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The Cross of Jesus
The Cross of Jesus, the chef-d’oeuvre of the seventeenth-century spiritual writer Louis Chardon, is a fruitful synthesis of theology and mysticism. In style, the book is richly oratorical, replete with prayers, admonishments, and interrogations of the Divine worthy of the Book of Job; in content, it is arrestingly original, combining medieval scholarship and modern sensibility. This new edition, under the deft editorial direction of Paul Jerome Keller, O.P., combines the two volumes of the original English translation into one and includes a new Introduction, updated references, and revisions to the translation that better reflect the original French text. Its theological assiduity notwithstanding, The Cross of Jesus is a book, not for scholars, but for souls striving after sanctity.
Similar to his saintly compatriots Jean Pierre de Caussade and Thérèse of Lisieux, Chardon is able to instill consolation and encouragement even amidst admonitions of stern truth. In The Cross of Jesus, the result is an enduring, bracingly forthright meditation on the meaning of suffering, the mystery of Christ's death, and the accomplishment of our salvation.
Similar to his saintly compatriots Jean Pierre de Caussade and Thérèse of Lisieux, Chardon is able to instill consolation and encouragement even amidst admonitions of stern truth. In The Cross of Jesus, the result is an enduring, bracingly forthright meditation on the meaning of suffering, the mystery of Christ's death, and the accomplishment of our salvation.
- GenresSpirituality
492 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2019
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April 5, 2025
This book is very good but also quite challenging to understand at times. It is VERY dense in its theological points and is not for the faint of heart.
I think one thing that's important to keep in mind while reading this book is to remember that Chardon is speaking to "holy souls" (those pursuing union with God) who are discouraged by their own perception that they make little progress and don't seem to be in the union they desire. Chardon is trying to show how God remains with the soul who seeks Him even when He seems absent and the soul suffers as a result, as she experiences the purification of her love. But Chardon is not saying that God doesn't communicate His Love through Joy - we know intuitively that God does in fact communicate His Love through Joy. In reading this book, it can be easy to forget this and think God desires suffering for us simply (or as an end) rather than secundum quid (as a means to growth in Love of Him). This error would be very harmful to any soul seeking God, which is why I would caution those who read this book to be vigilant regarding this potential error.
I think one thing that's important to keep in mind while reading this book is to remember that Chardon is speaking to "holy souls" (those pursuing union with God) who are discouraged by their own perception that they make little progress and don't seem to be in the union they desire. Chardon is trying to show how God remains with the soul who seeks Him even when He seems absent and the soul suffers as a result, as she experiences the purification of her love. But Chardon is not saying that God doesn't communicate His Love through Joy - we know intuitively that God does in fact communicate His Love through Joy. In reading this book, it can be easy to forget this and think God desires suffering for us simply (or as an end) rather than secundum quid (as a means to growth in Love of Him). This error would be very harmful to any soul seeking God, which is why I would caution those who read this book to be vigilant regarding this potential error.
Displaying 1 of 1 review