Spiritual Friendship: The Classic Text with a Spiritual Commentary by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R.

by Aelred of Rievaulx, Dennis Billy CSsR

Overview

This surprisingly modern, twelfth-century classic has long been popular with monks. Now this new edition opens up the riches of this spiritual masterpiece to a wide audience of contemporary readers who see the spiritual life not as a solitary enterprise, but one intimately connected to relationships. Written in dialogue form, Spiritual Friendship offers wise counsel on many aspects of friendship. Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R., editor of the innovative Classics with Commentary series, has once again provided readers with an invaluable introduction and background. The popular translation by M. Eugenia Laker is complemented by Billy's helpful commentary and thoughtful reflection questions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780870612640
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	10/28/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	884,734
File size:	404 KB

About the Author

Aelred of Rievaulx (1110–1167) was born in Hexham in Northumberland near the border with Scotland. In his adolescence, he pursued an education at the court of King David I of Scotland. In 1134, he gave up all of his luxuries to join the Cistercian monastery at Rievaulx where he was eventually elected abbot, a position he would hold until his death. As a writer, Aelred left behind a substantial body of work noted for its quality and breadth of insight. His most well-known work is Spiritual Friendship, which is widely considered a classic of Christian spirituality.
Father Dennis Billy, CSsR, is a teacher, writer, and poet. Ordained a Redemptorist priest in 1980, he taught the history of moral theology and Christian spirituality at the Alphonsian Academy of Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University for more than twenty years, reaching the rank of Ordinary Professor. In 2008 he was installed as the John Cardinal Krol Chair of Moral Theology as a scholar-in-residence at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He also serves as the Karl Rahner Professor of Catholic Theology at the Graduate Theological Foundation in Mishawaka, Indiana. Raised in Staten Island, New York, and educated there through high school in local Catholic schools, he graduated from Dartmouth College and went on to receive four master's degrees, as well as doctorates from Harvard University, the Pontifical University of St. Thomas, and the Graduate Theological Foundation. Billy is the author of numerous books and articles, both popular and scholarly.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Of the four Cistercian 'evangelists' Aelred of Rievaulx in recent years has become the most popular. And among his many works now available in excellent translations, this classic text on spiritualfriendship is a perennial best-seller. Add to this, we now have a dependable spiritual commentary by Dennis Billy to guide the way. It can be highly recommended to all disciples of Christ, whether active or contemplative." —Br. Patrick Hart, coeditor of The Intimate Merton

"Prepare to be drawn into a deep and probing conversation on the grace and trepidation of intimate friendship that examines all the contours of its meaning and mystery, its light and shadow, its blessing and wounding. As the master Aelred explores the qualities of the true soul friend through the art of an ever-expanding dialogue with his monastic friends, Dennis Billy skillfully draws the reader into the transforming conversation as well, offering insight and instruction in his fresh and faithful presentation of this Christian classic that celebrates the gift and practice of spiritual friendship." —Kathleen Deignan, editor of A Book of Hours