A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer

by Peter of Alcántara, Giles Willoughby (Translator)

St. Peter of Alcantara (1499 – 1562) wrote this famous Spanish classic to aid the pious reader in growing closer to God through prayer and mediation. In this work he gives detailed meditations for each day of the week, morning and evening on everything from the suffering of Christ to the beauty of heaven. He also provides counsels on numerous topics related to prayer such as spiritual dryness and drowsiness. The work was widely read in St. Peter's day especially in Spain where it was perhaps the most popular devotion book outside of the Bible.

St. Peter himself was a Franciscan monk who was a close associate of St. Teresa of Ávila. Her autobiography chronicles the strictness of his life (often eating only once every three days) and many of the miracles that St. Peter is said to have worked. He founded numerous monastic communities throughout Spain and Portugal and preached the Gospel to the poor. It was said that while in prayer he was sometimes seen to be ecstasy and to levitate. On his deathbed he refused to drink even water saying, "Even my Lord Jesus Christ thirsted on the Cross."

Genres: Catholic, Spirituality, Prayer, Religion

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2011

About the author

Saint Peter of Alcantara, O.F.M. (Spanish: San Pedro de Alcántara) (1499 – October 18, 1562), was a Spanish Franciscan friar canonized in 1699.

He was a man of remarkable austerity and poverty who travelled throughout Spain preaching the Gospel to the poor. He wrote a Treatise on Prayer and Meditation, which was considered a masterpiece by St. Teresa, St. Francis de Sales and Louis of Granada.

While in prayer and contemplation, he was often seen in ecstasies and levitation. In his deathbed, he was offered a glass of water which he refused, saying that "Even my Lord Jesus Christ thirsted on the Cross..." He died while on his knees in prayer on October 18, 1562 in a monastery at Arenas (now Arenas de San Pedro, Province of Ávila, Old Castile).

Reviews

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, comprehensive book on prayer and meditation. Great information within the pages. I will definitely refer to this book again. Five stars! 🙏🏻

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished in one sitting on Good Friday. This fortifying guide on how to properly indulge in mental prayer was written by St. Peter Alcantara and first published in 1558. I read the French 1962 version that was issued in honour of his four-centenary anniversary. It was very good, explaining in rich details the different steps of mental prayer and devotion.

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENGLISH: A good introduction to prayer, meditation, retreat and devotion, with exercises and warnings.

SPANISH: Buena introducción a la práctica de la oración, meditación, recogimiento y devoción, con ejercicios y avisos.

[Jose-Luis La Torre-Cuadros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro pequeño en tamaño pero gigantesco en sabiduría espiritual, escrito para desafiarnos a crecer en la oración y la devoción.

[Vyacheslav]

Treatise on Prayer and Meditation by Peter of Alcantara

[Carlos Eduardo Chies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read about meditative praying. Simple, straight to the point, very rich!