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On Cleaving to God
This famous and much loved little treatise, "On Cleaving to God," has always been attributed to Saint Albert the Great, who lived from about 1200 to 1280, and was one of the most respected theologians of his time.
"I have had the idea of writing something for myself on and about the state of complete and full abstraction from everything and of cleaving freely, confidently, nakedly and firmly to God alone, so as to describe it fully (in so far as it is possible in this abode of exile and pilgrimage), especially since the goal of Christian perfection is the love by which we cleave to God."
From the Publisher
Every Christian library needs the classics—the timeless books that have spoken powerfully to generations of believers. This eBook edition allow readers to build an essential classics library in an affordable manner. This eBook edition contains Table of Contents and links for all Scripture references.
"I have had the idea of writing something for myself on and about the state of complete and full abstraction from everything and of cleaving freely, confidently, nakedly and firmly to God alone, so as to describe it fully (in so far as it is possible in this abode of exile and pilgrimage), especially since the goal of Christian perfection is the love by which we cleave to God."
From the Publisher
Every Christian library needs the classics—the timeless books that have spoken powerfully to generations of believers. This eBook edition allow readers to build an essential classics library in an affordable manner. This eBook edition contains Table of Contents and links for all Scripture references.
79 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1911
80 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Albertus Magnus
463 books53 followersborn in perhaps 1206
German religious philosopher Saint Albertus Magnus, originally Albert, count von Bollstadt, and also noted as the teacher of Saint Thomas Aquinas, sought to apply methods of Aristotle to current scientific questions.
Also known as Albert the Great and Albert of Cologne, this member of the Catholic order of preachers (Dominicans) served as friar and from 1260 to 1262 as bishop of Regensburg. During his lifetime, people knew him as doctor universalis and doctor expertus and later appended the term magnus ("the great") to his name. Scholars, such as James Athanasius Weisheipl and Joachim Roland Söder, referred to this greatest theologian of the Middle Ages. The Church honors him among its 35 doctors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertu...
German religious philosopher Saint Albertus Magnus, originally Albert, count von Bollstadt, and also noted as the teacher of Saint Thomas Aquinas, sought to apply methods of Aristotle to current scientific questions.
Also known as Albert the Great and Albert of Cologne, this member of the Catholic order of preachers (Dominicans) served as friar and from 1260 to 1262 as bishop of Regensburg. During his lifetime, people knew him as doctor universalis and doctor expertus and later appended the term magnus ("the great") to his name. Scholars, such as James Athanasius Weisheipl and Joachim Roland Söder, referred to this greatest theologian of the Middle Ages. The Church honors him among its 35 doctors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertu...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 12, 2012
This little gem of a book was truly a great find! I can't believe I am the first person reviewing this book.
I got this book FREE on kindle. It was written by a friar named Albertus Magnus (1193-1206), he is also known as St. Albert the Great.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it would be beneficial for any Christian to read. The entire book is about how to rid yourself of troubling thoughts, concerns and outside distractions and learn to focus on acquiring a continual relationship with God inside your soul.
Here are some excerpts:
"When thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber i.e., into the inmost abode of thy heart-and, having shut the door of thy senses, with a pure heart, a free conscience and an unfeigned faith,pray to thy Father in spirit and in truth, in the secret of thy soul".
"There, in solitude of soul, with loving confidence he makes known his desires to God. With all the intensity of his love he pours forth his heart before Him, in sincerety and truth, until he loses himself in God."
"Cast thyself fearlessly into the arms of God. He will embrace thee, He will heal and save thee."
"When trouble, discouragement, confusion of mind assail thee, do not lose patience or be cast down. Do not betake thee to vocal prayers or other consolations, but endeavour by an act of the will and reason to lift up thy soul and unite it to God, whether thy sensual nature will or no."
It's such a wonderful piece of work, its ashame it's not more well known.
I got this book FREE on kindle. It was written by a friar named Albertus Magnus (1193-1206), he is also known as St. Albert the Great.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it would be beneficial for any Christian to read. The entire book is about how to rid yourself of troubling thoughts, concerns and outside distractions and learn to focus on acquiring a continual relationship with God inside your soul.
Here are some excerpts:
"When thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber i.e., into the inmost abode of thy heart-and, having shut the door of thy senses, with a pure heart, a free conscience and an unfeigned faith,pray to thy Father in spirit and in truth, in the secret of thy soul".
"There, in solitude of soul, with loving confidence he makes known his desires to God. With all the intensity of his love he pours forth his heart before Him, in sincerety and truth, until he loses himself in God."
"Cast thyself fearlessly into the arms of God. He will embrace thee, He will heal and save thee."
"When trouble, discouragement, confusion of mind assail thee, do not lose patience or be cast down. Do not betake thee to vocal prayers or other consolations, but endeavour by an act of the will and reason to lift up thy soul and unite it to God, whether thy sensual nature will or no."
It's such a wonderful piece of work, its ashame it's not more well known.
December 5, 2013
This is a wonderful book on how in this life one can become in Union with God. It details how God lives within each and everyone of us. To become closer we must go into ourselves and reflect on God. The first necessary step is to shut out the distractions of the world and cleave to Christ.
* Turn away from the intellect and senses turn to God
* Ascend to God by turning interior
* Increase detachment = closer to God and perfection
* Perfect love is love of God, not pagan intellect
* The soul doesn't care about the body or exterior things
* The soul cares for the love of God; politics, trials, emotions should not disturb the soul.
Listen to the audiobook
Read the book
* Turn away from the intellect and senses turn to God
* Ascend to God by turning interior
* Increase detachment = closer to God and perfection
* Perfect love is love of God, not pagan intellect
* The soul doesn't care about the body or exterior things
* The soul cares for the love of God; politics, trials, emotions should not disturb the soul.
