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A Rome for Restless Hearts: Finding a Spiritual Home in Catholicism
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Expected 29 Jul 25Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 16:40:41
20 copies available
U.S. only
TikTok-famous nun and Protestant-turned-Catholic Sister Lisa Hezmalhalch invites readers into her discovery that following Jesus meant becoming a Catholic, one faith question at a time.
Sister Lisa Hezmalhalch gets why some Christians aren’t part of the Catholic Church—and why they could never imagine themselves in it. She grew up Protestant, thinking that Catholicism wasn’t real Christianity, but also had a nagging sense that there was something more than the faith she knew. Now she invites us to listen to that questioning voice within our own hearts that tells us there are more spiritual riches to be found.
In A Rome for Restless Hearts, Sr. Lisa takes readers step by step through the most common questions and worries about the Catholic faith, from the veneration of Mary to the role of women in the Church, showing how the Catholic faith was already offering what her soul was seeking and how this journey of faith led her more deeply into relationship with Jesus. With her characteristic wit, Sr. Lisa shares with readers about her own questions, misunderstandings, and reluctance about Catholicism, helping readers discover the Catholic faith anew.
A Rome for Restless Hearts is a roadmap back to the deepest riches of faith, beginning with simple questions and accessibly guiding readers to greater understanding and spiritual experience. Sr. Lisa’s invitation extends far beyond those who already identify with the Christian faith, welcoming spiritually curious or even skeptical readers on an adventure to see what people have found in this 2,000-year-old tradition.
Sincere and informative, A Rome for Restless Hearts is essential reading for anyone who’s ready to take seriously their own spiritual hunger—and to allow their spiritual wondering to lead them to surprising places.
Sister Lisa Hezmalhalch gets why some Christians aren’t part of the Catholic Church—and why they could never imagine themselves in it. She grew up Protestant, thinking that Catholicism wasn’t real Christianity, but also had a nagging sense that there was something more than the faith she knew. Now she invites us to listen to that questioning voice within our own hearts that tells us there are more spiritual riches to be found.
In A Rome for Restless Hearts, Sr. Lisa takes readers step by step through the most common questions and worries about the Catholic faith, from the veneration of Mary to the role of women in the Church, showing how the Catholic faith was already offering what her soul was seeking and how this journey of faith led her more deeply into relationship with Jesus. With her characteristic wit, Sr. Lisa shares with readers about her own questions, misunderstandings, and reluctance about Catholicism, helping readers discover the Catholic faith anew.
A Rome for Restless Hearts is a roadmap back to the deepest riches of faith, beginning with simple questions and accessibly guiding readers to greater understanding and spiritual experience. Sr. Lisa’s invitation extends far beyond those who already identify with the Christian faith, welcoming spiritually curious or even skeptical readers on an adventure to see what people have found in this 2,000-year-old tradition.
Sincere and informative, A Rome for Restless Hearts is essential reading for anyone who’s ready to take seriously their own spiritual hunger—and to allow their spiritual wondering to lead them to surprising places.
192 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 29, 2025
1099 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 22, 2024
I received a free copy of, A Rome for the Restless Hearts, by Sister Lisa Hezmalhalch, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Sister Lisa Hezmalhalch was a protestant before converting to Catholicism. I really enjoyed this book, Sister Lisa answered some great questions, people have about Catholics, like when in the church.
February 12, 2025
Sister Lisa warmly describes her journey from an active Protestant to becoming a Catholic nun. She describes her early misconceptions, prayerful insights and what she learned along the way. She addresses many questions outsiders have about the practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. She provides encouraging advice for prayer, confession and baptism, and other sacraments. She’s humorous, self-deprecating and caring about her readers. Most importantly, she gently challenges anyone’s belief that Catholics are not Christians.
For her, a turning point was being asked, “Do you believe the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus?” (Or something like that.) Having learned some, she answers, “Yes.” And then begins her journey to learn more about the church and eventually to be involved with it. While this is mostly a memoir answering her questions, they are many left unanswered, such as:
What about the Eastern Orthodox Church which also has apostolic roots, and was once headquartered closer to Jerusalem in Asia Minor?
Coming to terms with the distinction between mortal (major) and venal (minor) sins—what Jerry Bridges calls “respectable sins”— how would she address Galatians 5.19-21 where Paul writes that even sins like jealousy, envy, greed, quarreling also disqualify us from heaven?
What is the scriptural basis for purgatory as a place for us to shed our burdens that hinder us from entering heaven?
While communion is a sign of unity with the Church (or church), why are only Catholics permitted to partake inside a Catholic Church, while many Protestant churches (not all) permit any believer to participate?
