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The ladder of monks: A letter on the contemplative life and Twelve meditations
'My thoughts on the spiritual exercises proper to cloistered monks'; the ninth prior of La Grande Chartreuse ( '1180) articulates the monastic contemplative tradition in distinctively western terms. '...reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. These make a ladder for monks by which they are lifted up from earth to heaven. It has few rungs, yet its length is immense and wonderful, for its lower end rests upon the earth, but its top pierces the clouds and seeks heavenly secrets.'
131 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 21, 2024
A FRENCH MONK COMPARES THE SPIRITUAL LIFE TO CLIMBING A LADDER
Guigo II was a 12th century Carthusian monk who was Prior at the Grande Chartreuse in France. This edition was the first English translation of this once-famous book.
He begins by stating that "all at once four stages in spiritual exercise came into my mind: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. These make a ladder for monks by which they are lifted up from earth to heaven. It has few rungs, yet its length is immense and wonderful, for its lower end rests upon the earth, but its top pierces the clouds and touches heavenly secrets." (Pg. 81-82) Later, he concludes, "we see clearly by reason and the ... Scriptures that the perfection of the blessed life is contained in these four degrees, and that the spiritual man ought to occupy himself in them continually." (Pg. 97)
He explains the function of these four rungs: "Reading... puts food whole into the mouth, meditation chews it and breaks it up, prayer extracts the flavor, contemplation is the sweetness itself which gladdens and refreshes." (Pg. 82-83) Later, he elaborates, "Reading... is, as it were, the foundation: it provides the subject matter we must use for meditation. Meditation considers more carefully what is to be sought after... Prayer lifts itself up to God... and begs for the treasure it longs for... Contemplation ... rewards the labors of the other three." (Pg. 92-93) He adds, "prayer without meditation is lukewarm, meditation without prayer is unfruitful, prayer when it is fervent wins contemplation, but to obtain it without prayer would be rare..." (Pg. 95)
He observes that "So the soul, seeing that it cannot attain by itself to that sweetness of knowing and feeling for which it longs, and... humbles itself and betakes itself to prayer..." (Pg. 86)
Guigo's book has very deservedly been brought into modern English, and will be of interest to anyone studying monastic spirituality.
Guigo II was a 12th century Carthusian monk who was Prior at the Grande Chartreuse in France. This edition was the first English translation of this once-famous book.
He begins by stating that "all at once four stages in spiritual exercise came into my mind: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. These make a ladder for monks by which they are lifted up from earth to heaven. It has few rungs, yet its length is immense and wonderful, for its lower end rests upon the earth, but its top pierces the clouds and touches heavenly secrets." (Pg. 81-82) Later, he concludes, "we see clearly by reason and the ... Scriptures that the perfection of the blessed life is contained in these four degrees, and that the spiritual man ought to occupy himself in them continually." (Pg. 97)
He explains the function of these four rungs: "Reading... puts food whole into the mouth, meditation chews it and breaks it up, prayer extracts the flavor, contemplation is the sweetness itself which gladdens and refreshes." (Pg. 82-83) Later, he elaborates, "Reading... is, as it were, the foundation: it provides the subject matter we must use for meditation. Meditation considers more carefully what is to be sought after... Prayer lifts itself up to God... and begs for the treasure it longs for... Contemplation ... rewards the labors of the other three." (Pg. 92-93) He adds, "prayer without meditation is lukewarm, meditation without prayer is unfruitful, prayer when it is fervent wins contemplation, but to obtain it without prayer would be rare..." (Pg. 95)
He observes that "So the soul, seeing that it cannot attain by itself to that sweetness of knowing and feeling for which it longs, and... humbles itself and betakes itself to prayer..." (Pg. 86)
Guigo's book has very deservedly been brought into modern English, and will be of interest to anyone studying monastic spirituality.
July 2, 2022
This book is a beautiful gem of Christian classics.
The writings are all about how to read the Bible and go beyond it and live out our life in biblical principles.
The writings are all about how to read the Bible and go beyond it and live out our life in biblical principles.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews