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Handmaid of the Lord
«Comme une gerbe liée en son milieu se déploie à ses extrémités, la vie de Marie se noue en son oui ; c'est de lui qu'elle reçoit son sens et sa forme et se déploie en arrière et en avant.» Cette ouverture de la première des vingt-trois méditations mariales rassemblées dans le présent volume est la source toujours jaillissante à partir de laquelle Adrienne von Speyr nous invite à contempler les mystères de la vie de Marie et à comprendre toujours plus profondément ce qu'ils révèlent de la vie de l'Église et de chacun de ses membres. Née dans une famille protestante de Suisse romande, Adrienne von Speyr (La Chaux-de-Fonds 1902 - Bäle 1967) connaît très jeune une vie spirituelle intense, à la recherche de Dieu toujours plus grand. Elle fait des études de médecine, se marie, élève deux enfants et exerce sa profession à Bâle. A la suite d'une rencontre décisive avec Hans Urs von Balthasar, elle entre dans l'Eglise catholique en 1940. C'est le début d'une mission commune qui a pour fruit la fondation d'un institut séculier et la publication d'une oeuvre théologique et spirituelle qui compte plus de soixante volumes.
202 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1985
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About the author
Adrienne von Speyr
138 books42 followersAdrienne von Speyr was a Swiss medical doctor and the author of over 60 books on spirituality and theology.
Von Speyr was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Her father, Theodor von Speyr, was an ophthalmologist. Her mother, Laure Girard, was the descendant of a family of noted watchmakers and jewelers from Geneva and Neuenburg. Speyr was her parents' second child.
Speyr's mother scolded her daily and this led her to form a strong trust and devotion to God, as well as a recognition of the meaning of sacrifice and renunciation. She formed a deep relationship with her grandmother, a holy and pious woman. She also had a devotion to her father, who treated her with mutual respect and understanding, often taking her with him to the hospital to visit sick children. In her primary school years she began working with the poor and even formed a society with her friends for those living in poverty.
Speyr became a Roman Catholic on 1 November 1940, the Feast of All Saints, when she was 38, under the spiritual direction of the prominent priest and theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar.
She is considered by many to have been a mystic and is reputed to have had mystical experiences of the Trinity and the saints.
While in a state of contemplative, mystical prayer, she dictated to Balthasar over 60 books, including commentaries on the Bible and various theological topics. With Balthasar she co-founded a secular institute, the Johannesgemeinschaft (Community of St. John). Her reputed mystical experiences grew in frequency until her death in Basel, Switzerland, on 17 September 1967.
Von Speyr was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Her father, Theodor von Speyr, was an ophthalmologist. Her mother, Laure Girard, was the descendant of a family of noted watchmakers and jewelers from Geneva and Neuenburg. Speyr was her parents' second child.
Speyr's mother scolded her daily and this led her to form a strong trust and devotion to God, as well as a recognition of the meaning of sacrifice and renunciation. She formed a deep relationship with her grandmother, a holy and pious woman. She also had a devotion to her father, who treated her with mutual respect and understanding, often taking her with him to the hospital to visit sick children. In her primary school years she began working with the poor and even formed a society with her friends for those living in poverty.
Speyr became a Roman Catholic on 1 November 1940, the Feast of All Saints, when she was 38, under the spiritual direction of the prominent priest and theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar.
She is considered by many to have been a mystic and is reputed to have had mystical experiences of the Trinity and the saints.
While in a state of contemplative, mystical prayer, she dictated to Balthasar over 60 books, including commentaries on the Bible and various theological topics. With Balthasar she co-founded a secular institute, the Johannesgemeinschaft (Community of St. John). Her reputed mystical experiences grew in frequency until her death in Basel, Switzerland, on 17 September 1967.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 5, 2022
Gifted to me by one of my favorite people & read alongside another one of my favorite people (for the past year!), this will remain a treasure. I think the reason it reached 5 stars for me is not just because of the book itself but because of the prolonged and communal experience of reading it.
This is at times heady, but in reading it slowly (and sometimes re-reading a chapter) & then discussing with another, there is space to ponder a lot of beauty. I think I read each chapter at the perfect time, and some of the chapters I have already returned to multiple times.
Another joy of reading this is that when someone shares a book they like, it’s like a little window into their heart. Very thankful for this window :)
This is at times heady, but in reading it slowly (and sometimes re-reading a chapter) & then discussing with another, there is space to ponder a lot of beauty. I think I read each chapter at the perfect time, and some of the chapters I have already returned to multiple times.
Another joy of reading this is that when someone shares a book they like, it’s like a little window into their heart. Very thankful for this window :)
July 3, 2022
I think it is hard to not make mariology sound self-effacing rather than self-giving, and Von Speyr is no exception
March 24, 2017
I found it very repetitive and lacking in any biblical references
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews