What do you think?
Rate this book
The Three Ages Of The Interior Life: Prelude of Eternal Life
Explains the entire Catholic tradition on the spiritual life. Covers virtually all aspects of our Faith. The masterpiece of possibly the 20th century\'s greatest theologian. Covers scores of topics, including contemplative prayer, one\'s predominant fault, the healing of pride, spiritual direction, etc. Clear, complete, orthodox, inspiring! A masterpiece in every sense of the word. Durobound Edition Now Available!
1166 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1938
85 people are currently reading
862 people want to read
About the author
Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange
96 books147 followersRéginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. (February 21, 1877, Auch, France – February 15, 1964, Rome) was a Catholic theologian and, among Thomists of the scholastic tradition, is generally thought to be the greatest Catholic Thomist of the 20th century. He taught at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, commonly known as the Angelicum, in Rome from 1909 to 1960.
Father Garrigou-Lagrange initially attracted attention when he wrote against the theological movement later called Modernism. He is also said to be the drafter or "ghostwriter" of Pope Pius XII's 1950 encyclical Humani Generis, subtitled "Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine the Foundations of Catholic Doctrine."
He is best known for his spiritual theology. His magnum opus in the field is The Three Ages of the Interior Life, in which he propounded the thesis that infused contemplation and the resulting mystical life are in the normal way of holiness of Christian perfection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald...
Father Garrigou-Lagrange initially attracted attention when he wrote against the theological movement later called Modernism. He is also said to be the drafter or "ghostwriter" of Pope Pius XII's 1950 encyclical Humani Generis, subtitled "Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine the Foundations of Catholic Doctrine."
He is best known for his spiritual theology. His magnum opus in the field is The Three Ages of the Interior Life, in which he propounded the thesis that infused contemplation and the resulting mystical life are in the normal way of holiness of Christian perfection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 26, 2013
I have finally finished Garrigou-Lagrange's masterpiece, and it was worth all the effort! A stunning synthesis of previous theological thought, this book carefully presents many deep and enduring truths about our communion with God. Over its many chapters Garrigou-Lagrange demonstrates his thesis that the interior life here on earth is a true foretaste of life in heaven. Consequently, all men and women are called to an ever deeper love of God. Anyone who is interested in understanding how the interior life operates should read this book. One caveat must be said: this book is long and dense. If you are looking for a quick introduction, look elsewhere. If you are looking to understand as much as possible about prayer and union with God, read this book!
April 19, 2010
This two-volume set has proved to be one of great influence and importance to me. Fr. G-L has remarkable understanding of the spiritual life - the interior life of the soul - and of how we are to grow as spiritual human beings. He sees the beginning, the intermediate development, and the end of the pilgrimage of life. His insights are, simply put, of immense importance to anyone who seriously wants to discover and reach his or her calling as a human person made in the divine image.
August 9, 2015
This is a summary of the entire body of mystical theology treated in an engaging, orderly and practical manner by Lagrange, a professor at the Angelicum, the most important university of Catholic theology. This is not so much a vertical (historical) treatise of the development of the field, but a horizontal one that connects everything that is known about how man communicates with God on an individual level and what the fruits of that interaction are. The book talks in depth about the human conscience and the various levels at which virtue works: natural or according to human reason, theological or according to God's law and by direct contact with God (mystical). By the by, one gets an education as to what virtue is and how different levels of virtue are related and can be cultivated in the first third of the book and their relationship to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (St. Theresa always said that you should not stop begging for the gifts of the Holy Spirit) Note that this is the standard teaching on such matters and that some of the individual Saints and orders from whom such teachings are derived hold slightly different views than Garrilou-Lagrange, particularly on infusion, when the soul is in perfect or nearly perfect harmony with God. The definition of meditation here is used is the standard Catholic one: non-discursive Christian prayer, but different charismatic groups (Franciscans, Carmelites) have slightly different understandings of what that non-discursive is, stricter definitions and also of what constitutes 'infused'. Lagrange ascribes a less strict definition but as an independent observer, I can see both sides. The great thing about the book is that it mostly avoids gray areas, I said mostly for Lagrange cannot help mentioning some particular disagreements with modern theologians here and there, however overall it is uncontroversial enough so that the reader can focus more on how those virtues SHOULD fit in his interior life and about the role of the ascetic life in supporting that openness to the holy spirit. Unlike many intelligent men, the author speaks to teach in simple language with simple examples and with clarity and authority from experience. In one instance, he compares the soul to a sail boat, which can be either rowed by human morality or sailed by the wind, which is the holy spirit. The ascetic life, the set of habits that allows us to focus on God, creates that disposition that allows us to have that sail up. At 95 chapters, I recommend reading one chapter at a time, not because the book is hard to read or too technical, but because it necessitates interior disposition for more profit. Let you keep your sail up while you read it.
