My Synopsis: This book is worth reading, however it requires persistence and it addresses the ways of prayer. It isn't a methodology book as much as a guide book to describe where one is so a given person could see where he or she needs to go. I'd say that this book should be read a 2nd time and one may even want to summarize it so that what is learned can be put into practical practice. I may start reading it a second time. It is a discourse that borrows heavily from St. Theresa de Avila and St

My Synopsis: This book is worth reading, however it requires persistence and it addresses the ways of prayer. It isn't a methodology book as much as a guide book to describe where one is so a given person could see where he or she needs to go. I'd say that this book should be read a 2nd time and one may even want to summarize it so that what is learned can be put into practical practice. I may start reading it a second time. It is a discourse that borrows heavily from St. Theresa de Avila and St. John of the Cross, however other writers and saints are also referred to in order to create a good synthesis.



St. Alphonsus:For me personally, this book led me to reading St. Alphonsus Liguori because it had mentioned St. Alphonsus in a footnote. Consequently, I now have a great affection for St. Alphonsus and I'm trying to plug away at some of his books and sermons. I started with Preparation for Death and have worked my way over to other works.



Conversion and Prayer:There is a great deal that can be discussed, yet I want to quote pg. 376, "According to St. John of the Cross, "certain lights and divine touches so enrich the soul, that a single one of them is able to deliver her at once from the imperfections she had not been able to get rid of during her whole previous life, and to endow her besided with virtues and divine gifts." Here, the abbot gets at the heart of things for men - the need for conversion. The Sacred Scriptures promise us that we won't be tempted beyond our abilities to resist and they promise the Holy Spirit. Prayer gives us a means of conversion and certitude in this world. The abbot consistently reiterated that God gives only as He wishes. Prayer is a sort of tool and not an end in itself. We need to judge prayer by its effects on us. If God gives, it is for the end of our conversion.