Spiritual Progress
Becoming the Christian You Want to Be
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
From the NBC consultant on Vatican Affairs comes an inspiring book that challenges readers to follow Jesus and discover the rich adventure of the Christian faith. Thomas D. Williams draws on the vast knowledge he's gained from his own spiritual journey to inspire others in the pursuit of progress. Through his writing, readers will begin to:
- Understand holiness as the true meaning of life
- See prayer not as a duty, but as an opportunity for conversation with God
- Take courage from God's strength
- Acknowledge their roles in a story larger than themselves
- Learn never to say no to God
- Develop the spiritual disciplines that will ignite an adventurous and exciting relationship with God.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Written by a Catholic priest who is the Vatican analyst for NBC News,\t\t this primer on the spiritual life is geared to "beginners in the broadest\t\t sense" "those just embarking on a religious path as well as readers in need of\t\t a refresher. Williams emphasizes the practical aspects of maintaining and\t\t growing in a relationship with God, covering such areas as discerning God's\t\t will, prayer and impediments to spiritual work. He illustrates his points with\t\t brief excerpts from writers like Jean-Pierre de Caussade and John Henry Newman,\t\t but his primary source is scripture, giving the book a broad appeal. Thomas\t\t touches on specific Catholic practices, such as the sacraments and the role of\t\t Mary and the saints in the spiritual life, but he does so by offering sound,\t\t simple definitions that explain rather than defend. Readers who are more\t\t advanced in the spiritual life may find his opening chapters elementary, but\t\t they are written for those who lack the spiritual formation presupposed by the\t\t authors of traditional spiritual manuals. Most helpful to anyone with more\t\t experience in the spiritual life will be the chapters on spiritual direction\t\t ("Your Own Personal Trainer") and the spiritual program, a structured, written\t\t plan outlining ideals, goals, obstacles and means of achieving objectives.\t\t