November 15, 2015
This book was recommended to me ten years ago by my spiritual director at the time, and I've just finished slowly rereading it over the course of the last several months. This book is the only thing I've ever read that takes so many disparate pieces of Catholic teaching, especially certain "list" doctrines like the seven virtues and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and lays them out as an integrated whole in a way that I can see in my own life and/or see as part of a goal to strive for or ask for in prayer.
This book, like everything else, was harder for me to process and deal with ten years ago because I had only a trivial sense of self and what my vocation is. Since this book, like nearly all Catholic spiritual writing up to this point in history, is directed toward religious who have made vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, a layman has to be willing to drop or modify pieces (carefully, humbly, prayerfully, and in conversation with Scripture) in order to absorb the benefit from this book.
This book, like everything else, was harder for me to process and deal with ten years ago because I had only a trivial sense of self and what my vocation is. Since this book, like nearly all Catholic spiritual writing up to this point in history, is directed toward religious who have made vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, a layman has to be willing to drop or modify pieces (carefully, humbly, prayerfully, and in conversation with Scripture) in order to absorb the benefit from this book.
Want to read
January 7, 2010Included in the "Spiritual Reading" section of Fr. John McCloskey's 100-book Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.
September 3, 2016
[Read vol. 1 in entirety for preparation for the Interior Life group study, started/skimmed only vol. 2 since it's more for proficients & perfects]
October 11, 2021
In just over a thousand pages, this 1938 classic expounds a theological and historical vision of what it means to pursue the Spiritual Life through a Purgative, Illuminative and Unitive path.
The breadth of scholarship is enormous, with a detailed exegesis of the writings of saints across the centuries. It also has a serious philosophical and theological drive, as it seeks a synthesis between Thomism and the insights of Carmelite mystics such as Sts John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila.
At its heart it expounds criteria to recognise the three phases of the spiritual life. The Purgative way is a purification of the mind and heart. Painful at times, it is actively embraced, and passively suffered, as people refocus away from former delights towards spiritual realities.
The illuminative phase is not sharply differentiated, as elements of purification continue. But there is now a focus upon the fruits of the spiritual path. People begin to experience a more contemplative prayer as their minds are raised to a non-discursive awareness of divine realities. Not to be confused with the nihilism of Quietism, the quietened mind of contemplation is actively and consciously desiring God.
The final phase is ‘unitive,’ which is a uniting of the person’s heart, will and mind to God. Not to be confused with a pantheistic merging of the individual into deity, it is a ‘moral’ union, as individuals remain distinct and responsible for their actions.
Throughout, the author engages with disagreements amongst scholars about the nature and degrees of spiritual progress. One question was whether ‘infused contemplation’ was a normal part of the spiritual life for everyone. He asks whether it is just reserved for the privileged few in monasteries and convents. The author famously asserted that it is a universal call, for all people. But his perspective is nuanced. He also thought that it was almost practically impossible to escape from vices like selfish self-willing, unless people had the benefit of a vow of obedience (vol 1. p.212)
Although a masterpiece, the book is not without its problems. There are untranslated Latin hymns in the text (vol 1 p47). Some of the footnotes are incomplete. The author tells us that St Francis de Sales states something … ‘somewhere.’ (vol 1 p.47). He also states an opinion of Scotus but with no reference to a text (vol 1 p.59). Many of the references to books are also well out of date, citing Latin titles of books which have since been translated into English.
The book also felt repetitive in places. This is partly because elements of the spiritual path overlap. But it is also because the author revisits ideas in his narration. For example Americanism recurs in various places (vol 1 p.275, vol 2 p.100).
On Americanism, it is also worth noting that the author describes it as a kind of ‘naturalism’ which rejected the need for penance. But others disagreed in this characterisation. Contemporary American bishops even disputed whether the alleged heresy existed. On isues like this, the footnotes needed more historical perspective.
Altogether, the book remains a master piece, well worth reading. But I think it would also benefit from some modern editing and updating.
The breadth of scholarship is enormous, with a detailed exegesis of the writings of saints across the centuries. It also has a serious philosophical and theological drive, as it seeks a synthesis between Thomism and the insights of Carmelite mystics such as Sts John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila.
