Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation

by Donald Haggerty

Overview

Saint John of the Cross is the Church's premier teacher on contemplative prayer. Catholic tradition even calls him the Mystical Doctor. The sixteenth-century Carmelite priest not only wrote four massive treatises on the spiritual life, along with some of the finest poetry in the Spanish language, but also worked alongside Teresa of Ávila in renewing the Carmelite order. Thérèse of Lisieux claimed she found no other spiritual reading that could satisfy her soul like John of the Cross.

Yet the volume and intensity of Saint John's work can make his teachings seem daunting, even to trained theologians. This book by Father Donald Haggerty, author of The Contemplative Hunger and Contemplative Enigmas, offers readers a unique step-by-step introduction to the way of contemplation as Saint John understood it and taught it—a burning, transformative intimacy with the God who made us. Furnished abundantly with quotations from across the Mystical Doctor's writings, this guidebook confronts the mysteries, difficulties, and joys of prayer, showing how silent contemplation prepares our hearts for an unspeakable love.

For all his theological richness, Saint John gave practical, realistic advice on navigating the world of contemplation, and Father Haggerty—a spiritual director for decades—applies these principles to our lives today. Whether you are new to prayer or have been praying since childhood, you will find an illuminating and surprising companion in Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621645429
Publisher:	Ignatius Press
Publication date:	04/12/2022
Pages:	387
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Fr. Donald Haggerty, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, has been a Professor of Moral Theology at St. Joseph's Seminary in New York and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Maryland. He has a long association as a spiritual director for Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. He is the author of the books Contemplative Hunger and Contemplative Provocations.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations 11

Introduction 13

1 The Hiding Place of the Beloved 23

2 Caverns of Longing within the Soul 45

3 Contemplative Faith: Certitude in Darkness 69

4 Divine Communications? Caution and Care 89

5 Asceticism: Recovery of a Neglected Value 109

6 The Purification of the Will for Love Alone 129

7 Barricades on the Road to Contemplation 151

8 The Dawning Light of the Gift of Contemplation 169

9 The Incipient Signs of the Grace of Contemplation 185

10 The Conduct of the Soul in Contemplative Prayer 209

11 A Pure Receptivity to God in Contemplation 233

12 The Interior Challenge of Paradoxical Darkness 259

13 The Will in Prayer Inflamed by Pure Love 281

14 Wounds of Love: Branding Marks of Contemplation 303

15 Suffering for Love of a Crucified Beloved 329

16 Parting Advice: Loss of Self for the Greater Love 355

Epilogue 373

Appendix: A Selection of Memorable Aphorisms 379

Bibliography 385

What People are Saying About This

Timothy Cardinal Dolan

"As a young priest, I learned the treasures of Saint John of the Cross. Later, I was hardly surprised to discover that Pope Saint John Paul II had a deep devotion to this saint. Nor will you be, if you read Father Haggerty's latest gem."

Kathryn Jean Lopez

"A spiritual masterpiece. Father Haggerty is a radiant light in our Church today."

Dan Burke

"A clear and practical guide to Saint John of the Cross' most important and most often misunderstood teachings. I am aware of no better book in English on this topic than this one."

Father Peter John Cameron

"A seminal work in the study of John of the Cross. Father Haggerty is one of the outstanding spiritual masters of our time. A profound and beautiful book."