3 Conversions in the Spiritual Life [Paperback]

Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2002

The Three Conversions In The Spiritual Life By Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange, OP Formerly titled The Three Ways of the Spiritual Life. All Catholics should go through three conversions in their spiritual life - but many do not, and thus remain spiritually stunted all their lives. Here, Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange - perhaps the greatest theologian of the 20th century - explains the classic Catholic traditions on the spiritual life from Scripture, the Fathers, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John of the Cross and St. Catherine of Siena. He explains the Purgative, Illuminative and Unitive Ways, plus Luther's errors on spirituality. Imprimatur

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Tan Books (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895557398
• ISBN-13: 978-0895557391
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Meditations
  • #50 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Foreign Language Nonfiction > French
  • #63 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Discipleship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome., November 14, 2008

By 

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

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This review is from: 3 Conversions in the Spiritual Life (Paperback)

This small book is a synthesis of two Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange's other (much larger) books "Christian Perfection and Contemplation" and "The Love of God and the Cross of Christ." In the Three Conversions, Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange discusses the interior life, specifically the transition from way to another way i.e. the CONVERSIONS. Drawing on the writings of the great St John of the Cross, we are told about the signs and changes that must take place in order to continue on our spiritual journey, which is FOR EVERYONE, not just priests and religious. I had read Christian Perfection and Contemplation before this, so I found the material to be very accessible, and it seemed to me that for someone wanting an introduction or at least a place to start with Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange's writings on the interior life, that this would be the place to do it. However, I do have a friend who started with this book and is having a hard time with it. CPAC is over 400 pages, while this book is only 110, so I would still recommend starting here if you are interested in learning more about the interior life. Of course, next comes Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange's massive two volume work "The Three Ages of the Interior Life."

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for Beginners, January 12, 2008

By 

Timothy J. Gannon - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 3 Conversions in the Spiritual Life (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. It describes the growth in the spiritual life in three stages. It is not for beginners. It is for a person who has been seriously pursuing a direct relationship with God for at least a year. It provides an excellent road map for one who has experienced at least the first stage and what on can expect in the next two stages.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and precise; for seekers, "beginners," and all, May 17, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: 3 Conversions in the Spiritual Life (Paperback)

Although I have not read "The Love of God and the Cross of Christ," I have been making my way through "Christian Perfection and Contemplation" and am acquainted with Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange's other works, such as "The Three Ages of the Interior Life," "Reality," and "God: His Existence and Nature." I explain this background to preface the review because it is important for those who are wondering which of Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange's works to purchase early on or at least read first. The man wrote much, and it's hard to navigate through his works if one has no sense of where to begin and where to go.

"The Three Conversions in the Spiritual Life" is a precise and easy to read summary of the author's other works on the spiritual life. He begins with a general exposition on what the Catholic Church has taught about the spiritual life, quoting generously from the Bible and St. Thomas Aquinas among others. He expounds on how this spiritual life is supposed to mature and bud through the Purgative, Illuminative, and Unitive Ways. He spends some time dealing with slightly more complicated theological issues, but the majority of the book is easily readable and thoroughly inspiring. Also, the author stresses the importance of "the basics" of the spiritual life, which are summarized in this work. He calls attention to the fact that the most elementary facts of the Faith are the most fundamental and powerful in our continual conversion, and he wants to present the importance of this point in his book. Therefore, this book becomes great not only for beginners but also for those who have spent considerable time working at their salvation with fear and trembling. I would also highly recommend the book for "seekers"--those who are seeking that higher, fully-engaging spirituality that the so-called New Age movement or more liberal forms of Christianity are espousing. Lagrange will show you the fullness of grace and truth as handed down by the Catholic Church. It is the Catholic spirituality that will bring true fulfillment, and Lagrange, along with many of his contemporaries, worked to prove this point.

I suggest "The Three Conversions in the Spiritual Life" precisely for so-called "beginners." Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange presents a clear, detailed case of what Christians are called to and their incredible dignity founded in having God as their Father. It gives perspective to what it means to be a "Christian." The book is a rousing call to enter into this spiritual life generously. This book is a very good introduction into Lagrange's other, longer, and more complex works, such as "Christian Perfection and Contemplation." His "The Three Ages of the Interior Life" expands on everything in this book and "Christian Perfection and Contemplation" and is also very readable, but of course, that book is two volumes, over one-thousand pages.

This book is good not only for the reader but would make an excellent gift to other Catholics and perhaps even Protestants. Peter Kreeft notes how these times need more saints. Interestingly, Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange makes that exact same observation in the beginning of this book, and he was writing most of these works around 70-80 years ago. Lagrange's work is precisely what one should become acquainted with if one would like to have an accessible and thorough covering of what the Bible, the Church Fathers, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John of the Cross, and St. Teresa of Avila and many others teach on the spiritual life. This book is an excellent starter.