A compelling exploration of the biblical foundations, contemplative practices, and spiritual path of Jesus himself—from the bestselling author of The Case for Jesus “What happens when a biblical theologian explores classic spirituality? This book. Pitre’s students have asked, Why have we never heard this before? The reader wonders the same.”—Dr. David Fagerberg, author of Liturgical Mysticism The path of following Jesus is an ancient and storied spiritual tradition. Yet many believers are not familiar with the three major forms of prayer and the three stages of spiritual growth that exist to bring them closer to God. In his most personal book yet, Brant Pitre, PhD, draws on the riches of the Bible, the words of Jesus, and the writings of mystics across the centuries to shed light on the mystery—and wonder—of the spiritual life. Starting with the age-old belief that the path of prayer is not only informative but transformative, Dr. Pitre explores • the scriptural roots of the major forms of prayer: vocal prayer, meditation, and contemplation • the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of spiritual growth • the spiritual exercises of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving • the Jewish roots of the Lord’s Prayer • Lectio Divina: how to pray with the Bible • seven vices and their seven opposing virtues • the battle of prayer: how to deal with difficulty and distractions • the “dark night of the soul” in the Scriptures Full of sacred truths, contemplative insights, and practical steps, Introduction to the Spiritual Life is a biblical road map of the spiritual landscape that enables us to follow Jesus as our primary guide.

Some think that liturgy is formal, public, and for ordinary people, while mysticism is uncontrollable, private, and for extraordinary saints. Is there a connection between the two? In this volume, David Fagerberg proposes that mysticism is the normal crowning of the Christian life, and the Christian life is liturgical. We intuitively sense that liturgy and theology and mysticism have an affinity. Liturgical theology should reveal liturgy’s mystical heart. Liturgical theology asks “What happens in liturgy?” and liturgical mysticism asks “What happens to us in liturgy?”, and perfects our interior liturgy. In Liturgical Mysticism, Fagerberg directs the reader to look fixedly at Christ, who is the Mystery present in liturgy, and who bestows his resurrection power upon his adopted children. “In a time where both too wild and too mild spiritualities abound, it is audacious to put forward a book on liturgical mysticism. [This book] continues to enrich liturgical theology by amplifying its horizon and solidifying the foundation on which it rests.” Joris Geldhof Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

A French convert to Catholicism in 1939, Louis Bouyer is a renowned theologian who was an influential presence at Vatican II. His classic work, Introduction to the Spiritual Life—first published in English in 1961 and now brought back into print—provides readers with an inspiring and comprehensive vision of Christian spirituality that is unmatched in its warmth, lucidity, and accessibility. Introduction to the Spiritual Life is, by author Louis Bouyer’s own description, a manual for practical use. Much more than just a work of “spirituality” or “apologetics,” it is a hybrid of both, produced with an expertise and confidence borne of a lifetime of prayer and study. It aims to cultivate interior growth through a thoughtful, reasoned meditation on the spiritual meaning of the Gospel as proclaimed by the Catholic Church. Catholics who read Introduction to the Spiritual Life will better appreciate how a life of prayer can be shaped and enriched by sound Christian doctrine.

This brief, accessibly written volume introduces key figures, texts, and themes of the mystical tradition and shows how and why the mystics can speak to the church today. Jason Baxter, an expert educator and storyteller, explains that the mystical tradition offers a more robust understanding of God than our current shallow conceptions. Featuring engagement with primary sources and suitable for use in a variety of courses, this book argues that the mystics have much to say to contemporary Christians searching for authentic modes of spirituality.

This volume of Shivom Tirth's autobiography covers the years 1961 through 1965 and gives the reader an intimate look at an enlightened teacher preparing the prize student who will take his place. Spiritual topics covered include solutions to the problems of daily life, practices that lead to realization, and such yogic experiences as time travel and out-of-body travel.

Is it possible for preachers and teachers to have a fully effective ministry if their personal spiritual lives are not vibrant? Leading Christian educator Westerhoff says it is not, and offers this resource to help preachers and teachers revitalize their lives and ministries.

Written over 400 years ago, Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most popular books for those pursuing holiness. St. Francis de Sales explains how to turn that desire for sanctity into resolutions that yield grace-filled results. Themes include: Pursuing a devout life whole-heartedly Incorporating prayer and sacraments into a busy schedule Growing in virtue Battling wisely against temptation Making spiritual progress through daily, monthly, and yearly exercises Whether you are just beginning your spiritual journey or are more advanced in the spiritual life, you’ll be able to apply this timeless wisdom immediately. Let St. Francis de Sales illumine the path to holiness and strengthen your desire to walk that road with the Lord. St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622) was the Bishop of Geneva and a renowned spiritual director. Preaching during the Counter-Reformation, he is estimated to have converted 70,000 Calvinists in his short lifetime. He was a fervent proponent of the universal call to holiness and spent much of his time guiding lay people on the road to sanctity. Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1877, St. Francis is still helping to form saints through his many writings, of which Introduction to the Devout Life is the most famous.

We are surrounded today by many spiritualities - Native American, Buddhist, Sufi, from the Kabbalah, to name a few. But how does one discern the truth in them? Paul Evdokimov's spirituality is open to God, the world and to the neighbour. It is the spirituality of the Church and is rooted in the Bible and liturgy, but entwined with everyday life, a spirituality that is truly for the life of the world.

2021 Reprint of the 1953 Edition. Facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Joseph de Guibert, S.J. (1877-1942) was one of the greatest spiritual theologians of the first part of the 20th century. Few spiritual writers during this period have written with equal theological depth, solidity, and balance. The Theology of the Spiritual Life is one the best English textbooks on spiritual theology available. The book is divided into seven parts. The first is an introduction to the study of spiritual theology in which the author defines and explains the terms "ascetical" and "mystical," distinguishes spiritual theology from the other branches of theology, especially moral and pastoral, explains the method and sources of spiritual theology, and adds some observations on its study. The second part treats of the nature of spiritual perfection, its relation to charity, habitual and actual, and to the other virtues and the counsels. He also discusses the relation existing between perfection and union with God, the imitation of Christ, suffering, active and passive conformity with the will of God, and the desire of perfection. The next part is a brief but solid treatise on the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, the docility required by the soul to profit by these inspirations, the gifts of the Holy Ghost and their relation to perfection, and the discernment of spirits. Man's cooperation with God is the main theme of Part IV, and after a chapter on the use of methods in spiritual life, the principal subject treated is that of spiritual direction, its nature and necessity, the qualities, duties, and role of a spiritual director. 1he following section is a treatise on mental prayer, its nature, degrees, necessity, and fruit, the states and habits of mind which can help or hinder mental prayer. In this section is treated the disputed question of acquired contemplation. The sixth part is concerned with the three degrees of the spiritual life, the qualities of soul in each degree, and the differences to be considered in regard to spiritual direction. This part closes with a chapter on the active and the contemplative life. The last section is on infused contemplation, its nature and degrees, its relation to spiritual perfection, and the extraordinary phenomena which sometimes accompany infused contemplation. Finally, there is added to the seven parts a brief bibliography of English books and a double index of names and subjects.