Listen to the audiobook
Read the book
July 16, 2025
Beautiful and inspiring.
December 7, 2023
On Union with God provides a few short chapters written by Albert the Great on different ways in which a deeper relationship with God can be strived for. It especially emphasizes the importance of detaching from material things, seeking praise and affirmation from others, and self-will. I especially liked that he emphasized the importance of throwing yourself into the arms of God the Father and completely trusting in Him because “as long as you lean upon yourself you will totter,” a sentiment that I frequently need of reminders of.
Albert the Great also provided a great explanation for how contemplation of the Lord is markedly different from philosophical musing which was something I’ve been wondering about recently. He says that the difference between Christian and pagan philosophers is that “the latter sought only their own perfection, and hence their contemplation affected their intellect only; they desired only to enrich their minds with knowledge. But the contemplation of a Saint seeks as its end the love of the God Whom they contemplate.”
While it was a good quick read overall, I didn’t find it to be particularly engrossing and profound, but, as I frequently like to disclaim in my reviews, it may be the case that I am not spiritually mature enough to fully appreciate it yet.
Albert the Great also provided a great explanation for how contemplation of the Lord is markedly different from philosophical musing which was something I’ve been wondering about recently. He says that the difference between Christian and pagan philosophers is that “the latter sought only their own perfection, and hence their contemplation affected their intellect only; they desired only to enrich their minds with knowledge. But the contemplation of a Saint seeks as its end the love of the God Whom they contemplate.”
While it was a good quick read overall, I didn’t find it to be particularly engrossing and profound, but, as I frequently like to disclaim in my reviews, it may be the case that I am not spiritually mature enough to fully appreciate it yet.
May 5, 2021
This guy is steeped in Neo-Platonic philosophy almost to the point of becoming Gnostic. As a result he recommends a level of asceticism in this work which I simply cannot abide. Though this tract made me recoil, I am nonetheless impressed by the mind which produced it. Wildly individualistic and postmodern for its time with a sprinkling of mysticism, I found many paragraphs filled with beautiful descriptions of life in the embrace of the Father and strong affirmations of what humans are capable of in Christ. Overall, this was a work with high highs and low lows.
August 16, 2022
Easy to read but a difficult process to carry out. I was somewhat surprised that Albert didnt speak more of the need for Divine Grace to effect this focus in us.
We also need to remember i think that our purpose on earth is not to "actualize' ourselves in a human way, but to seek union with God, which does not necessarily lead to an easy life on earth. And by denying that "actualization," we are also denying our human tendency to feel satisfied with our life in a purely human way - not a divine way.
We also need to remember i think that our purpose on earth is not to "actualize' ourselves in a human way, but to seek union with God, which does not necessarily lead to an easy life on earth. And by denying that "actualization," we are also denying our human tendency to feel satisfied with our life in a purely human way - not a divine way.
October 20, 2023
Universal Doctor Enjoyed
My third reading over the years and each has been more memorable,meaningful and enjoyable.
A genial Doctor and early precursor of Living in the Divine Will
Pax Christi
My third reading over the years and each has been more memorable,meaningful and enjoyable.
A genial Doctor and early precursor of Living in the Divine Will
Pax Christi
March 30, 2020
A few notes:
•Delight when you are shown your faults.
•Whatever God wills, nothing can stop it from happening. Whatever isn't His will, cannot happen.
•Do not look for praise from this world.
•Mortify self-love in order to focus your love on God.
•Delight when you are shown your faults.
•Whatever God wills, nothing can stop it from happening. Whatever isn't His will, cannot happen.
•Do not look for praise from this world.
•Mortify self-love in order to focus your love on God.
November 18, 2012
Der Hauptgrund für die 4 / 5 statt 5 / 5 Wertung ist die Auswahl der Texte. Die Texte zur Naturforschung (S. 43-118) sind zwar sicherlich Zeugnis von Alberts Werk, aber sie haben doch kaum die bleibende Bedeutung, die den anderen hier ausgewählten Texten zukommt.
Die Übersetzung ins Deutsche ist teilweise sehr frei gehalten. Das ist jedenfalls dann kein Nachteil, wenn der Leser in der Lage ist, ggf. das lateinische Original verstehend zu lesen. Andere Leser sind ohnehin mit einer einsprachigen Ausgabe besser bedient.
Die Übersetzung ins Deutsche ist teilweise sehr frei gehalten. Das ist jedenfalls dann kein Nachteil, wenn der Leser in der Lage ist, ggf. das lateinische Original verstehend zu lesen. Andere Leser sind ohnehin mit einer einsprachigen Ausgabe besser bedient.
July 31, 2015
It was okay
This book has quite a few good points about dwelling in the spirit of God. The only parts I didn't like is when he was saying to Dislike yourself and to live in contempt of oneself.
This book has quite a few good points about dwelling in the spirit of God. The only parts I didn't like is when he was saying to Dislike yourself and to live in contempt of oneself.
November 28, 2014
This is one of my favorite books truly
. It is a gem of a book , I keep taking it down from the book shelf. It is now quite shabby, but very worn and friendly.
. It is a gem of a book , I keep taking it down from the book shelf. It is now quite shabby, but very worn and friendly.
May 21, 2014
Deep thought that rambles just a bit at times. My favorite was the last chapter, about divine providence. There's a lot to take in here, I wi be reading this work again.
January 18, 2016
Given Albert's level of scientific knowledge, I was surprised by and enjoyed his mystical teaching.
December 18, 2019
Quite beautiful with many profound reflections
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews