Elisabeth Leseur: Selected Writings

This volume, the first in the highly praised Classics of Western Spirituality series to venture into the 20th century, introduces the writings of Elisabeth Leseur (1800-1914), a French laywoman who left a precious record of a remarkable inner spiritual journey that was all but hidden from those who knew her. Leseur confronted the twin challenges of serious illness and her husband's agnosticism, which pained her, but didn't prevent her from being happily married. Inspired by a spirituality of the communion of saints, Leseur approached these issues by becoming a loving presence in her familial and social circles. She participated in all of the major theological developments that led to Vatican II as well, but she has been a missing figure in the history of spirituality until now. This first and only edition of Elisabeth Leseur’s works brings together insights from the entire corpus of a key lay figure in the history of Christian spirituality. The works included are: Journal and Daily Thoughts, Writings on Christian Vocation, Letters to Unbelievers (Selected), Letters on Suffering (Selected). †

Janet K. Ruffing is a Sister of Mercy and professor of spirituality and spiritual direction in the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education at Fordham University. She has lectured in Australia, Ireland, India, Thailand, Guam, Belgium, France, Canada and throughout the United States on spirituality, spiritual direction, and religious life. She is also the author of Spiritual Direction: Beyond the Beginnings (Paulist Press, 2000).