Mary Lou Kownacki (1942-2023) was a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA and founder of Benetvision. A columnist and poet who was considered the mother of the Christian nonviolence movement, her books include Between Two Souls: Conversations with Ryokan (William B. Eerdmans) and two Orbis titles edited with Mary Hembrow Snyder: Joan Chittister: Essential Writings and Awakenings: Prophetic Reflections.
""Encounter Mary Lou's phenomenal gift for turning hearts gently to the beauty and sacred all around us, and for courageous acceptance of death while relishing life with joyful endless curiosity and gratitude."" ꟷDr. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland 1997-2011; professor emeritus, Children, Law & Religion, University of Glasgow ""If you're lucky, over the course of your lifetime you get to walk some of the way with people who know just what word to offer you. I'm thrilled new readers will get the opportunity I had to experience the accompaniment of Mary Lou."" ꟷJohnny Zokovitch, executive director, Pax Christi USA ""Mary Lou Kownacki's fierce tenderness and prophetic vulnerability resonate deeply."" ꟷKate McElwee, executive director, Women's Ordination Conference ""One of our greatest teachers of a spirituality of nonviolence. Mary Lou's book is one I will return to for insight and consolation on the everyday journey of peace."" ꟷRev. John Dear, author, The Gospel of Peace; director, www.beatitudescenter.org ""Mary Lou Kownacki's journal is a treasure."" ꟷMarie Dennis, Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, Pax Christi International ""Mary Lou Kownacki proves here, once again, that she is just the kind of healer we need today."" ꟷMickey McGrath, OSFS, artist, author, story-teller, and speaker ""Here's the mystic, fully engaged, in wonder, in pursuit of justice, in endless questions, seeing God's face in all of it."" ꟷTom Roberts, former editor, National Catholic Reporter