{"product_id":"the-meditations-with-a-monastic-commentary-9780879071646","title":"The Meditations with a Monastic Commentary","description":"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Thomas Davis makes an invaluable contribution in his fresh translation of the\u003ci\u003e Meditations\u003c\/i\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003eunitas spiritus\u003c\/i\u003e where one’s life is transformed and one’s spirit is enfolded the ineffable embrace of the Divine Persons of the Trinity.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGlenn E. Myers, PhD, Professor of Church History and Theological Studies, Crown College\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\"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.“\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDr. des. theol. ​Delphine Conzelmann, University of Basel, Switzerland\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e“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 \u003ci\u003eConfessions,\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFr. Joseph Van House, O Cist, Our Lady of Dallas Abbey, University of Dallas\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\"This volume is highly recommended for all who want to deepen their appreciation of medieval monastic spirituality.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatholic Books Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eContents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Acknowledgments  xi\u003cbr\u003e Abbreviations  xiii\u003cbr\u003e Foreword, by David N. Bell xvii\u003cbr\u003e The Meditations  1\u003cbr\u003e    Preface  3\u003cbr\u003e    The Meditations  5\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Beginning of William’s Contemplative Ascent into Intimacy\u003cbr\u003e with the Triune Divinity as Presented in His \u003ci\u003eMeditations\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e A Monastic Commentary   89\u003cbr\u003e    Two Protagonists: Meditation 1.1–6   91\u003cbr\u003e    Foreknowledge and Predestination: Meditation 1.2–6   94\u003cbr\u003e    Divine Foreknowledge as Eternal Wisdom: Meditation 1.7–10   96\u003cbr\u003e    Bonding between Eternity and Time: Meditation 1.8   97\u003cbr\u003e    Ascending vs Circling: Meditation 1.9   99\u003cbr\u003e    Divine Predestination\/Intimate Relationship: Meditation 1.11   100\u003cbr\u003e    Pride: Meditation 1.12–13   102\u003cbr\u003e    Go to Him and be Enlightened: Meditation 2.1–3   104\u003cbr\u003e    A Remarkable Scriptural Image and Metaphor: Meditation 2.2–8   107  \u003cbr\u003e    Divine and Human Darkness: Meditation 2.5–8   108\u003cbr\u003e    Imagination in Respect to a Vision of God that Enlightens: Meditation 2.9–12   110\u003cbr\u003e    Two Categories of Understanding: Meditation 2.13–15   113\u003cbr\u003e    Enlightened Understanding Coming from Above: Meditation 2.14   113\u003cbr\u003e    Face and Countenance: Meditation 3.1–5   116\u003cbr\u003e    Meaning of the Face   117\u003cbr\u003e    Meaning of the Countenance   117\u003cbr\u003e    A Succinct Unfolding of the \u003ci\u003eMeditations\u003c\/i\u003e   118\u003cbr\u003e    The Paradigm of Your Countenance   118\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eYour\u003c\/i\u003e Love: Meditation 3.6–7   120\u003cbr\u003e    Divine Revelation: Meditation 3.7–8   123\u003cbr\u003e    Understanding from Reason: Meditation 3.9–11   125\u003cbr\u003e    Understanding God: Meditation 3.12–13   127\u003cbr\u003e    Understanding the Trinity: Meditation 3.14   128\u003cbr\u003e    Embracing the Trinity: Meditation 3.15–16   130\u003cbr\u003e    Personal Change via the Lord’s Prayer: Meditation 4.1–5   132\u003cbr\u003e    Nine Factors Bringing Personal Change: Meditation 4.6–19   133\u003cbr\u003e    1. Opening Personal Inner Depths: Meditation 4.6   134\u003cbr\u003e    2. Good Conscience: Meditation 4.10   135\u003cbr\u003e    3. Reason in Its Proper Responsibility: Meditation 4.11   136\u003cbr\u003e    4. Knowledge of One’s Personal God as the Fruit of Solitude: Meditation 4.12   136\u003cbr\u003e    5. A Desire to Taste, See, and Delight in This Personal God: Meditation 4.13–14   137\u003cbr\u003e    6. Pursuing the Place Where God Is: Meditation 4.15   138 \u003cbr\u003e    7. Removing All Types of Idols Formerly Used to Comprehend God: Meditation 4.16   139\u003cbr\u003e    8. Becoming Intelligent and Devoutly Knowledgeable: Meditation 4.17   140\u003cbr\u003e    9. Authentic Listening to God: Meditation 4.18–19   141\u003cbr\u003e    The Prayer of Jesus: Meditation 5.1–3   143\u003cbr\u003e    Prayer as Being Crucified, \u003ci\u003eConcrucifixus\u003c\/i\u003e, with the Lord Jesus: Meditation 5.4   144\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eConcrucifixus\u003c\/i\u003e and Its Consequences: Meditation 5.5   145\u003cbr\u003e    A Treacherous Problem: Meditation 5.6   147\u003cbr\u003e    Christ’s Prayer on the Cross: Meditation 5.7–10   147\u003cbr\u003e    Love and Truth: Meditation 5.10–12   149\u003cbr\u003e    William’s Bonding to the Human and Divine Natures of Christ: Meditation 5.14–15   151\u003cbr\u003e    Mutual Anointing and the Amplexus: Meditation 5.15–19   152\u003cbr\u003e    Heaven’s Open Door: Meditation 6.1   155\u003cbr\u003e    Earthly Heaviness and Human Pride: Meditation 6.2–5   155\u003cbr\u003e    Jesus, Incarnate Merciful Love, Is the Open Door into Heaven: Meditation 6.6–7   157\u003cbr\u003e    The Proper Way to Think Regarding Heaven and Earth: Meditation 6.8–9   158\u003cbr\u003e    Further Thoughts on Heaven: Meditation 6.10–14   159\u003cbr\u003e    Heaven Is Likeness to the Creating God: Meditation 6.15   161\u003cbr\u003e    The Comprehensiveness of the Incarnation: Meditation 6.16–19   161\u003cbr\u003e    The Obedience of Charity and the Charity of Obedience: Meditation 6.18   162\u003cbr\u003e    The Pierced Heart of Jesus: Meditation 6.20–22   164  \u003cbr\u003e    A Yearning to Rejoice with the Saints: Meditation 6.23–27   164\u003cbr\u003e    Boldness in Seeking God’s Face: Meditation 7.1   167\u003cbr\u003e    Two Aspects of Humility: Meditation 7.2–4   167\u003cbr\u003e    Signs of the Divine Face: Meditation 7.6–8  169\u003cbr\u003e    To Know by Not Knowing: Meditation 7.9–11   170\u003cbr\u003e    The Implication of Being Illumined: Meditation 7.11   173\u003cbr\u003e    Good Will, Good Zeal: Meditation 8.1–2   175\u003cbr\u003e    The Kiss of Truth and Mercy: Meditation 8.3   176\u003cbr\u003e    The Passion of Christ as a Contemplative Spousal Kiss: Meditation 8.4–5   177\u003cbr\u003e    The Sacred Heart as Hiding Place: Meditation 8.6   179\u003cbr\u003e    Ruminating on the Passion: Meditation 8.7   180\u003cbr\u003e    Delightful Love: Meditation 8.8–9   184\u003cbr\u003e    The Effects of Christ’s Face upon a Human Face: Meditation 8.10   184\u003cbr\u003e    Torment of Hell: Meditation 8.11–14   185\u003cbr\u003e    William Descends into His Inner Self: Meditation 9.1–2   187\u003cbr\u003e    Rowdy Thoughts Hinder Inner Peace: Meditation 9.3–7   187\u003cbr\u003e    Total Openness in God’s Presence: Meditation 9.8–9   189\u003cbr\u003e    Experiences of Alternations: Meditation 9.10–11   190\u003cbr\u003e    Truth, Accurate Self-knowledge, Comes from God’s Presence: Meditation 9.12–13   191\u003cbr\u003e    The Fullness of Love Depends on the Fullness of Faith: Meditation 9.14–17   191\u003cbr\u003e    An Intuitive Vision of God: Meditation 10.1–2   193\u003cbr\u003e    The Bonding Role of This Wisdom: Meditation 10.3   195\u003cbr\u003e    Prayer with Images: Meditation 10.4–10   196 \u003cbr\u003e    The Incarnate Christ as the Open Door to Eternal Life: Meditation 10.9–12   200\u003cbr\u003e    The Theme of Ascent: Meditation 11.1–3   203\u003cbr\u003e    The Scriptural Image of Bartimeus of Jericho (Mark 10:46): Meditation 11.4–11   204\u003cbr\u003e    Word of God, the Divine Protagonist: Meditation 11.12   206\u003cbr\u003e    His Total Destiny, the Discovery of God’s Truth, Is in God’s Hands: Meditation 11.13–14   207\u003cbr\u003e    Scrutinizing Intention, Thoughts, Soul, and Spirit: Meditation 11.15–33   208\u003cbr\u003e    Intention: Meditation 11.15–20   208\u003cbr\u003e    Joints: Meditation 11.21–24   210\u003cbr\u003e    Marrow: Meditation 11.25–30   211\u003cbr\u003e    A Dialogue between William’s Spirit and His Soul: Meditation 11.31–33   214\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eYour Love\u003c\/i\u003e: Meditation 12.1   217\u003cbr\u003e    William Addresses His Past Life: Meditation 12.2–8   218\u003cbr\u003e   \u003ci\u003e Your Love\u003c\/i\u003e as an Advocate: Meditation 12.9–10   219\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eYour Love\u003c\/i\u003e, an Experience of Love: Meditation 12.11   221\u003cbr\u003e    The Life of the Trinity Working in William: Meditation 12.12–13   222\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eYour Love\u003c\/i\u003e Expands Conscience: Meditation 12.14–15   223\u003cbr\u003e    Way of Ascent: A Will—Great, Enlightened, Ardent: Meditation 12.16–20   224\u003cbr\u003e    Great Will 225 Enlightened and Ardent Will: Meditation 12.20–21   227\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eYour Love\u003c\/i\u003e Imparts Participation with the Saints: Meditation 12.22   228\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eYour Love\u003c\/i\u003e Reshaping Persons: Meditation 12.23–24   228 \u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eYour Love\u003c\/i\u003e Forms Unpretentious Persons: Meditation 12.25–27   229\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eEucrasis \u003c\/i\u003eand the Saints   230\u003cbr\u003e    To Love Much: Meditation 12.28–30   231\u003cbr\u003e    Meditation Thirteen   234\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography   241","brand":"Liturgical Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52084100858199,"sku":"9780879071646","price":31.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780879071646.jpg?v=1762205070","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-meditations-with-a-monastic-commentary-9780879071646","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}