from cover

'The only way ot find our anything about the joys of contemplation is by experience,' writes Thomas Merton. 'We must taste and see that the Lord is sweet.' In this earlky writing, unavailable for years, Tkhomas Merton sets forth the basics of Christian contemplation in the lucid, helpful way which has made him a favorite of millions. He provides a brief guide for the geninner and lets us know what to expect when we begin to move into this essential Chkristian experience. When you begin the life of contemplatin, Merton writes, 'you have left the beaten path and are travaeling by paths that connot be charted and measured.'

What is Contemplation?
The Promises of Christ
St. Thomas Aquinas
Kinds of Contemplation--Active contemplation; Liturgy; Union with God in Activity;
Infused Contemplation--St. Bernard of Clairvaux; 'A ray of darkness';
The Test--Peace relaxation and desire; What to do-the teaching of St. John of the Cross
The Danger of Quietism

Why do we think of the gift of contemplation, infused contemplation, mystical prayer, as something essentially strange and esoteric reserved for a small class of almost unnatural beings and prohibited to everyone else? It is perhaps because we have forgotten that contemplation is the work of the Holy Ghost acting on our souls through His gifts of Wisdom and Understanding with special intensity to increase and perfect our love for Him.

Small book but very heavy reading. ( )

Simple depth. That's what I expect when I pick up Merton, and that's precisely what I found in this little book.

I should share the circumstances of my reading because they added to the experience. After feeling overwhelmed by my workload, I took off with my canoe one Monday to disappear into the wild to pray. After paddling and portaging to one of my favourite campsites, I lit a small fire of dried pine branches and read What is Contemplation through in one sitting.

Merton shares, in very simple and direct language, what the contemplative life is. He doesn't offer steps A, B, and C to become a contemplative. Instead, his passion and love for the mystery of God inspires the reader to search out his own path.

A life of contemplation is not for everyone, but everyone can learn to draw nearer to God. Merton shares some of the pitfalls on the road to contemplation (such as the dark night) and, like a good spiritual director, helps the reader to discern what she's experiencing.

Even as I'm writing this simple review, I realize that my clumsy words are only complicating the simple elegance of Merton's tract. I'll leave you with his words:

"The truly contemplative soul is not one that has the most exalted visions of the Divine Essence but the one who is most closely united to God in faith and love and allows itself to be absorbed and transformed into Him by the Holy Ghost. To such a soul everything becomes a source and occasion of love" (65).

Until the day when everything is a source and occasion of love for everyone, we have faithful guides like Merton to help us along the way. ( )