At its heart it expounds criteria to recognise the three phases of the spiritual life. The Purgative way is a purification of the mind and heart. Painful at times, it is actively embraced, and passively suffered, as people refocus away from former delights towards spiritual realities.
The illuminative phase is not sharply differentiated, as elements of purification continue. But there is now a focus upon the fruits of the spiritual path. People begin to experience a more contemplative prayer as their minds are raised to a non-discursive awareness of divine realities. Not to be confused with the nihilism of Quietism, the quietened mind of contemplation is actively and consciously desiring God.
The final phase is ‘unitive,’ which is a uniting of the person’s heart, will and mind to God. Not to be confused with a pantheistic merging of the individual into deity, it is a ‘moral’ union, as individuals remain distinct and responsible for their actions.
Throughout, the author engages with disagreements amongst scholars about the nature and degrees of spiritual progress. One question was whether ‘infused contemplation’ was a normal part of the spiritual life for everyone. He asks whether it is just reserved for the privileged few in monasteries and convents. The author famously asserted that it is a universal call, for all people. But his perspective is nuanced. He also thought that it was almost practically impossible to escape from vices like selfish self-willing, unless people had the benefit of a vow of obedience (vol 1. p.212)
Although a masterpiece, the book is not without its problems. There are untranslated Latin hymns in the text (vol 1 p47). Some of the footnotes are incomplete. The author tells us that St Francis de Sales states something … ‘somewhere.’ (vol 1 p.47). He also states an opinion of Scotus but with no reference to a text (vol 1 p.59). Many of the references to books are also well out of date, citing Latin titles of books which have since been translated into English.
The book also felt repetitive in places. This is partly because elements of the spiritual path overlap. But it is also because the author revisits ideas in his narration. For example Americanism recurs in various places (vol 1 p.275, vol 2 p.100).
On Americanism, it is also worth noting that the author describes it as a kind of ‘naturalism’ which rejected the need for penance. But others disagreed in this characterisation. Contemporary American bishops even disputed whether the alleged heresy existed. On isues like this, the footnotes needed more historical perspective.
Altogether, the book remains a master piece, well worth reading. But I think it would also benefit from some modern editing and updating.
June 14, 2019
Ésta es una de las obras maestras de espiritualidad de nuestra época. Es un compendio preciso y profundo, pero accesible, de las principales fases que las almas suelen atravesar en su relación con Dios. El autor habla de la necesidad moral de la contemplación infusa de los misterios de la fe para alcanzar la santidad. La obra está compuesta de dos volúmenes. El primero contiene dos de las cinco partes de la obra: "Las fuentes de la vida interior y su fin", donde se ponen las bases de la vida interior y "La purificación del alma de los principiantes", que trata, sobre todo, de los temas de la ascetica cristiana.
August 26, 2024
After years reading it finally I ended the first volume. Takes time because is worth of study. Each affirmation, each word is deep and important for the spiritual life. I don't mind reading it again, I have learn a lot and I want to deep more into all the matters and subjects.
September 22, 2019
Lagrange is amazing. Easy to read,engaging, and informative. I got so much out of it! Grabbed several of his other works.
January 17, 2020
Great book, very clear, quoting many classics of spirituality, show us how to grow in our faith and spiritual fight to be better Christians.
January 14, 2021
Absolutely amazing book for anyone trying to begin the first steps of growing in their spiritual life.
Read
June 23, 2024The Three Ages of the Interior Life - Reginald Garrigou Lagrange - Almost a textbook on mystical theology. A great practical book for any Christian. There appears to be more volumes of this.
May 13, 2025
Jedna z najlepszych książek jakie przeczytałem w moim życiu!
May 31, 2025
Jedna z najpiękniejszych książek które kiedykolwiek czytałem, wyjaśniająca skomplikowane kwestii teologiczne łatwym językiem, a jednocześnie bardzo praktyczna. Myślę że do tej książki będę wracał wiele razy w przyszłości.
October 23, 2016
This is much more than a simple overview of the spiritual life. It is a crowning of Garrigou-Lagrange's mission: to show that infused contemplation of the mysteries of faith is the normal way to sanctity. He shows that sanctifying grace is truly the seed of eternal life, in other words, eternal life already begun in us.
October 11, 2015
Anyone interested in the spiritual life will love Fr Garigou-Lagrange's writings. His writings will make you aware of your soul's connection to God. Very beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews