Religious communities and monasticism Books

Trade Review"There are so many holy heroes waiting for us to stumble upon them, waiting with words that will resonate in our souls and lead us to a closer spiritual union with God. Saint Rafael Arnaiz is a wonderful example of this and through her translation of his collected works, Catherine Addington has made it so for both us and Saint Rafael the wait is over. I have been blessed to get to know this wonderful saint and I smile knowing that countless others will now as well."Tommy Tighe, author of Saint Dymphna's Playbook"At last, an accessible English translation of the works of St. Rafael Arnaiz that captures both the appeal and the depth of his life and spirituality! Helpfully and insightfully introduced by Sr. María Gonzalo-García, Addington’s fine translation opens the riches of St. Rafael’s writings to new readers who will certainly benefit from his simple zeal and the profound wisdom he learned from the Cross. Pick up this book, and get ready to be enriched, inspired, and challenged by what you read!"Mark O’Keefe, OSB, Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology"St. Rafael is a brother to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, living a small, hidden life that was burning with love for God. I will turn to his writings for strength in my own spiritual life, and I'll read excerpts to my children, so that they can see what it means to turn every crumb and corner of our lives over to God, all for love."Leah Libresco Sargeant, author of Building the Benedict Option"We must warmly applaud the editor and translator who have presented us with such an important new saint."The Downside Review"This not-so-slim volume full of the prolific writing of Saint RafaelArnaiz, Cistercian lay oblate at the Abbey of San Isidro de Dueñas, Spain, is fascinating. There is a wide audience for this book. All religious, especially those in monasteries, will find it helpful to keep focused on what is most important, namely, to truly seek God, no matter what. Rafael Arnaiz will inspire anyone living the monastic way of life, inside or outside of the monastery, and anyone for whom the love of Christ comes before all else."American Benedictine Review"Young readers: Do you need a model for dealing with the great and terrible impulses the contemplative life has unleashed in you? Old readers: Do you still cherish the longing to recover your first love? Mature readers: Has the way of sobriety and reasonableness begun to taste like semi-Pelagianism? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, a marvelous companion is now at hand thanks to the new English translation of the writings of Saint Rafael Arnaiz."Cistercian Studies QuarterlyTable of ContentsContents Drawings and Paintings xvAbbreviations xviiiMap of Spain xx“Upheld by Him”: A Saint in the Making Sr. María Gonzalo-García, OCSO xxiA Note on the Translation Catherine Addington liiiI. All the World Can Give: Early Years and Vocational Discernment1. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. April 2, 1921 42. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. June 23, 1930 53. Postcards from Salamanca. July 12, 1930 94. To Mercedes Barón Torres. July 18, 1930 105. To Leopoldo Barón. October 11, 1930 116. To María Osorio. March 15, 1931 177. Impressions of La Trapa. September 1931 208. To Rosa Calvo. January 10, 1932 269. To Luis Fernando Arnaiz Barón. November 4, 1932 2910. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa and Mercedes Barón Torres. October 21, 1933 3711. Rafael’s Daily Schedule in Madrid. October 1933 4212. To Dom Félix Alonso García. November 19, 1933 4313. Dedication of a Holy Card to Leopoldo Barón. November 22, 1933 45 14. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa and Mercedes Barón Torres. November 28, 1933 4615. To Fr. Marcelo León. December 3, 1933 4916. To Fernanda Torres. December 7, 1933 5217. To Fr. Marcelo León. December 8, 1933 5418. To Fernanda Torres. December 10, 1933 5619. To Fr. Marcelo León. December 17, 1933 5920. To Leopoldo Barón. December 17, 1933 6221. To Fr. Marcelo León. January 1, 1934 6522. To Dom Félix Alonso García. January 9, 1934 6823. To María Osorio and Leopoldo Barón. January 12, 1934 6924. Dedication of a Little Office to Mercedes Barón Torres. January 14, 1934 7125. Dedication of a Holy Card to Mercedes Barón Torres. January 14, 1934 72 II. A Heart Filled with Joy and Love: Joining the Monastery26. To Mercedes Barón Torres. January 16, 1934 7427. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa and Mercedes Barón Torres. January 23, 1934 7628. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa and Mercedes Barón Torres. January 24, 1934 7829. To Mercedes Barón Torres. January 29, 1934 8030. To Mercedes Barón Torres. January 30, 1934 8331. To Mercedes Barón Torres. February 18, 1934 8732. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. February 19, 1934 9033. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa and Mercedes Barón Torres. April 1, 1934 9334. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. April 8, 1934 101 III. I Thought That God Was Abandoning Me: Struck by Illness35. To Leopoldo Barón. June 3, 1934 10636. To Fr. Marcelo León. June 11, 1934 109 37. To Leopoldo Barón. June 17, 1934 11338. Dedication of a Holy Card of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus to Ramón Vallaure. July 7, 1934 11839. To Fr. Marcelo León. July 22, 1934 11940. To María Osorio. July 23, 1934 12341. To Fernanda Torres. August 9, 1934 13342. To Fr. Marcelo León. August 11, 1934 13443. To Leopoldo Barón. August 12, 1934 13744. To W. Marino del Hierro. August 15, 1934 14145. To W. Marino del Hierro. August 20, 1934 14546. To W. Marino del Hierro. September 2, 1934 15047. To Fr. Vicente Pardo. September 3, 1934 15448. To Fr. Francisco Díez. September 15, 1934 15649. To Rosa Calvo. September 15, 1934 15950. To W. Marino del Hierro. September 18, 1934 16351. The Trappist’s Apologia. September 19, 1934 16752. To W. Marino del Hierro. September 29, 1934 18253. To Fernanda Torres. September 30, 1934 18654. To Fr. Marcelo León. October 2, 1934 19255. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. October 24, 1934 19456. Literary Notes. October 25, 1934 19657. To Mercedes Barón Torres. November 12, 1934 19758. To Leopoldo Arnaiz Barón. November 14, 1934 19959. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa and Mercedes Barón Torres. November 19, 1934 20060. Dedication of a Holy Card to Fr. Buenaventura Ramos Caballero. November 21, 1934 20261. To Fr. Marcelo León. February 21, 1935 20362. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. September 24, 1935 20663. To Leopoldo Barón. October 1935 210 IV. Shaped in His Hands: A Path of Oblation64. To Dom Félix Alonso García. October 9, 1935 21465. To Leopoldo Barón. October 1935 22166. To Leopoldo Barón. October 1935 22367. Dedication of a Holy Card to Dolores Barón Osorio. October 25, 1935 22468. Dedication of a Holy Card to María Osorio. October 27, 1935 22569. To Dom Félix Alonso García. November 7, 1935 22670. To María Osorio. November 8, 1935 22871. To María Osorio. November 11, 1935 23572. To María Osorio. November 16, 1935 23973. To María Osorio. November 18, 1935 25174. To Leopoldo Barón. November 22, 1935 25775. To María Osorio. November 22, 1935 26076. To María Osorio. November 26, 1935 27177. To María Osorio. November 27, 1935 27578. To María Osorio. December 1, 1935 28879. Notes Written by Rafael in His Copy of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Second Half of 1935 29480. Dedication of a Little Office to his Mother, Mercedes Barón Torres. December 2, 1935 29581. To María Osorio. December 4, 1935 29682. To Leopoldo Barón. December 5, 1935 30283. Dedication of a Holy Card to María Osorio. December 5, 1935 30484. To María Osorio. December 7, 1935 30685. To María Osorio. December 10, 1935 31186. To María Osorio. December 15, 1935 32287. To Leopoldo Barón. December 16, 1935 32888. To Fernanda Torres. December 17, 1935 333 89. To María Osorio. December 20, 1935 33590. To María Osorio. December 24, 1935 34691. Dedication of a Holy Card to Br. Jesús Sandoval. December 25, 1935 34892. To María Osorio. December 26, 1935 34993. To María Osorio. December 27, 1935 35494. To María Osorio. December 29, 1935 36195. To Fr. José Olmedo. January 3, 1936 36796. To W. Marino del Hierro. January 3, 1936 36997. To María Osorio. January 3, 1936 37098. To María Osorio. January 4, 1936 37399. To José Olmedo. January 7, 1936 379100. Dedication of a Holy Card to Mercedes Barón Torres. January 9, 1936 380101. Dedication of a Holy Card to Leopoldo Barón. January 10, 1936 381 V. The Circus Clown: The Last One in the Community102. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. January 14, 1936 384103. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. February 9, 1936 386104. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. February 18, 1936 396105. To María Osorio. February 23, 1936 398106. To Leopoldo Barón. April 17, 1936 405107. Dedication of a Holy Card to Leopoldo Barón. June 14, 1936 411108. Meditations of a Trappist: How Great God Is! July 12, 1936 412109. Meditations of a Trappist: Knowing How to Wait. July 12, 1936 415110. Meditations of a Trappist: A Worldly Youth. July 19, 1936 416111. Meditations of a Trappist: What Will Happen in Spain? July 19, 1936 420 112. Meditations of a Trappist: “The Nations Are in an Uproar.” July 24, 1936 422113. Meditations of a Trappist: The Circus Clown. July 24, 1936 425114. Meditations of a Trappist: Silence. July 25, 1936 426115. Meditations of a Trappist: The Day Goes By. July 25, 1936 428116. Meditations of a Trappist: The Hour of Vespers. July 25, 1936 430117. Meditations of a Trappist: How to Be Happy. July 26, 1936 433118. Meditations of a Trappist: Viaticum. July 27, 1936 436119. Meditations of a Trappist: Not Knowing How to Cut Grass. July 29, 1936 438120. Meditations of a Trappist: The Sea in Fair Weather. July 30, 1936 440121. Meditations of a Trappist: How Great Is the Mercy of God! August 1, 1936 442122. Meditations of a Trappist: The Tower Bells. August 2, 1936 444123. Meditations of a Trappist: Spain Is at War. August 2, 1936 446124. Meditations of a Trappist: Life Is a Struggle. August 3, 1936 449125. Meditations of a Trappist: Tying Sheaves. August 3, 1936 451126. Meditations of a Trappist: No News from the World. August 4, 1936 453127. Meditations of a Trappist: On Our Way to Work. August 5, 1936 454128. Meditations of a Trappist: You Don’t Just Come and Conquer. August 5, 1936 457129. Meditations of a Trappist: The Pears in the Grove. August 6, 1936 459130. Meditations of a Trappist: You Alone. August 8, 1936 461131. To Leopoldo Barón. August 30, 1936 464132. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. September 13, 1936 468133. To Luis Fernando Arnaiz Barón. September 13, 1936 471 VI. A Deer That Thirsts: The Interior Trappist134. To Mercedes Barón. October 18, 1936 474135. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa and Mercedes Barón. November 14, 1936 477136. My Notebook. December 8, 1936 479137. My Notebook: “As a Deer Longs for Flowing Streams.” December 9, 1936 481138. My Notebook: Solitude. December 11, 1936 486139. My Notebook: The Antics of the Turnips. December 12, 1936 490140. My Notebook: Hidden. December 14, 1936 494141. My Notebook: Freedom. December 15, 1936 497142. My Notebook: “Raise Your Heads, because Your Redemption Is Drawing Near.” December 22, 1936 502143. My Notebook: Pax! December 23, 1936 507144. My Notebook: Meditation. December 27, 1936 508145. My Notebook: “Laudate Dominum omnes gentes.” December 30, 1936 510146. My Notebook: Happy New Year!! January 1, 1937 514147. My Notebook: Just God and Me. January 4, 1937 516148. My Notebook: “Wise Men from the East Came to Jerusalem, Asking, Where Is the One Who Has Been Born, Whose Star We Have Observed?” January 6, 1937 518149. My Notebook: A War in the World. January 8, 1937 521150. My Notebook: “The Lord Gave, and the Lord Has Taken Away.” January 10, 1937 523151. My Notebook: The View from My Window. January 13, 1937 528152. My Notebook: The Wind. January 15, 1937 531153. My Notebook: My Notebook. January 18, 1937 532154. My Notebook: Meditation on a Passage from Kempis. January 20, 1937 535 155. My Notebook: My Pencil. January 22, 1937 540156. My Notebook: Simplicity and Openness. January 25, 1937 542157. My Notebook: My Heaven on Earth. January 28, 1937 545158. My Notebook: “Fiat.” February 6, 1937 546 VII. Foolishness for Christ: In the World Once Again159. To Leopoldo Barón. March 18, 1937 550160. To María Osorio. May 8, 1937 553161. To María Osorio. September 3, 1937 562162. To Leopoldo Barón. September 25, 1937 566163. To Leopoldo Barón. September 26, 1937 574164. To Leopoldo Barón. October 11, 1937 580165. To Leopoldo Torres. October 30, 1937 585166. To Toribio Luis (Br. Tescelino) Arribas. November 1, 1937 589167. To Fr. Francisco Díez. November 29, 1937 594168. To Toribio Luis (Br. Tescelino) Arribas. December 1, 1937 596169. To Toribio Luis (Br. Tescelino) Arribas. 1937 602 VIII. It Is Love . . . : The Ultimate Sacrifice of Praise170. God and My Soul. December 16, 1937 606171. God and My Soul: Everything I Do Is because of God. December 21, 1937 608172. God and My Soul: Take It All, Lord! December 26, 1937 609173. God and My Soul: Perseverance in Prayer. December 29, 1937 611174. God and My Soul: Humility. December 31, 1937 612175. God and My Soul: My Vow. January 1, 1938 613176. To Mercedes Barón. January 6, 1938 615177. God and My Soul: My Will Is Yours, Lord! January 6, 1938 619178. God and My Soul: “The Greatest Penance Is Community Life.” January 7, 1938 620179. God and My Soul: Teach Me, Lord, to Love Your Cross. January 31, 1938 621 180. God and My Soul: How Good You Are, Lord; You Love Me So Much. February 5, 1938 623181. God and My Soul: The Greatest Consolation Is to Have None at All. February 12, 1938 626182. God and My Soul: Living United to Your Cross. February 13, 1938 629183. To Rafael Arnaiz Sánchez de la Campa. February 14, 1938 632184. God and My Soul: You, Lord, Are My Hope. February 18, 1938 634185. God and My Soul: I Desire Only You and Your Cross. February 23, 1938 637186. God and My Soul: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life.” February 26, 1938 640187. God and My Soul: I Offered My Life to the Lord. February 27, 1938 643188. God and My Soul: “How Long, O Lord?” March 4, 1938 646189. God and My Soul: Jesus Is Where I Belong! March 7, 1938 649190. God and My Soul: Nothing That Comes to an End Is of Great Value. March 8, 1938 651191. God and My Soul: Virgin Mary, I Offer You My Will. March 9, 1938 653192. Dedication of a Holy Card to Br. Damián Yáñez. March 9, 1938 654193. God and My Soul: Lord, How Hard It Is to Live! March 13, 1938 655194. God and My Soul: To Die for Jesus and Mary. March 19, 1938 659195. God and My Soul: I Am So Tired, Lord! March 20, 1938 662196. God and My Soul: A Visit with His Brother Luis Fernando. March 25, 1938 665197. God and My Soul: A Little Piece of His Cross. March 28, 1938 668198. God and My Soul: When Will You Begin? April 1, 1938 670 199. God and My Soul: Relishing the Cross. April 3, 1938 671200. God and My Soul: How Good It Is to Live Close to the Cross of Christ! April 7, 1938 675201. God and My Soul: Palm Sunday. April 10, 1938 678202. God and My Soul: Holy Tuesday. April 12, 1938 682203. God and My Soul: Holy Wednesday. April 13, 1938 686204. God and My Soul: Holy Thursday. April 14, 1938 688205. To Toribio Luis (Br. Tescelino) Arribas. April 15, 1938 690206. God and My Soul: Easter Sunday. April 17, 1938 693207. To Leopoldo Arnaiz Barón. April 17, 1938 694208. Chapter of Faults 698 IX. Never Stop Looking to the Heights: Prayers and Other Undated Passages209. Passages from Notes I 700210. Passages from Notes II 701211. Passages from Notes III 704212. A Prayer in Time of War 706213. Dedication of a Holy Card to María Osorio 708214. Dedication of a Holy Card to Rosa Calvo 709215. Loose Paper Written in Pencil 710216. Note in Rafael’s Bible 711217. Gloss on Psalm 6 712218. Dedication of a Holy Card to Fernando Barón Osorio 713219. Dedication of a Holy Card 714Addressees 715Time Line 717Photographs 719Bibliography 725

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Trade Review"Thomas Davis makes an invaluable contribution in his fresh translation of the Meditations and his insightful commentary on William’s account of the contemplative ascent into God, situating the abbot of Saint-Thierry’s spiritual itinerary in his broader theological vision. That ascent is motivated by ardent love and longing to see God’s face, yet paradoxically necessitates a descent into the truth of a person’s deepest self where one comes face to face with one’s utter brokenness and the need to die to self. There one also discovers the truth of one’s unimaginable beloved-ness in the eternal Word. Ascending then through the Incarnation, one’s will is united with God’s love—the Holy Spirit—in the unitas spiritus where one’s life is transformed and one’s spirit is enfolded the ineffable embrace of the Divine Persons of the Trinity."Glenn E. Myers, PhD, Professor of Church History and Theological Studies, Crown College "Father Thomas Davis takes his readers on an extraordinary journey through the depths and heights of William of Saint–Thierry’s spirituality. The revised translation and commentary illuminate the complexity of early Cistercian thought through the lens of William’s poetic imagery. Offering a guided tour through the metaphorical landscape of William’s meditations, Father Davis provides intellectually rich insight, as well as a personal appreciation of Cistercian spiritual practice. This book is a source both for future Cistercian scholarship and for anyone who is drawn to the experiential, authentic nature of monastic prayer.“Dr. des. theol. ​Delphine Conzelmann, University of Basel, Switzerland “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” So wrote St. Augustine at the beginning of his Confessions, one of the most remarkable prayer-texts in the Christian tradition. Some 700 years later, a closely related insight drove William of St. Thierry to pen the meditative prayers of this book. Blessed with an intimate knowledge of the Bible and the medieval interpretive tradition, a poetic sense of imagery, a refined Christian metaphysics, and an ardent personal faith, William delivered a remarkable text to guide thoughts to God. This new volume gives us a precious new portal into one of Christian history’s outstanding minds."Fr. Joseph Van House, O Cist, Our Lady of Dallas Abbey, University of Dallas "This volume is highly recommended for all who want to deepen their appreciation of medieval monastic spirituality."Catholic Books ReviewTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgments xi Abbreviations xiii Foreword, by David N. Bell xvii The Meditations 1 Preface 3 The Meditations 5 The Beginning of William’s Contemplative Ascent into Intimacy with the Triune Divinity as Presented in His Meditations: A Monastic Commentary 89 Two Protagonists: Meditation 1.1–6 91 Foreknowledge and Predestination: Meditation 1.2–6 94 Divine Foreknowledge as Eternal Wisdom: Meditation 1.7–10 96 Bonding between Eternity and Time: Meditation 1.8 97 Ascending vs Circling: Meditation 1.9 99 Divine Predestination/Intimate Relationship: Meditation 1.11 100 Pride: Meditation 1.12–13 102 Go to Him and be Enlightened: Meditation 2.1–3 104 A Remarkable Scriptural Image and Metaphor: Meditation 2.2–8 107 Divine and Human Darkness: Meditation 2.5–8 108 Imagination in Respect to a Vision of God that Enlightens: Meditation 2.9–12 110 Two Categories of Understanding: Meditation 2.13–15 113 Enlightened Understanding Coming from Above: Meditation 2.14 113 Face and Countenance: Meditation 3.1–5 116 Meaning of the Face 117 Meaning of the Countenance 117 A Succinct Unfolding of the Meditations 118 The Paradigm of Your Countenance 118 Your Love: Meditation 3.6–7 120 Divine Revelation: Meditation 3.7–8 123 Understanding from Reason: Meditation 3.9–11 125 Understanding God: Meditation 3.12–13 127 Understanding the Trinity: Meditation 3.14 128 Embracing the Trinity: Meditation 3.15–16 130 Personal Change via the Lord’s Prayer: Meditation 4.1–5 132 Nine Factors Bringing Personal Change: Meditation 4.6–19 133 1. Opening Personal Inner Depths: Meditation 4.6 134 2. Good Conscience: Meditation 4.10 135 3. Reason in Its Proper Responsibility: Meditation 4.11 136 4. Knowledge of One’s Personal God as the Fruit of Solitude: Meditation 4.12 136 5. A Desire to Taste, See, and Delight in This Personal God: Meditation 4.13–14 137 6. Pursuing the Place Where God Is: Meditation 4.15 138 7. Removing All Types of Idols Formerly Used to Comprehend God: Meditation 4.16 139 8. Becoming Intelligent and Devoutly Knowledgeable: Meditation 4.17 140 9. Authentic Listening to God: Meditation 4.18–19 141 The Prayer of Jesus: Meditation 5.1–3 143 Prayer as Being Crucified, Concrucifixus, with the Lord Jesus: Meditation 5.4 144 Concrucifixus and Its Consequences: Meditation 5.5 145 A Treacherous Problem: Meditation 5.6 147 Christ’s Prayer on the Cross: Meditation 5.7–10 147 Love and Truth: Meditation 5.10–12 149 William’s Bonding to the Human and Divine Natures of Christ: Meditation 5.14–15 151 Mutual Anointing and the Amplexus: Meditation 5.15–19 152 Heaven’s Open Door: Meditation 6.1 155 Earthly Heaviness and Human Pride: Meditation 6.2–5 155 Jesus, Incarnate Merciful Love, Is the Open Door into Heaven: Meditation 6.6–7 157 The Proper Way to Think Regarding Heaven and Earth: Meditation 6.8–9 158 Further Thoughts on Heaven: Meditation 6.10–14 159 Heaven Is Likeness to the Creating God: Meditation 6.15 161 The Comprehensiveness of the Incarnation: Meditation 6.16–19 161 The Obedience of Charity and the Charity of Obedience: Meditation 6.18 162 The Pierced Heart of Jesus: Meditation 6.20–22 164 A Yearning to Rejoice with the Saints: Meditation 6.23–27 164 Boldness in Seeking God’s Face: Meditation 7.1 167 Two Aspects of Humility: Meditation 7.2–4 167 Signs of the Divine Face: Meditation 7.6–8 169 To Know by Not Knowing: Meditation 7.9–11 170 The Implication of Being Illumined: Meditation 7.11 173 Good Will, Good Zeal: Meditation 8.1–2 175 The Kiss of Truth and Mercy: Meditation 8.3 176 The Passion of Christ as a Contemplative Spousal Kiss: Meditation 8.4–5 177 The Sacred Heart as Hiding Place: Meditation 8.6 179 Ruminating on the Passion: Meditation 8.7 180 Delightful Love: Meditation 8.8–9 184 The Effects of Christ’s Face upon a Human Face: Meditation 8.10 184 Torment of Hell: Meditation 8.11–14 185 William Descends into His Inner Self: Meditation 9.1–2 187 Rowdy Thoughts Hinder Inner Peace: Meditation 9.3–7 187 Total Openness in God’s Presence: Meditation 9.8–9 189 Experiences of Alternations: Meditation 9.10–11 190 Truth, Accurate Self-knowledge, Comes from God’s Presence: Meditation 9.12–13 191 The Fullness of Love Depends on the Fullness of Faith: Meditation 9.14–17 191 An Intuitive Vision of God: Meditation 10.1–2 193 The Bonding Role of This Wisdom: Meditation 10.3 195 Prayer with Images: Meditation 10.4–10 196 The Incarnate Christ as the Open Door to Eternal Life: Meditation 10.9–12 200 The Theme of Ascent: Meditation 11.1–3 203 The Scriptural Image of Bartimeus of Jericho (Mark 10:46): Meditation 11.4–11 204 Word of God, the Divine Protagonist: Meditation 11.12 206 His Total Destiny, the Discovery of God’s Truth, Is in God’s Hands: Meditation 11.13–14 207 Scrutinizing Intention, Thoughts, Soul, and Spirit: Meditation 11.15–33 208 Intention: Meditation 11.15–20 208 Joints: Meditation 11.21–24 210 Marrow: Meditation 11.25–30 211 A Dialogue between William’s Spirit and His Soul: Meditation 11.31–33 214 Your Love: Meditation 12.1 217 William Addresses His Past Life: Meditation 12.2–8 218 Your Love as an Advocate: Meditation 12.9–10 219 Your Love, an Experience of Love: Meditation 12.11 221 The Life of the Trinity Working in William: Meditation 12.12–13 222 Your Love Expands Conscience: Meditation 12.14–15 223 Way of Ascent: A Will—Great, Enlightened, Ardent: Meditation 12.16–20 224 Great Will 225 Enlightened and Ardent Will: Meditation 12.20–21 227 Your Love Imparts Participation with the Saints: Meditation 12.22 228 Your Love Reshaping Persons: Meditation 12.23–24 228 Your Love Forms Unpretentious Persons: Meditation 12.25–27 229 Eucrasis and the Saints 230 To Love Much: Meditation 12.28–30 231 Meditation Thirteen 234 Bibliography 241

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Book SynopsisAn Anthology of Syriac Christian Mysticism

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Book Synopsis How did the monks of the Egyptian desert fight against the demons that attacked them with tempting thoughts? How could Christians resist the thoughts of gluttony, fornication, or pride that assailed them and obstructed their contemplation of God? According to Evagrius of Pontus (345 ''399), one of the greatest spiritual directors of ancient monasticism, the monk should talk back to demons with relevant passages from the Bible. His book Talking Back (Antirrhêtikos)lists over 500 thoughts or circumstances in which the demon-fighting monk might find himself, along with the biblical passages with which the monk should respond. It became one of the most popular books among the ascetics of Late Antiquity and the Byzantine East, but until now the entire text had not been translated into English. From Talking Back we gain a better understanding of Evagrius''s eight primary demons: gluttony, fornication, love of money, sadness, anger, listlessness, vainglory, and pride. We can explore a central aspect of early monastic spirituality, and we get a glimpse of the temptations and anxieties that the first desert monks faced. David Brakke is professor and chair of the Department of Religious Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences of Indiana University. He studied ancient Christianity at Harvard Divinity School and Yale University. Brakke is the author of Athanasius and Asceticism and Demons and the Making of the Monk: Spiritual Combat in Early Christianity, and he edits the Journal of Early Christian Studies. Trade Review"This work makes available to the English readership a work that not only offers a fuller appreciation of the spirituality of Evagrius and his psychology but provides as well a more concrete understanding of the psychology and struggles of the early monks in the Egyptian desert."Cistercian Studies Quarterly"This is a very practical, dealing-with-the-issues kind of lectio divina. The monks of Evagrius' time considered this a read spiritual treasure. The same treasure is now available to us in English."American Benedictine Review"With much wisdom and thought, Evagrius of Pontus is a must read for anyone who wants to best understand ancient Christianity and learn about its roots."Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisSpiritual Meadow by John Moschos

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Book SynopsisA new edition of a treasured contemplative classic. The author takes readers on a journey based on biblical themes and urges them to seek a personal inner hermitage in which to seek and to reach God. 'Not everyone, obviously, can and should live as a monk or hermit. But no Christian can do without an inner hermitage in which to meet his God.'

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Book SynopsisA Doctrinal and Spiritual CommentaryTrade Review. . . the most important commentary on the RB that has appeared in our generation.WorshipA superb and essential book, presenting the results of decades of scholarship by Vogüé.Religious Studies Review. . . an important book by one of the great contemporary scholars of the Benedictine tradition . . .Review for Religious

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Book SynopsisThe Life of Antony constitutes, in the words of patristics scholar Johannes Quasten, 'the most important document of early monasticism.' Here is one volume are translations of the text in the Greek written by Athanasius and in the Coptic. Two short contemporary coptic texts further manifest the powerful influence of 'the father of monks.'Trade ReviewThis translation makes a number of significant early writings about Antony available, and that at a reasonable price. It is very welcome.SobornostDo not miss reading this treasure, giving it as a gift to others, teaching it in Sunday School, or help get it introduced in college Curriculum.Saad Michael Saad Watani

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Book SynopsisThe living link through whom the ascetic principles of hellenistic philosophers passed into monasticism, Evagrius molded christian asceticism through his own works and through his influence on John Cassian, Climacus, Pseudo 'Denis, and Saint Benedict.Trade ReviewEvagrius received the desert traditionabout prayer that had been developed over several generations before him. But he was the first to organize it into a coherent system.Coptic Church Review

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Book SynopsisA shrewd observer, a master psychologist, an accomplished raconteur, Dorotheos is a learned man with a prodigious capacity for assimilating in an organized harmony the wisdom of his predecessors in the life of the Spirit. The ideal spiritual master to introduce modern readers to the spiritual universe of the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria.Trade Review. . . no text I know renders the ascetic spirit more accessible to the modern reader.Religious Studies ReviewDorotheos lets us glimpse a little of the life in his distant time and place . . . He doesn't write about theological abstractions, but about the passions and sins that every one of us recognizes in ourselves, monk or lay. We know what he is talking about.Epiphany Journal

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Book Synopsis`Give me a word, Father', visitors to early desert monks asked. The responses of these pioneer ascetics were remembered and in the fourth century written down in Coptic, Syriac, Greek, and later Latin. Their Sayings were collected and read by generations of Christians as life-giving words that would help readers along the path to salvation.Trade Review. . . the only English translation of the most complete version of the Apophthegmata Patrum, a compilation of sayings from the desert monks of Egypt, Syria, and Palestine in the fourth to sixth century, likely to be widely read and enjoyed for their own sake.ChoiceA delightful insight into the lives of ascetics who left all to follow Christ . . . a very readable translation of an important collection of sayings.Sisters Today. . . should be on the shelf of every library concentrating in spirituality.Abba

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Book SynopsisSpiritual Friendship is today the best known and perhaps most influential of the 13 surviving works of Aelred, abbot of the English Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx from 1147-1167. This fresh new translation allows the intellectual and Christian insight of this great teacher and writer to speak clearly to today's seekers of love, wisdom, and truth.Trade ReviewThis new edition provides an especially good introduction, extensive bibliography of sources, translations and secondary studies and a crisp, new translation.Bonnie Thurston, Cistercian Studies QuarterlyThis small text provides much to glean, ponder, and in which to delight.American Benedictine Review

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis

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