The biblical story of Ruth is a woman’s story about a woman’s life. Though written thousands of years ago, it is nonetheless perennial. It calls us to reflect in every generation on what it means to be a whole woman, a spiritual woman. In The Story of Ruth Joan Chittister and John August Swanson reclaim this powerful biblical story as a model for contemporary women seeking a fully spiritual life.

Through complementary texts and illustrations, Chittister and Swanson explore a series of twelve defining moments in every woman’s life—moments of loss, change, transformation, aging, independence, respect, recognition, insight, empowerment, self-definition, invisibility, and fulfillment. Each chapter and each piece of artwork together illuminate the faithful life of Ruth in relation to these formative moments and lend insights into what it means to be a woman of God today.

A lovely combination of art and text, The Story of Ruth provides valuable help for women seeking to live wholly in a world still struggling with issues of faith and gender.