The Ascent of Mount Carmel: Reflections

Saint John of the Cross is one of Christianity’s greatest poets and mystics. Nevertheless, his subject matter and writing style, coupled with his use of Scholastic terminology, can make his prose difficult to understand and intimidating.

Readers of The Ascent of Mount Carmel: Reflections will thank Father Marc Foley for making John’s thought accessible and refreshingly contemporary. The author shares with contemporary spiritual seekers his seasoned wisdom, gleaned from years of reading and teaching John of the Cross. He deftly weaves together insights from psychology, theology, and literature to make The Ascent of Mount Carmel both understandable and relevant to daily life.

The Notes and Index sections are fully linked.

**Catholic Press Association Best Book from a Catholic Publisher 2014 2nd place.**

MORE INFORMATION
Marc Foley, OCD, is a Discalced Carmelite priest and member of the Washington Province (U.S.A.) of Discalced Carmelite friars. He is a longtime member and former chair of the Institute of Carmelite Studies. Currently he serves as publisher of ICS Publications and as director of formation at the Carmelite House of Studies located in Washington, D.C. A spiritual director and popular retreat master, Father Marc is the author of ten books, six of them with ICS Publications, on St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING...

“Marc Foley’s splendid grasp of human nature—enhanced by his training in psychology as well as his keen and extensive reading of literature—makes him a very able guide to John of the Cross’s contemplative wisdom.”

—Dr. Keith J. Egan, T.O.Carm.
Adjunct professor of theology, University of Notre Dame
Aquinas chair in Catholic Theology Emeritus,
Saint Mary’s College, South Bend, Indiana




“Father Marc Foley may think he has written a book of 'reflections' (his word) based on the commentary by St. John of the Cross called The Ascent of Mount Carmel. But as I read it I thought over and over, 'This is a Master Class on the spiritual life!' This book is that good.
This is not... devotional or feel-good spirituality. This is heavy-duty, life-reworking spirituality… really deep stuff intended for those who desire to advance really far on the spiritual path.
…. I have never read anything that made St. John of the Cross come so alive.”

—Gregory Houck, O.Carm.
(writing in Carmelite Review)