14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Theo - Published on Amazon.com
I'm not sure what the other reviewer of this book wanted, but I want to offer a different perspective, as I've owned and used this book for years. I own a whole shelf load of books on abandonment, including the great classic, Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence, by JP de Caussaude. This book, Holy Abandonment, exceeds them all.
The author, a Cistercian priest writing in the early 20th century, takes the entire Catholic tradition of suffering and abandonment, and develops and summarizes it in a very helpful and methodical way. It is also laced with countless practical examples from the lives of the greatest Catholic saints. I learned more on the subject from this one book than from all the other books on abandonment combined, not only on a theoretical, but a very practical level. Has helped me immeasurably through all the difficulties and contradictions of life I've encountered since, and in a way the helps me really grow in holiness and trust in the Lord, regardless of what is happening in life. I'm very appreciative of Tan Books for keeping this in print, and recommend it to everyone. It is a real classic and one of the best books on my shelf.
The book first lays a foundation for understanding the concept of abandonment and how to recognize the will of God in your life. It then, chapter by chapter, explains how to practice abandonment in virtually every sort of difficulty in life: prosperity and adversity, health and sickness, reputation, humiliations, works of zeal, prayer, interior trials, you name it, in really detailed and specific ways. It is exhaustive and practical, and based on sound theology and the experience of the saints.
This is not lightweight, watered-down spirituality, but real meaty stuff, solid food for those serious about growing in holiness and real closeness to the Lord. Truly an irreplaceable book.
The author, a Cistercian priest writing in the early 20th century, takes the entire Catholic tradition of suffering and abandonment, and develops and summarizes it in a very helpful and methodical way. It is also laced with countless practical examples from the lives of the greatest Catholic saints. I learned more on the subject from this one book than from all the other books on abandonment combined, not only on a theoretical, but a very practical level. Has helped me immeasurably through all the difficulties and contradictions of life I've encountered since, and in a way the helps me really grow in holiness and trust in the Lord, regardless of what is happening in life. I'm very appreciative of Tan Books for keeping this in print, and recommend it to everyone. It is a real classic and one of the best books on my shelf.
The book first lays a foundation for understanding the concept of abandonment and how to recognize the will of God in your life. It then, chapter by chapter, explains how to practice abandonment in virtually every sort of difficulty in life: prosperity and adversity, health and sickness, reputation, humiliations, works of zeal, prayer, interior trials, you name it, in really detailed and specific ways. It is exhaustive and practical, and based on sound theology and the experience of the saints.
This is not lightweight, watered-down spirituality, but real meaty stuff, solid food for those serious about growing in holiness and real closeness to the Lord. Truly an irreplaceable book.
Holy Abandonment
Jul 1, 2004
3rd
Advent Tuesday 16/12/2014
The holy Gospel according
to Matthew 21:2R-32
JESUS SAID TO the chief priests and
elders of the people, "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. ..."
MEDITATION OF THE DAY
Courtesy of MAGNIFICAT.COM
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
By
Abbot Lehodey, Cistercian
Sharing in the Docility of the First Son
The action of God
has not always the same degree of intensity. He increases or diminishes it
according to the designs of his love, and according to the strength and
generosity of different souls. If he does not judge it well to treat them all
with a constant holy severity, at least he makes them pass through alternate
seasons of consolation and desolation, peace and combat, light and obscurity.
By means of such continual vicissitudes, he renders them pliable and docile to
all his motions. For, owing to repeated changes in her interior state, the soul
finally loses her attachment to every condition and is ready to welcome all at
the will of the Holy Spirit who breathes where he pleases and as it pleases
him.
In short, by means
of all these trials, says the Venerable Louis de Blois, "God purifies,
humbles, instructs our souls, and renders them pliable to his will; everything
defective, everything deformed, everything disagreeable to his sight, he
removes from them, and at the same time embellishes them with all the ornaments
which can make them pleasing in his eyes. And when he finds them faithful, full
of patience and good-will; when the long endurance of tribulations has brought
them, with the assistance of his grace, to such a degree of perfection that
they suffer with tranquillity and joy all manner of temptation and afflictions:
then he unites them not intimately to himself, confides to them his secrets and
his mysteries and communicates himself to them without reserve.”
Dom Vitalis Lehodey, O.C.R.
Dom
Vitalis Lehodey, O.C.R. (+1948) was abbot of Notre Dame de Grace, Bricquebec,
France.
by Rt. Rev. Abbot Dom Vitalis Lehodey O.C.R.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
The Ways of Mental Prayer, February 16, 2010
By
Eileen Rupel "Eileen Mary" (Huntington, WV United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Ways of Mental Prayer (Paperback)
I enjoyed this particularly because of its "hands-on" approach to mental prayer. Various states of mind are described, and methods outlined to match each state of mind. So I have hope I will be able to acheive some quality of mental prayer. which enhances my overall prayer life. It's not easy, but definitely worthwhile, especially if any of us find ourselves asking "mental prayer"--what is that? You will find your way! Highly recommended.
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