The Way of the Carmelites

Carmelite spirituality is based on a deep relationship with God in prayer, focusing on the presence of God within us, and leading to a life permeated by closeness with God and concern for our neighbor. This book, rich in reflection on the Bible, is a spiritual companion and guide for Lent, and indeed the rest of the year, that will introduce readers to the riches of Carmel. Prayer, in the Carmelite tradition, is friendship with God. It is being alone with God in a silent communion of love open to the Spirit. With our eyes fixed on the vulnerability of Jesus and on his unrequited love for us, we are transformed, and strengthened to give ourselves as he did. Our contemplation is the source of our practical action. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter facilitate this practical approach. As the prologue says, "To take up the treasures of Carmelite spirituality, and embark with Jesus on the Lenten experience of forty days in the desert, is a journey that can be enormously enriching and even life-changing."