The Love of God and The Cross of Jesus by R. Garrigou-Lagrange, O. P. (review)

BOOK REVIEWS The Love of God and The Cross of Jesus. By R. GARRioou-LAGRANGE, 0. P. (trans. by Sr. J. MAim:) St. Louis: Herder, 1951. Vol. IT. Pp. 466 with index. $6.00. The scope of this new book, of the eminent theologian R. GarrigouLagrange , is to show how the principles of mystical life have been laid down by St. ThoiJ,laS, and how the writings of the great Doctor substantially agree with those of St. John of the Cross and with those of St. Theresa. A whole chapter is dedicated to St. Alphonsus' thought on the relationship between the ascetical and the mystical life. Several further chapters deal with perfect and transforming union of the soul with God as considered in the Apostolic life, in Christ himself, in his Blessed Mother and in St. Joseph. The last chapter deals with the Holy sacrifice of Mass as the greatest of all means to attain the perfection of mystical life. Mystical life, or life of perfect union with God, is prepared for' by what are commonly called the passive purifications of the senses and of the soul. Active purification consists in the mortifications we voluntarily impose upon our own selves in order to make reparation for our sins, to correct our inordinate tendencies, and to prevent an overdevelopment of our natural activity. Passive purification on the contrary is caused independently of our will by the events and circumstances of life, and especially by direct intervention of God, who allows the senses and the soul to be plunged into what St. John of the Cross calls th~ dark night. Passive purification of the senses consists in a complete sensible aridity in prayer, sometimes accompanied by disgust for spiritual things (p. 10). This state is not due to sloth or negligence; it has a positive aspect, namely a strong desire for God and perfection, which is a sign of the profound working of God within the soul, and of its great progress during this period. This marks the beginning of infused contemplation. Grace starts to take on a new and purely spiritual form, superior to that of the senses and to discursive reasoning. God then gives to the soul far more than he takes away from it. He especially gives it a more abundant fullness of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, those in particular of knowledge, fear, fortitude, understanding and piety. Knowledge makes the soul realize the gravity of sin and the nothingness of creatures. Filial fear of sinning gradually takes the place of servile fear· of being punished, and makes the soul resist temptations against chastity and patience which often accompany this passive purification. Fortitude makes 494 BOOK REVIEWS 495 it ardently· desire to serve God in spite of dryness, temptations and every other possible difficulty. The gifts of understanding and of piety become principles of newly infused contemplation which takes the place of discursive meditation, nearly impossible to perform at this period (p. 22) . Difficulties in interior prayer arise because of the withdrawal of sensible graces, of the quasi-impossibility of meditating, and because of accompanying temptations against chastity and patience. Beginners may get the impression that they have been abandoned, and may turn back and retreat. The author shows how necessary it is at this stage to have recourse to a learned and experienced director. The so)ll must not be discouraged, but must make generous acts of faith, trust and love. Sensible fervor is lost, but_ substantial devotion greatly increases, and the will's readiness to serve God is left untouched. The illuminative way is dawning. They must remain in peace and quiet in prayer, only very occasionally have recourse to reasoning and ordinary meditation, and not desire any sensible consolation (p. 31). The effect of passive purification of the senses is to make the soul no longer enjoy' any taste or relish of a sensible kind. The soul begins to realize that it can do nothing of itself, that it is nothing. The gift of_ knowledge makes it realize the gravity of sin, and the contrasting and infinite greatness of God. "Then shall thy light rise up in darkness" (Is. 58. 10). Thus faith is greatly...