The Ways of Mental Prayer

In short: A treasure full of wisdom about mental prayer, but too advanced for me.

Since this book is 440 pages long (408 without the prefaces), I thought it would be a great idea to read it slowly during Lent, just a couple of pages a day. And I did pick it as my Lenten read this year, but have only finished it now, three weeks after Easter.

The first half of the book was a breeze to get through, a very pleasurable read and with many great quotes to underline or mark. The second half was much more dense and difficult, but also dry and tedious to finish (which is why it took me so long).

This book describes the various stages of mental prayer and all it's benefits and difficulties, summarising the greatest of authors on this topic, like St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Ávila, but also lesser known ones. It is not a very practical methodology book, it rather describes the stages of mental prayer, the gifts that come with them, as well as the struggles one can encounter with them.

For me it was too much, but this doesn't mean this is a bad book - it is objectively great, the content deserves five stars. Perhaps I have just read it at the wrong moment, because I am not as advanced in the spiritual life as 19th-century Cistercian monks, towards which this book was originally aimed at when it was written.

I would recommend it to people who are more advanced in the spiritual life, and especially monks and nuns. I also believe that it is probably better to acquire this book alone, and focus entirely on it, reading it slowly, rather than acquiring the various medieval spiritual classics, because this book summarises the thoughts of many of the greatest authors on that topic very well.

One final thing I also want to comment on is the TAN Books paperback edition I own - the format, binding and font are fantastic, a real typographical pleasure. It also features an endorsement letter by none other than Pope St. Pius X. in both the original Latin and translated English on the first pages of the book. I really care about these things, I only want to spend my money on nicely done editions, and this one is top-notch.

oh yeah i forgot to tell you guys but i be in MAD ecstatic mystical union, like dog, i am completely united in raptures you know what i meaaaaaaan

Stopped at the beginning of the chapter on affective prayer (pg. 178). All I can say is that this book makes me want to pray.