The Spiritual Life of the Priest: by M. Eugene Boylan

by Eugene Boylan

A Classic !!!

Genres: Spirituality

Paperback

First published February 19, 2013

About the author

Dom Mary Eugene Boylan, O.C.R. (1904-1964), was an Irish priest, Trappist monk, and spiritual writer. He entered the Cistercian order in 1931 and was ordained in 1937. Drawing from his experience as a confessor, spiritual director, and retreat master, he published This Tremendous Lover in 1946, which was translated into several languages and became an international bestseller. Dom Boylan lectured extensively in the United States. He taught theology and philosophy at Mount Saint Joseph Abbey in Rosecrea, Ireland, and was elected as its fourth abbot in 1962, where he served until his untimely death in an auto accident in 1964.

Reviews

[Michael Vidrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book written by a priest intended for priests. Don Boylan gives really good articulation to some points of theology, such as temporal punishment due to sin/Purgatory and the role of Mary in the spiritual life. But more often I found myself getting angry at the way that he tends to speak to his readers as though they are complete soft-brains. There’s also no good reason for him to constantly be, from beginning to end, mentioning things that he ‘does not have the space or the time to include in a work like this,’ which seems to suggest more about his own lack of concision than anything else. 2.5 stars.

[Raymond]

“The Incarnation of the Son of God was the first part of God's plan to save men; the second part involves the union of all those who are to be saved in a supernatural organism, analogous to the organism of the human body, in which Christ is described as the Head, the Holy Spirit as the Soul, and each of us as the members.”

“But if we are humble, if we give Him the glory, He will give us grace. There is a marvelous depth in Our Lord's warning that we can only be His disciples if we deny our self and follow Him. Doing that we shall see the fulfilment of St. Augustine's words: There shall be one Christ loving Himself, since Christ it is Whom we must follow and must find, and through Him and with Him and in Him, in the unity of the Spirit is all the glory of God.”

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dom Boulanger presents the spiritual life in the straightforward sobriety capable by only the English. For this, I love this book.

[Fernando Munoz lc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ricco e pieno di esperienza

[Fr. Benj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. Boylan’s “Spiritual Life of a Priest” exemplifies practical wisdom. Boylan is easy to read while still having penetrating insights and practical suggestions for modern priests and seminarians. “Spiritual Life of a Priest” is a refreshing read and somehow the antidote to scrupulosity, subjectivism, and idealism all at once. It’s a balanced work and a marvel in the realm of prudent spirituality!