Sister Lisa describes how entreating (praying to?) the saints and Mary to intercede on our behalf is like asking friends to pray for us. How would she describe the human limitation of any saint to identify and pray for anyone when being “barraged” by hundreds, if not millions, of requests? Think Jim Carrey in “Bruce Almighty” movie. Perhaps it’s a spiritual mystery or ability that God has granted these special individuals but there’s no scriptural basis.
She acknowledges Martin Luther’s reforming push to change some of the Catholic Church’s practices, especially the “sola scriptura” (only scripture) foundation. There were many other reformers, including those who pushed for translations in more than just Greek and Latin (Septuagint and Latin Vulgate). Yet the church still has Latin masses at certain times, as if Latin was a language of the Christ and the apostles—Hebrew and Aramaic being ignored. Worshipping in Arabic—another Semitic language—would be closer if the Church wanted to harken back to its roots. Latin is the language of Rome, hence Roman Catholic Church. So I’m curious if she really researched the history and foundations of the church, why she didn’t end up with a different orthodoxy? Granted, I’ve not seen any of her TikTok reels so she probably has more answers to questions like this in public.
I’m appreciative of the publisher for providing an advanced copy.
For her, a turning point was being asked, “Do you believe the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus?” (Or something like that.) Having learned some, she answers, “Yes.” And then begins her journey to learn more about the church and eventually to be involved with it. While this is mostly a memoir answering her questions, they are many left unanswered, such as:
What about the Eastern Orthodox Church which also has apostolic roots, and was once headquartered closer to Jerusalem in Asia Minor?
Coming to terms with the distinction between mortal (major) and venal (minor) sins—what Jerry Bridges calls “respectable sins”— how would she address Galatians 5.19-21 where Paul writes that even sins like jealousy, envy, greed, quarreling also disqualify us from heaven?
What is the scriptural basis for purgatory as a place for us to shed our burdens that hinder us from entering heaven?
While communion is a sign of unity with the Church (or church), why are only Catholics permitted to partake inside a Catholic Church, while many Protestant churches (not all) permit any believer to participate?
Sister Lisa describes how entreating (praying to?) the saints and Mary to intercede on our behalf is like asking friends to pray for us. How would she describe the human limitation of any saint to identify and pray for anyone when being “barraged” by hundreds, if not millions, of requests? Think Jim Carrey in “Bruce Almighty” movie. Perhaps it’s a spiritual mystery or ability that God has granted these special individuals but there’s no scriptural basis.
She acknowledges Martin Luther’s reforming push to change some of the Catholic Church’s practices, especially the “sola scriptura” (only scripture) foundation. There were many other reformers, including those who pushed for translations in more than just Greek and Latin (Septuagint and Latin Vulgate). Yet the church still has Latin masses at certain times, as if Latin was a language of the Christ and the apostles—Hebrew and Aramaic being ignored. Worshipping in Arabic—another Semitic language—would be closer if the Church wanted to harken back to its roots. Latin is the language of Rome, hence Roman Catholic Church. So I’m curious if she really researched the history and foundations of the church, why she didn’t end up with a different orthodoxy? Granted, I’ve not seen any of her TikTok reels so she probably has more answers to questions like this in public.
I’m appreciative of the publisher for providing an advanced copy.
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December 20, 2024I was given a copy of A Rome for Restless Hearts by Sister Lisa Hezmalhalch from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a surprisingly dense book, considering how short it was. I think this worked quite well as an autobiographical guide of Hezmalhalch's life choices, with occasional advice meted in throughout the book about how she felt we, the readers, could interpret the Bible and what lessons could be gleamed in everyday life.
I picked this book because I was intrigued by how people in the modern age decide to become part of a religious order, and she answered these questions quite well. I wonder if there may have been a second writer who could have asked her questions. There could maybe be an additional chapter in this regard.
Overall, I was pleased that I read this and feel I have based my review on fulfilling some of my curiosity and having an overarching picture of religious life in this day and age as an alternate image to the world around us.
This was a surprisingly dense book, considering how short it was. I think this worked quite well as an autobiographical guide of Hezmalhalch's life choices, with occasional advice meted in throughout the book about how she felt we, the readers, could interpret the Bible and what lessons could be gleamed in everyday life.
I picked this book because I was intrigued by how people in the modern age decide to become part of a religious order, and she answered these questions quite well. I wonder if there may have been a second writer who could have asked her questions. There could maybe be an additional chapter in this regard.
Overall, I was pleased that I read this and feel I have based my review on fulfilling some of my curiosity and having an overarching picture of religious life in this day and age as an alternate image to the world around us.
December 8, 2024
Reading ‘A Rome for Restless Hearts’ was such a blessing. Someone who had wrestled with issues such as Mary, Saints who aren’t really dead, purgatory, the role of women in the Catholic Church and what true unity in the worldwide Church looks like. Thank you, Sister Lisa, for sharing your heart, and providing encouragement to those of us who are travelling a similar path.
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