversion."

The compendium of gospel values contained in the Sermon on the Mount takes on a more challenging meaning when he contrasts it with the "unquestioned assumptions about life" summarized in his "Middle-Class Beatitudes." Furthermore, each chapter is broken by invitations to "Pause & Pray" with appropriate passages from scripture. This makes "Precious as Silver" an ideal book for the time of retreat or periods of quiet prayer.

---Sr. Mary Joanne Wittenberg, SND

The Reviewer:

Sister of Notre Dame Mary Joanne Wittenberg is archivist for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Editor's note: Ordained in 1962 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Bishop George Niederauer was consecrated the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 1995. Prior to this appointment, he served as faculty member and rector of St. John's Seminary in Camarillo and was co-director of the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for Priests, Los Angeles. Sister of Notre Dame Mary Joanne Wittenberg is archivist for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.