Customer Reviews

This Tremendous Lover

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If you're a Catholic looking for an intelligent and easy-to-read book on how to deepen your appreciation for your faith and for the Church, this is it! Boylan speaks in very eloquent, practical language and convinces you at the end that you just "gotta have" a relationship with this tremendous lover, Jesus the Christ. A priceless classic! Buy it now!

I wondered if any modern writer had ever penned a handbook for pursuing a life with Christ in the Catholic Church, until I found this book. Though written by a Trappist Monk around 1945, "This Tremendous Lover" speaks directly to every man and woman who struggles to find room for God amid a hectic life and in a culture often at odds with God's values. From prayer to suffering to the sacraments to marriage to work, "This Tremendous Lover" shows the reader the way to deeper union with Christ, and ultimately to salvation. This is truly a timeless "Introduction to the Devout Life."

This book clearly teaches the concept of the mystical body of Christ as proposed by St. Paul in the scriptures. This book had a great impact on my life as a Christ. It clearly explains what the Christian life is about and how all Christians are interrelated to one another in the Body of Christ. A must read for every serious Christian.

In the "Preface" of this spiritual treatise, Father Eugene Boylan tells us,
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There is a phenomenon in the natural order which illustrates a great principle of the supernatural order; it is the structure and the growth of crystals. Each crystalline substance has its own characteristic shape; wherever complete crystals occur, not only the whole crystal, but also each unit of it, has that particular shape. If a crystal be suspended in a suitable solution of the substance of which it is composed--the "mother liquor" as it is called--that crystal will grow by drawing to itself material from the solution, forming it to its own image and likeness, and then uniting it to itself, yet so that the new and greater unity is an exact replica of the original nucleus and of each of the component units.
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Father Boylan tells us what we already know that "On the cross, Christ "summed up" in one sacrificial act His whole life and His whole love." Yes, it was in His life and death that He still "sums up" the whole life and destiny of His Church, and also the whole life and death of each member of that Church. What he "summed up" we have received in Baptism. It is in Baptism that we have become this "exact replica of the original nucleus." As Saint Gregory of Nazianzus tells us, "Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us also go down with him, and rise with him." We share in his life; we bear his resemblance in Baptism.

Father Boylan explains that this book is his attempt to outline the love story of God and the human race. He also wants to show that the Spiritual Life is a partnership of love between God and us which has taken place in Christ. This union, although actually occurring in Baptism, must be perfected individually in the lives of each man and woman--growing by being drawn to that we resemble until we become the replica. This is to remove the obstacles that plague us because of Original Sin and the fall of our first parents, and our own personal sin--the obstacles that obscure and thwart this replication. This is similar to what Pope John Paul II insisted we must do, "Become what we are"--become what we became at Baptism. Hence, the Spiritual Life is also a pursuit of the perfection of this union that completes this loving relationship between God and us.

Father Boylan takes us chapter by chapter showing us the many ways in which we must seek Christ and the means by which we can attain union with him and his will (see Table of Contents using "Look Inside"). Perhaps my favorite--the one I continually return to--because it is extremely practical is Chapter 17, "Union with Christ through Humility."

Not only does he stress the importance of humility; he indicates its necessity. Father's methodology is extremely helpful because, instead of trying to specify what humility is, he takes the approach, which I believe is much easier to grasp, describing what humility is not, or presenting situations and circumstances where humility is lacking. And so he says that our lack of humility is the reason why we are "so touchy, so resentful of criticism, so impatient of opposition, so insistent on getting our own way, so eager to be known, so anxious for praise, so determined on ruling our surroundings."

Humility can seem vague. hitherto, Father Boylan suggests an attitude of mind and some examples that can help us to understand the virtue better. His advice is to ask ourselves questions he proposes: Do I speak as little of my own affairs as possible? Can I mind my own business? Do I avoid curiosity? Do I want to manage other people's affairs? Can I accept correction or criticism? Do I insist on my own opinion? Can I pass over the mistakes of others? Can I hide my abilities? Can I accept blame when innocent? Can I accept being slighted forgotten or disliked? Can I accept insults and injuries? Can I refrain from seeking special love or admiration? Can I accept my own clumsiness mistakes or failures? Can I be gentle and kind even when provoked? Am I ambitious for showy success? And the list goes on....

I think we can see: humility is not easy! There are probably very few who could not see themselves lacking under the above circumstances. These things trouble all of us. We could also ask, "Well, if I am being shown I am lacking in humility, what then is the reason, what is it that causes me to be this way?" Also, we can add, "But, how can I become humble?"

The answer to the first question is "Pride." Real humility of heart is found only where pride has been overcome. The answer to the second is, Father Boylan says, "by the grace of God." What's scary is that we are all called to "conduct ourselves with humility" and "humble ourselves." Just as we are called to holiness; each of us is called to humility. We cannot attain the former without the latter.

Thankfully, Father Boylan gives us plenty of insight on how to proceed and to do it with humility. But make no mistake; this is a demanding and challenging book. I guess it should be. Living the gospel and choosing Christ, and following him as a disciple, is about as challenging as it gets.

I've read quite a few spiritual books over the past 34+ years on the spiritual life. I can't remember one, written by a person, which has taught me more. In fact, it's helping me understand much more clearly Scripture and mystical works. It's as though a few more lights have gone on in my room. Thank you, Fr. Boylan. Obviously, I recommend it highly.