Tears of an Innocent God: Conversations on Silence, Kindness, and Prayer - Softcover

Marechal, Elias

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0809149397 ISBN 13: 9780809149391

Publisher: Paulist Press, 2015

Synopsis

Tears of an Innocent God invites the reader to explore the ways of the One who would have us perceive, listen, and love as Christ did, and still does: not by imitation, but through a gradual inner transformation. The book outlines two kinds of contemplation, the first involving activity on the part of the person seeking intimacy with God. Contemplation of the second kind is sudden, unexpected: a gift of God unmediated by the senses, intellect, memory, or imagination. The author speaks of the healing, transformative power of inner silence, and of the mysterious Round Dance of the Trinity. The author recalls his near death experience at ten, and the time when God suddenly appeared to protect him, minutes before he would have been murdered. Brother Elias relives his long sojourn on an island off the coast of Spain, where he meditated for many hours each day. After every chapter, he describes practices related to deep inner prayer, and to skillful ways of dealing with harmful thoughts and feelings. Brother Elias draws attention to the goal shared by all human beings: to become kindness incarnate, while living Christ’s paradigm of radical equality and inclusivity. He stresses the importance of becoming a whole person by integrating the inner with the outer sides of life. Tears of an Innocent God explores deeper levels of faith and ways to pray with gentle strength. †

About this title

About the Author

Brother Elias Marechal is a Trappist monk who has been on a spiritual journey for over forty years. Brother Elias serves as novice director at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Georgia.

From the Back Cover

"From the wondrous title to the final chapter, you will know you are reading a book that comes from a deeper place than mere 'thinking' or mere 'writing.' Brother Elias's book comes from a different level of consciousness, and a deeper level of loving than most of us are used to -- unfortunately. Get ready for a truly spiritual ride"
-- Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, NM

"Tears of an Innocent God is valuable and full of wisdom drawn from the author's remarkable experience of East and West."
-- Fr. Thomas Keating, OCSO, Trappist monk, priest, author, and founding member and the spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

"If you've never experienced authentic Trappist sapiential writing before, you're in for a treat! Marechal is a master of the genre, combining the wisdom of a mature spiritual practitioner with a delivery style that is almost haiku-like in its surprise and immediacy. No flowery spiritual treatise here -- simply an arrow 'straight to the heart.'"
-- Cynthia Bourgeault, author of The Wisdom Way of Knowing and Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening

"This is not the usual book that prances along the parapets of the spirituality industry. The freshness of Marechal's teaching, whether through the art of story or through direct guidance, betokens the experience of a seasoned spiritual master of a rare sort. Those drawn deeply into the contemplative path owe a huge debt of gratitude to Elias Marechal for the gift of this remarkable book."
-- Fr. Martin Laird, OSA, author of Into the Silent Land and A Sunlit Absence

"Tears of an Innocent God celebrates divine grace and love through poetic storytelling. Its meditative wonder and contemplative insight inspire me to tell others, 'you must read this!'"
-- Carl McColman, author of Befriending Silence and The Big Book of Christian Mysticism

Edition details

• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0809149397
• ISBN 13: 9780809149391
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240