This book is worth buying purely for the introduction which is the story of the author's knowledge of Pope Francis. I found it rivetting. And fortunately for me, it reinforced all I've previously heard about the Pope's spirituality. The book title speaks for itself: to be a good Christian, a follower of the Christ, first you must belong to God ie your primary relationship must be with God. Therefore your prayer and scriptural life takes precedence over everything else. Pope Francis was a noted retreat leader before he became pope and this book sets out a week long retreat programme.

The rest of the book is charts laying out a routine to follow to create your own retreat. I had two problems with these. One was that I read this on an ebook where the layout did not work but I could have opened it online and printed everything out. I've no experience with buying this as a hard copy but I do wonder how well that would work. I guess it depends if you have access to a scanner or photocopier and how tightly the book is bound.

My second problem was even more practical. Who among the laiety can take this amount of time out to read the scriptures, pray and meditate? I'm 64, retired and often do have that time now but I certainly didn't as a young woman caring for my sick mother, younger siblings and attending school. Nor when I was married, bringing up four children and working. There was no time that I could take a week out of my life.

I would recommend this book with the proviso that the reader not be discouraged. If you can take a week for a retreat - great! This book is specifically for you. If not - we'd all like to feast but most of us cannot. But we must still eat. Take what you can from this book to provide food for the journey. Add one single thing to your daily routine. When the opportunity arises, add another.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the Advanced Copy of this book and the opportunity to review.

Recommended with the above provisos.

4 stars.

I have been longing to read this book. Ignatius values and spirituality have always inspired me. This book is close to my heart.

I found "First Belong to God" an invaluable resource on a recent spiritual retreat. It's an excellent stimulant for prayer and reflection. I'm grateful NetGalley made it available.

The author had gathered together some of Pope Francis' retreat talks, which were based on St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises. I have always loved Ignatian spirituality and have read many books based on these exercises. I can't think of any that weren't helpful in my prayer life, but for some reason this book didn't quite work for me. Perhaps "me" is the key word there, or maybe it was the style of the writing. It just seemed as if too many things were added rather than focusing on contemplation. I had assumed that this was a contemplative retreat, but it really wasn't.

I don't want to dissuade everyone because there are many people that would find this useful and fruitful. There are some very good points in here! It just wasn't the type of reading experience that I was seeking.

I received this eARC courtesy of NetGalley and Austen Ivereigh.

‘First Belong to God’ is an extraordinary book. Never have I highlighted so much and been touched by so many passages. Not being able to set the full retreat time aside, I am only up to Day 5, but wanted to review this book before finishing it.

It is so rich in thoughts from Pope Francis. The book is designed for an eight-day Ignatian retreat. If you are unable to set aside the eight days in a row, I would recommend reading and praying through only one day at a time, not rushing through this book all at once. The spiritual exercises at the end of each day are also valuable and not to be skipped over. It would also be a wonderful book to work through with a group.

There is much to think about and let soak in. Austen Ivereigh is the author, but he is very careful to let the words of Pope Francis shine through. It is beautifully written, and gentle but challenging. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to draw closer to God, whether they are Catholic or not.

I enjoyed this book and highlighted a lot of passages. It's meant to be part of a retreat setting or course atmosphere, so it would probably be most effective when facilitated that way. There were many moments toward the end that it felt repetitive and really long, and I was confused about the weeks/entries, so this might be better in a tangible, printed version to page through and keep track. especially if space is allowed for the reflection questions. Overall, makes me want to experience this on a retreat in community with others.

Austen Ivereigh’s FIRST BELONG TO GOD: ON RETREAT WITH POPE FRANCIS stands out as an effective summary and application of Francis’ preaching and teaching. The book is structured as a guided retreat in accordance with the Ignatian (Jesuit) spiritual framework. A Foreword by the Pope who is himself a Jesuit and a summary introduction by the author add context. The book would be a useful spiritual tool for both individuals and groups. I found it more inspiring and more interesting than other books of this kind that I have read.

First Belong to God: On Retreat with Pope Francis is a refreshing spiritual journey with a consummate retreat master.

Inspired by the meditations of St. Ignatius, Pope Francis offers spiritual seekers an up close-and-personal visit with the Lord.

This is the type of retreat that is designed to inspire people to go forth and spread the Gospel message of love of God and love of neighbor. As Pope Francis writes:

'"I see clearly that the Lord is calling us out of ourselves, to get up and walk. He asks us not to turn away from the pains and cries of our age, but to enter into them, opening channels of His grace. Each of us is that channel by virtue of our baptism. The question is to open it and keep it open."

Through this retreat, readers can discover a joy in the Lord that can sustain them in the most challenging of times.

Austen Ivereigh's "First Belong to God" isn't just a book, it's a guided retreat led by Pope Francis himself. Drawing on Francis's wisdom and the Ignatian spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Ivereigh crafts an eight-day journey to deepen your relationship with God, creation, and others.

Each day unfolds like a gentle conversation with the Pope, inviting reflection on themes like discernment, compassion, and ecological responsibility. Ivereigh seamlessly weaves Francis's teachings with inspiring meditations, scripture passages, and practical prayer suggestions.

Whether you're a seasoned retreat-goer or simply seeking spiritual renewal, "First Belong to God" delivers. It's like having a wise mentor walk alongside you, offering personalized guidance and encouragement. The format is flexible, perfect for individual or group retreats, and even for daily reflection throughout a season like Lent or Advent.

This book is more than just information; it's an experience. You'll emerge with a renewed sense of belonging – to God, to the world, and to your own authentic self. If you're yearning for a spiritual recharge, "First Belong to God" is the perfect companion.

#FirstBelongtoGod #NetGalley

The first time I tried to read this I was finding it dense, which made it harder for me to stay on track. The reason it feels dense is that there are so many necessary lessons.
Of course I know some of these things intellectually, but the presentation is beautiful.
Some examples: when it comes to my gifts (such as my personality, talents, etc) it is necessary to focus on the giver, not the gifts. Also, in meditation about sin, look where mercy fits in.
The biggest thing, and the thing I learned at AA, is that we should be in a constant state of prayer, a constant awareness of where we are in the world.
The book is in sections with lessons and questions so readers can get a deeper understanding of themselves and of spirituality.
I'm thinking about buying my own physical copy when this comes out because I loved it and I can keep learning from it. Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this