Toward a Perfect Love: The Spiritual Counsel of Walter Hilton

by Walter Hilton, David Lyle Jeffrey (Translator)

Toward a Perfect The Spiritual Counsel of Walter Hilton [Paperback] [Ap...

212 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1986

About the author

Walter Hilton (b. 1340–45, d. 24 March 1396) was an English Augustinian mystic.

Reviews

[Lee Bertsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one would mistake me for a contemplative Christian. But this 600 year old book drew me in at several points. There was a warmth and a realism to his thoughts on devotion to Jesus. Listen in to this quote: "It sometimes happens that grace puts vocal prayer to silence, stirring the soul to see and experience Jesus in another manner. And chief among these is the beholding of Jesus in his Word. For Jesus, who is all truthfulness, is hidden there, wound in a silken veil of its beautiful words where he may not be known or experienced except with a pure heart. This is simply because truthfulness does not reveal itself to enemies, but only to friends who love and desire it with a meek heart." There were obscure parts where my mind fogged over but overall a helpful read.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter Hilton is a very interesting person with much to offer for today even though he lived 600 years ago. This book has three "letters" if you can call them that; they are more small books. He is sending suggestions for how to reach closer to perfection. I found it started to get very good from about page 77 on. He has a lot of information for contemplation and includes information on the Dark Night which was not talked about until John of the Crosses time about 1585. I find information in Hilton's writings not found in John of the Cross or anywhere else. Hilton has a lot of good material for those into contemplation. I'll read this one again.