The Three Ages of the Interior Life

Print is a little too small But the good news is to pray with humility and getting rid of all self love. Prayer changes us not others . And the most important point: don’t seek consolations in prayer , pray from the heart with self giving love to Jesus and Mary . Even though you may not experience consolations in prayer, doesn’t mean that Jesus and Mary are not listening to you . The 5 senses are capable of transmitting information back and forth to God even though we are not aware of it! Don’t stop or quit your prayer life if this is the case! Those who persevere until the very last breath even though they are not experiencing consolations are the ones who gain Heaven. Ask for the grace of final perseverance! Holiness and being a saint is not just for priests and nuns only; but anyone who desires to be a saint can become one!

This book is a roadmap to spiritual life. I had seen many of the things it says written about in other places, but never as organized and structured as this. I feel like before I read this book, my spiritual efforts were like trying to drive across the country without a road map.

This book is not only for those who take their faith seriously, but also for those who realize that they can become saints if they are docile to those qualities or permanent dispositions given to us by the Holy Spirit, i.e., wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord. But saints, like the great sailing vessels which under full sail, properly catch the impelling force of the wind, must be disposed to obey the Holy Spirit promptly to follow the impulse of a favorable wind. Like the sailing vessel which does not know precisely where the wind that blows was formed, or how far it will make itself felt, in the same way, we do not know where a divine inspiration begins. But we must not be like those sailing vessels which, because of neglect in noting a favorable wind, have their sails furled when they should be spread. Lagrange reminds us, and I repeat, that saints are like great sailing vessels which, under full sail, properly catch the impelling force of the wind.

I'm close to a half way through this book. It may be a little deep but I am finding myself marking lot of things. There are whole chapters on Sanctity, the beatitudes, how they relate to the virtues, and more. I really like this book very much. The English is readable at a slower pace (for me). This book should be read by all people. There is a chapter on peace. Great book and I'm surprised. This author should be read more!

This work is a summation of Thomist (St Thomas Aquinas) theology, and draws much from St Therese, St Francis, St Francis de Sales, among many other important spiritual teachers down through the ages.It is an opus maximus, and as such, it has much to offer. But, then, I've culled approximately 30 pages of notes to highlight the main points. Much filler and background can be set aside. Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange has an extensive bibliography, and several of his derivative works are more concise than this huge tome. Don't get me wrong, this work is important, and has it's place on my shelf. But, it's half a year's study for most of us, and for lay-people like myself, it's a very large mountain to climb.I do recommend this work, highly! But, be prepared to invest a large amount of time and thought :)btw, you can find an online version of this book at christianperfection.info

I love this book. only half way thru, but so elegantly written. i've been trying to read st. thomas aquinas' summa and i find this book helpful in understanding that.

This is a GREAT Book. Solid doctrine. I love it and I wish ALL believers, Catholic, Christians and non Christians would read it. We have a spiritual soul and God cares for each one of us. You just have to listen and then He works ...I believe that Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange was the BEST theologian in the XX century and still remains a great man of God.

Not finished with the book yet but I think it’s a must read.

This is a true spiritual classic, but it is only volume 1, for those who are unaware. Vol. 2 is very difficult to come by.

A good book. It has stood the test of time. Very readable and beneficial for one's spiritual life.

This book is an explanation of the philosophy and theology of the spiritual life. It offers a detailed road map for spiritual growth and draws heavily on the writings of Thomas Aquinas. It is intense and takes you through the growth from the purgative, where you work out your sins and temptations, to the illuminative where God starts to work in you and through you and reveals himself in more detail, to the unitive, where God is working in you to do His Will. Rev Garrigou-Lagrange was one of the great theologians of the last century, and attracted leading minds such as St. John Paul II to study under him in Rome. His writings are logical but they are not an easy read; it takes a lot of thought and work to read through any of his books. They are intellectually demanding, and rigorous. For those who like to characterize authors he is "orthodox" and "loyal to the Magisterium" of the Roman Church.

This work is a wonderful companion to St. John of the Cross' quadrilogy on the three stages of the interior life.This edition is just the first volume though... please put out volume 2! :)

Very happy with the quality.