Very Rich Hours of Jacques Maritain: A Spiritual Life [Hardcover]

Ralph M. McInerny (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0268043590 | ISBN-13: 978-0268043599 | Publication Date: October 2003

The Very Rich Hours of Jacques Maritain is distinguished philosopher Ralph McInerny’s hymn of praise to the spiritual and intellectual life of the great Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain (1881–1973). The structure of this work is modeled on the medieval book of hours, making use of the daily offices, from Matins through Compline, to examine each stage of the life of Maritain and his wife, Raïssa. Through this unique blending of biography and meditation, McInerny creates a powerful portrait of the Maritains, one that reveals a model of the intellectual life as lived by Christian believers.

McInerny’s authoritative work provides an interesting and accessible avenue of entry to Maritain’s life and thought. Among the topics McInerny covers are Maritain’s remarkable and diverse set of friends, his involvement in French politics, and the development of his views on the nature and future of democracy, the church, and Catholic intellectual life. By skillfully interweaving Maritain’s philosophy with anecdotes from his life, McInerny demonstrates what distinguished Maritain as a Catholic philosopher and why he is a source of inspiration for McInerny and others of his generation.

“This is the best book about Jacques Maritain in the English language. McInerny provides a standard for Maritain scholarship.” —Jude P. Dougherty, Catholic University of America

“Ralph McInerny has done a great service to the study of Maritain in producing a work that is informative, engaging, and inspiring. No one reading this book can fail to be impressed by the achievements of Maritain or be struck by how apt an author is McInerny to relate them, for he shares in the multifaceted talent of his subject. This book will be read in years to come.” —John Haldane, University of St Andrews

 

“This marvelous portrait of Jacques Maritain demonstrates why in the 20th century he was a unique role model for intellectuals and artists throughout the world. Amidst the tumultuous events of that century, political, cultural, philosophical, Maritain kept his compass pointing to true north, on sanctity through Christ and the Church. McInerny shows why Maritain ought to remain a model for all with a similar goal now.” —John P. O'Callaghan, University of Notre Dame

 

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Popular mystery novelist and Notre Dame scholar McInerny delivers a luminous biography of one of Thomas Aquinas' most astute modern commentators. An ideal biographer, McInerny intensely admires Maritain for his labors in sparking a modern renaissance in Thomistic theology, yet he still recognizes Maritain's personal and professional missteps. In narrating Maritain's life, McInerny illustrates the transforming power of truth, pursued not merely to stimulate the intellect but to redeem the soul. Thus, McInerny's story unfolds the unlikely pilgrimage of a boy reared by parents oblivious to their Catholic heritage, a young man catechized by apostles of scientific skepticism. Careful research uncovers the torturous path Maritain traversed in groping his way to orthodoxy and faith--from his first spiritual stirrings, awakened by Henri Bergson, to his eventual embrace of Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor. This nuanced portrait won't reach a large audience, but for those concerned with Catholic doctrine, it is a major work and will help secure Maritain's status as a modern Catholic icon. Bryce Christensen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Ralph McInerny (1929-2010) was Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies and director emeritus of the Jacques Maritain Center, University of Notre Dame. He was the author of numerous works in philosophy, literature, fiction, and journalism, including  A First Glance at St. Thomas Aquinas, Characters in Search of Their Author, and his autobiography, I Alone Have Escaped to Tell You, all published by the University of Notre Dame Press.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0268043590
• ISBN-13: 978-0268043599
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,659,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely and challenging, February 26, 2010

By 

John M. Poling "preacher and theology student" (Waynesburg, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Very Rich Hours of Jacques Maritain: A Spiritual Life (Hardcover)

I purchased this book on something of a whim, knowing nothing about Maritain. I found the book to be inspirational, fascinating, and provocative.
"There us only one tragedy, not to be a saint." Here we are given a window into this influential philosophers long and fervent pilgrimage to become just that.
I did not really expect the book to be what it is: it is far more than just biography. One really needs to have some knowledge of philosophy to really follow along; there are a number of sections which deal at length with metaphysics, epistemology, etc. from a Thomistic perspective. Some of this was tough sledding for me. In addition McInerny seems to presuppose a passing acquaintance with French and Latin as well. I was a bit surprised by this; did McInerny expect no one but academics to be interested in this work? It certainly seems to be written for a specific and rather limited audience.
It has been said elsewhere that this is a beautiful book. It is, and it is very well written. If you are interested in the 20th century renewal of interest for the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas (among Roman Catholics), and in the man who seems to have been a central figure behind it all, you may find this a rewarding read. I will say, as a caveat, it is a book written for Roman Catholics exclusively, with the Reformation and Luther dismissed summarily. Protestants of every stripe will find much to disagree with, then, but might find it fascinating nonetheless.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Jacques Maritan was a political modernist, August 20, 2011

By 

Eric M. Brown (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Rich Hours of Jacques Maritain: A Spiritual Life (Paperback)

Pope Pius XI in his encyclical "Ubi Arcano Dei Consilio" that is his encyclical "On the Peace of Christ in His Kingdom" which was promulgated on December 23, 1922 states in Paragraphs 60-61that "Many believe in or claim that they believe in and hold fast to Catholic doctrine on such questions as social authority, the right of owning private property, on the relations between capital and labor, on the rights of laboring man, on the relations between Church and State, religion and country, on the relations between the different social classes, on international relations, on the rights of the Holy See and the prerogatives of the Roman Pontiff and the Episcopate, on the social rights of Jesus Christ, Who is the Creator, Redeemer, and Lord not only of individuals but of nations. In spite of these protestations, they speak, write, and, what is more, act as if it were not necessary any longer to follow, or that they did not remain still in full force, the teachings and solemn pronouncements which may be found in so many documents of the Holy See, and particularly in those written by Leo XIII, Pius X, and Benedict XV. There is a species of moral, legal, and social modernism which We condemn, no less decidely than We condemn theological modernism." The works of Jacques Maritain on political philosophy, such as Integral Humanism are not Thomistic and do not agree with Catholic social doctrine but fall into the category of the social modernism condemned by Pope Pius XI. Jacques Maritain supported the modern state that is liberal democracy, which is not only godless, secular, and anti-Christian, but also is fundamentally opposed to the natural moral law. Therefore all good Catholics must reject any attempt to position Maritain as a good Catholic who ought to be honored as promoted by Ralph McInerny. Maritain was a political modernist not a Thomist and this is why he ignored political science as exposited by Aquinas, Aristotle, and Francis Vitoria in his(Maritain's) works promoting liberal democracy. Maritain rejected the social Kingship of Jesus Christ over societies and individuals as taught by Pope Pius XI encyclical "Quas Primas" of 1925. Again Maritain was not a Thomist but a political modernist.