Maurice Nutt, a faculty member at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, provides the introduction to this collection of quotations from the life and ministry of Thea Bowman (1937 -1990). He says the following about this African-American nun:

"Sister Thea Bowman was many things to many people: one of the 'old folks'; a devoted Franciscan religious woman; an advocate for all cultures, while maintaining love for 'her own black self'; a proud maiden of Mississippi; a persuasive preacher; a tenacious teacher; a soul-stirring singer; a bold 'true truth' teller; an instrument of peace, love, and joy; a lover of the Church; a faithful friend and spiritual mother to many."

This inspiring collection is divided into sections on The Wisdom of the "Old Folks," The Black Family, The Giftedness of Children, On Being Church, On Being Black and Catholic, The Power of Prayer, Faith, Hope, Love, Black Spirituality and Songs of My People, Jesus and Justice, 'Each One, Teach One,' Witnessing, and Living with Suffering and Dying.

Here is a sampler of the material in this collection:

• "Old folks used to say, 'God is bread when you're hungry. God is water when you're thirsty. God is shelter from the storm. God is rest when you're weary. God's my doctor. God's my lawyer. God's my captain who never lost a battle. God is my lily of the valley."

• "I grew up with people who taught us how to respect and appreciate nature, to study nature's secret, to reverence the very soil beneath our feet. My people in the South were farmers and they learned patience. You can't rush the seasons, you can't call for the rain.

"They also learned not to waste! And that's something we all need to pay more attention to today! It is important not to take more than we need. Take your share and leave the rest for others. If we live cooperatively the earth produces sufficiently to feed and shelter us all."

• "I think the difference between me and some other people is that I am content to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. If each one of us would light the candle, we've got a tremendous light."