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Contact with God
With more than two million copies of his books in print, Anthony de Mello remains one of the world’s most popular spiritual guides. In Contact with God , he draws upon his persuasive lectures and personal parables to guide readers through their own spiritual retreats.
Nowhere is Anthony de Mello’s characteristic warmth and insight more evident than in the series of talks he gave while guiding retreats. Known throughout the world as one of the foremost religious guides, de Mello offers here the transcripts from his beloved lectures, inspiring readers going on retreat and including suggestions for how to get the most out of the retreat experience. In Contact with God (reissued and available for the first time from Image), he intersperses his descriptions of various types of prayer with stories from his own life, as well as the thought-provoking parables for which he is best known.
Nowhere is Anthony de Mello’s characteristic warmth and insight more evident than in the series of talks he gave while guiding retreats. Known throughout the world as one of the foremost religious guides, de Mello offers here the transcripts from his beloved lectures, inspiring readers going on retreat and including suggestions for how to get the most out of the retreat experience. In Contact with God (reissued and available for the first time from Image), he intersperses his descriptions of various types of prayer with stories from his own life, as well as the thought-provoking parables for which he is best known.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
52 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Anthony de Mello
180 books996 followersAnthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist who became widely known for his books on spirituality. An internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, writer and public speaker, de Mello hosted many spiritual conferences.
The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as "A Rediscovery of Life" and "A Way to God for Today," have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.
In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:
"But already in certain passages in [his] early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. ... With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm."
Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:
"The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma."
The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as "A Rediscovery of Life" and "A Way to God for Today," have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.
In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:
"But already in certain passages in [his] early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. ... With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm."
Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:
"The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 3, 2016
This would have got 5 stars if it were not for the exhortations to get Mary to pray for you.
That aside, de Mello has a gift of seeing through to the essence of things and of explaining them forcefully.
In this book he explains the rationale behind going on retreat, (The full title of book is Contact with God - Retreat Conferences,) then explains what is prayer and how to pray. This is easily the best book on prayer I have ever read (although I have not read many). He also talks about what is repentance.
I really want to go on retreat now!
That aside, de Mello has a gift of seeing through to the essence of things and of explaining them forcefully.
In this book he explains the rationale behind going on retreat, (The full title of book is Contact with God - Retreat Conferences,) then explains what is prayer and how to pray. This is easily the best book on prayer I have ever read (although I have not read many). He also talks about what is repentance.
I really want to go on retreat now!
February 3, 2025
The sections in this book were originally delivered as talks during retreat conferences in India.
A Hindu told a Christian, 'You missionaries will never have any impact on us unless you come as gurus.' By this, he meant that book learning is not enough, lived experience - not second-hand experience - is a vital part of communication.
The laws of prayer:
faith
forgiveness
right motives
generosity
Jesus' name
persistence
The Jesus prayer - a short repeated invocation such as 'My Jesus, mercy', 'My God and my all' or 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy on me' possibly originated in the ancient Hindu practice of the Prayer of the Name.
Emile Coue advocated auto-suggestion as a cure for disease. Relax and repeat about 20 times: "Every day in every way I am getting better and better." De Mello correlates this with the Jesus Prayer.
Those who cannot accept the forgiveness of God are subject to a subtle form of pride.
A Hindu told a Christian, 'You missionaries will never have any impact on us unless you come as gurus.' By this, he meant that book learning is not enough, lived experience - not second-hand experience - is a vital part of communication.
The laws of prayer:
faith
forgiveness
right motives
generosity
Jesus' name
persistence
The Jesus prayer - a short repeated invocation such as 'My Jesus, mercy', 'My God and my all' or 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy on me' possibly originated in the ancient Hindu practice of the Prayer of the Name.
Emile Coue advocated auto-suggestion as a cure for disease. Relax and repeat about 20 times: "Every day in every way I am getting better and better." De Mello correlates this with the Jesus Prayer.
Those who cannot accept the forgiveness of God are subject to a subtle form of pride.
June 6, 2017
I read it twice and would love to read it another time.
Read
July 28, 2011El día que deses a Dios con la misma ansias con que querias respirar, ese día lo encontraras, sin dudas.
May 2, 2012
If you are planning a silent retreat (which I am) this is a great books to read beforehand!
March 26, 2017
Inspiring. A book for everyone who would like to pray better.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews