Description
Book SynopsisBrian O’Leary, an Irish Jesuit, has been researching and writing on Ignatian spirituality since the 1970s. Over that period he has authored five books, the last of which (God Ever Greater, 2018) was a selection of his lectures and talks. His new offering, To Love and To Serve, is also a selection – this time of essays that have appeared in spirituality journals in a number of countries. Since these are not easily accessible, O’Leary made the decision to gather together the best of his work in this genre into one book, so making that work more widely available. The essays vary considerably in content, purpose, and style. Some are short and aimed at a popular readership, others tend to be more academic or written with practitioners of Ignatian spirituality in mind. All are eminently readable and display great clarity of style.
Ignatian spirituality is most commonly associated with the Spiritual Exercises. Consequently these figure largely in O’Leary’s writings. However, the Exercises do not represent the totality of Ignatian spirituality and so there are a number of pieces on the Jesuit Constitutions – a spiritual classic that is surprisingly relevant outside its original context. The Constitutions are frequently quoted today in the context of spiritual formation and of leadership. And then there is spiritual direction – is there a specifically Ignatian model of this ministry? There are also intriguing questions around St. Ignatius Loyola himself, perhaps most of all around his mysticism. And what would such mysticism look like if lived out in the post-modern world? The range of topics is remarkable.
Trade Review‘...will be appreciated by anyone who has followed the academic and spiritual contributions of Brian O’Leary [and] a resource for those finding themselves drawn towards engagement with Ignatian spirituality...’
-- Seán Corkery * The Furrow *
‘...a masterly work, imbued with scholarly insights and personal inputs...insights provoke profound reflection and contemplation....someone who is familiar with the Ignatian tradition will relish this book immensely. For the rest [it] will provide an introduction to initiate them into the Ignatian tradition.’
Gregorianum
-- Ravi S. Dusi S.I. * Gregorianum *
‘...a learned, popular and engaging volume [by] a renowned authority on St Ignatius and his charism...Tolle, lege! Take, read!’
Spirituality
July 2021
-- Thomas Joseph Norris * Spirituality *
‘..fascinating read...there can be no more authoritative voice on Ignatian spirituality in Ireland today than Brian O’Leary’s.’
Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review
-- Ashley Evans SJ * Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review *
Dr O’Leary shares with the reader the fruits of many years of scholarship, teaching, and spiritual direction. He has great familiarity with the historical background along with an ecumenical awareness, an ecological sensitivity, and an appreciation of the insights of the feminist perspective
* Search Journal *
