Customer Reviews

Providence

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Arguably the best treatment of the Catholic doctrine of Providence: how God governs the world, to what purpose, and how we should respond. Rooted in Scripture and the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas, this book offers solid doctrine, clearly expressed, to anyone seeking to discern and follow God's will. I try to read the fourth chapter every couple of years, where Garrigou-Lagrange explains when we should accept our circumstances, as coming from God, and when we should seek to change them. I recommend this book to all those who tend to worry too often and too much.

As a point of interest, Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange taught at the Angelicum in Rome from 1909 until 1960, and the future Pope John-Paul II was one of his students.

This work by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange is more accessible than his work on Predestination. The two themes are somewhat related, but providence examines the meaning of God's sovereignty over all creation and history for us His creatures. The first two sections of the book are an examination of God's nature and perfections and how this necessitates His absolute control of all events, even the slightest or least significant. Because God is supremely good we can therefore have confidence in His providence and good will toward us. He quotes Bossuet who said we are much better off trusting our eternal salvation to God than trying to insure it ourselves. This should give the Christian much confidence and courage in the daily trials of life, knowing that all things work together for the good of those who love God.
The third, fourth, and fifth sections of the book deal specifically with providence
and its bearing on the spiritual life. Great emphasis is placed upon how God's justice and mercy are manifested through His providence and how both of these aspects of His nature join in bringing about our conversion and growth in grace. A trusting abandonment to God's providence is the key to our relationship with God as our loving Father.
While I enjoyed this work by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange, it did not impress me as much as his work on Predestination. Much of what was said was covered already in that earlier work, but for those who would like something with less theological terminology, Providence is more reader friendly.

Very good theological work on the subject. It's also a good spiritual read. This book is a must for those who do not understand things related to God's plan (providence) like evil in the world or prayer. God is not a genie in a bottle. I'm excited to read more of Fr Garrigou-Lagrange's works.

Lagrange's thorough discussion of the mystery of God's Providence is rich and enlightening. Although some his theology is a bit outdated, it is still a classic study of an important theme that touches all our lives.