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The Fullness of God: Frithjof Schuon on Christianity (Library of Perennial Philosophy)

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Frithjof Schuon, one of the great geniuses of the Traditionalist school, was raised Protestant and became a Catholic before finding his spiritual home in the Sufi tradition. This collection of his writings on the Christian tradition is definitely worth seeking out. As one might expect, it is not easy reading, with jewels of pure insight strewn throughout and many quotations from the Fathers of the Church. One of the delights in the book is his strong Marian emphasis; as one example, he states, "It can be said that the word Amen is a name of the Virgin -- perfect creation -- and that, if the vertical line of the cross denotes the relationship of the Father and the Son, the horizontal line denotes the relationship of Husband and Spouse. The whole soul of the Virgin is one great Amen; there is nothing in it which is not an acquiescence in the Will of God." His emphasis on Christian spiritual practice is based on the "act of love" -- the perpetual prayer of the heart in the invocation of the Name of Jesus, to which may be added the Name of Mary. In the chapter on "Christian divergences", Schuon is respectful toward Lutheranism and surprisingly harsh toward Catholicism; throughout the book he reveals a clear fondness for Eastern Orthodoxy. The chapter on the Cross leaves one breathless and is worth the price of the book. Thanks to James Cutsinger, the book comes complete with essential notes and a glossary, so the reader is equipped with plenty of help to persevere through Schuon's sometimes dense prose. Take the plunge -- it is worth the effort.