Spiritual Progress

December 11, 2006
Written by a Catholic priest who is the Vatican analyst for NBC News,
\t\t this primer on the spiritual life is geared to "beginners in the broadest
\t\t sense"—those just embarking on a religious path as well as readers in need of
\t\t a refresher. Williams emphasizes the practical aspects of maintaining and
\t\t growing in a relationship with God, covering such areas as discerning God's
\t\t will, prayer and impediments to spiritual work. He illustrates his points with
\t\t brief excerpts from writers like Jean-Pierre de Caussade and John Henry Newman,
\t\t but his primary source is scripture, giving the book a broad appeal. Thomas
\t\t touches on specific Catholic practices, such as the sacraments and the role of
\t\t Mary and the saints in the spiritual life, but he does so by offering sound,
\t\t simple definitions that explain rather than defend. Readers who are more
\t\t advanced in the spiritual life may find his opening chapters elementary, but
\t\t they are written for those who lack the spiritual formation presupposed by the
\t\t authors of traditional spiritual manuals. Most helpful to anyone with more
\t\t experience in the spiritual life will be the chapters on spiritual direction
\t\t ("Your Own Personal Trainer") and the spiritual program, a structured, written
\t\t plan outlining ideals, goals, obstacles and means of achieving objectives.
\t\t

March 1, 2007
Williams, the telegenic analyst on church matters for several networks and now NBC's consultant on Vatican affairs, has written a straightforward guide to Roman Catholic spirituality. Williams distances his work from self-help, devotional reading and spiritual manuals: it is, he says, a "guidebook" that "takes the Christian proposal seriously." While Williams writes with clarity and precision, it is hard to identify his audience. What convinced Catholic would find the Sacraments or the role of Mary to be news? Still, some Catholics may find this a good preparative for seeking the kind of spiritual direction Williams recommends.

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