Christian Perfection and Contemplation: According to St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John of the Cross [Paperback]

Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

Christian Perfection and Contemplation is an entire treatise on the operation of grace in the spiritual life that clearly and skillfully explains the great principles of the spiritual life according to St. Thomas Aquinas and other sterling Catholic Sources. In fact, the author's fascinating and extremely informative footnotes are themselves worth the price of the book. Impr. 470 pgs, PB

Product Details

• Paperback: 470 pages
• Publisher: TAN Books and Publishers (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895557584
• ISBN-13: 978-0895557582
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Words can not describe the amazingness of this book., October 27, 2008

By 

Bobby Bambino (Lebanon, NH United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Christian Perfection and Contemplation: According to St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John of the Cross (Paperback)

This book has changed my life forever. I can not say enough about this book. Every single page is packed with information that can be meditated upon at great lengths.

The book goes through the classical three stages of the ascetical and mystical life. It shows that the way of perfection is not just for the cloistered or religious, but for everyone. This thinking helped pave the way for Vatcan II's "universal call to holiness." One very important point (among hundreds) that the author makes is that we WILL be purged of our sins, whether it's in this life or in purgatory. However, our sufferings in purgatory do not merit. But they DO merit if we go through those sufferings here on earth. This consists of the passive purification of the senses, the dark night, etc. It is actually the NORMAL way. We are not "meant" to go through purgatory; we are meant to be purified and attain union with God here in this life. Yet very, very few people do.

This stuff is just so fascinating, and gives such practical advice. It brings this whole complicated issue to the level of the laymen and encourages him that he can attain the spirituality of the greats. Like I said above, this book has changed my life forever. I will continue to read Fr Garrigou-Lagrange, as well as St. John of the Cross, Aquinas, and all the great spiritual writers in order to learn more about this wonderful Catholic tradition we have. Eckhart Tolle and other New Age spirituality have nothing on what we Catholics have had for hundreds of years. It's time we start living and learning the deep spiritual aspects of our faith.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal Work on Catholic Spirituality, August 5, 2010

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Richard G. (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Christian Perfection and Contemplation: According to St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John of the Cross (Paperback)

There are many things to say about this book. Firstly, God bless the author, who was the dissertation adviser for Karol Wojtyla (more famously known as Pope John Paul II), and a theological giant during his time. I pray that Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange is being of even greater help from Heaven than he was on earth.

The book's aim is to "explain the unitive way, that we may lead souls to aspire to it, and may encourage them to make generous efforts to attain it" (p. 3) by forming a synthesis of what Lagrange asserts is the traditional Catholic teaching on mysticism--a highly-misunderstood field due especially to Modernism and its after-effects seen today in the so-called New Age movement--between the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John of the Cross. Lagrange makes an effort to show how these two Doctors of the Church complement each other's works and how St. Thomas Aquinas's theology, often accused of being dry and even naturalistic by some (who, by this accusation plainly show that they are not truly familiar with St. Thomas's work and its logical implications), is actually the foundation for the loftiest spirituality.

What, then, does Lagrange discuss in his book? After establishing his methodology with appropriate justifications, he begins by describing what ascetical and mystical theology is, how these two are related, how the former is not separate from the latter but rather the beginning of the latter. Then he dives right into St. Thomas Aquinas's teachings on grace--1) the distinction between the supernatural and the natural and its implications (Lagrange likes to quote Aquinas on how "the smallest degree of grace in a baby is greater than the whole natural order"), 2) the sublimity of the virtue of Faith, so misunderstood today, and 3) efficacious grace and its powerful consequences.

This last point, efficacious grace, has implications not only for the spiritual life, which Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange dedicates a whole article to in its practical applications, but also for concepts like, "Is God the author of evil and sin?"; "How can it be that God predestines those who go to Heaven but does not predestine anyone to Hell?"; and more.

Lagrange then discusses what exactly is the meaning of the mystical life for Catholics--it is the full perfection of the life of grace here on earth, the prelude to eternal life in Heaven, "the Kingdom of Heaven within [us]," that every Christian, under the Commandment of Love that Christ Himself gave us, is bound to strive for. He expounds the three "stages" of the mystical life--the Purgative, Illuminative, and Unitive ways. He shows how the life of a saint is precisely what all Christians are called to, how this isn't something extraordinary, and he gives us the knowledge of the means to strive for it in a practical way. One of the most interesting parts of the book is Lagrange's discussion on "Is the Precept of the Love of God without Limit?" and what are its practical consequences if it has no limit? Absolutely astounding work, highly uplifting.

Lagrange then spends the second half of the book on prayer, beginning from its first stages, ending with its highest and most sublime forms in what is called infused contemplation. He explains what this infused contemplation is, how it is utterly distinct from Buddhist meditation, "emptying the mind," or even variations of the so-called "centering prayer." He shows what supernatural qualities infused contemplation springs from and how to dispose ourselves for receiving this magnificent grace from God, both internal and external.

By the way, what Lagrange discusses in this book (aside from the occasionally theologically abstruse material) will be a distinct challenge to many people. I'm not talking about understanding what he's saying (he's pretty clear on what he's saying, one must simply read a little slower than usual); I'm talking about what it means practically for our lives. Saints challenge us. The call to sainthood is a challenge. Why? Because Jesus Christ is a challenge. Following Christ is following Him to Calvary to die, and from thence, to Resurrection and glory, but always through the Crucifixion (always through fire, as St. Paul says). Lagrange shows why we must follow Christ, and what happens if we don't. One other reviewer put it quite succinctly (more than I can here, for I ramble), but it has to do with going through Purgatory and what that entails, which Lagrange discusses.

In short, this book is for those who want to have their eyes opened. It's a tough read, but worth it, and worth reading again and coming back to certain passages again and again because of Lagrange's lucidity and breathtaking comprehension of how dignified Christians are, what a precious gift we have in these fragile vessels!

After this work, please, I urge the reader, to see his phenomenal, two-volume The Three Ages of the Interior Life, available from TAN Books as well as his other books on the spiritual life available from the same publisher, such as Providence, Predestination, Mother of the Savior and our Interior Life, Life Everlasting, Our Savior and His Love for Us, Three Conversions of the Spiritual Life. Some of his articles from talks he gave while alive are available on the internet for free and can be translated (for they are originally in French). Seek these out and put into practice what Lagrange explains, what the Church has always taught: the fullness of grace and truth, Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father, the truth, life everlasting.