Book Review: Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life by Nicole Roccas

Nicole Roccas’s Time and Despondency offers a deeply insightful exploration of one of the most relatable struggles in the spiritual life: the experience of acedia, or despondency. Drawing on Orthodox Christian theology, modern psychology, and personal anecdotes, Roccas addresses the complex relationship between time, faith, and the human tendency to feel disconnected or overwhelmed.

Acedia, often misunderstood as mere laziness or boredom, is revealed as a profound spiritual malaise that impacts how we perceive and live within time. Roccas unpacks the ways in which this ancient affliction, described by the Desert Fathers, manifests in contemporary life, from procrastination to restless distraction. She frames time as both a gift and a challenge, urging readers to reconnect with the present moment as a vital means of spiritual renewal.

What sets this book apart is Roccas’s practical and compassionate tone. Rather than simply diagnosing the problem, she offers tools for healing, including prayer, mindfulness, and the Eucharistic experience of time as sacred. Her reflections invite readers to view time not as a tyrant but as a pathway to encounter God.

Throughout, Roccas weaves together her scholarly insights with a relatable voice, making her work accessible to both the devout and the curious. Time and Despondency is not only a book for Orthodox Christians but also for anyone seeking to reclaim a sense of meaning and presence in their daily lives.

In a world saturated with noise and hurry, Roccas reminds us that the present is where God meets us—and where we must learn to dwell.