The Third Spiritual Alphabet

The Third Spiritual Alphabet

by Fray Francisco de Osuna

pp. 489

There have been a multitude of books written on ‘the art of contemplative prayer’ which are not very helpful to the beginner and tend to bewilder the novice. The merit of The Third Spiritual Alphabet by Fray Francisco de Osuna is that it addresses itself to the beginner and keeps in view the special need of the beginner. Fray Osuna starts out with the principle that contemplative prayer is for the many, not for the few; and he is at pains to encourage the normal devout Catholic to practice it, warning him not to be put off by the class of writers and spiritual directors who so fence off the prayer of contemplation, as to discourage all but the most hardy and adventurous spirits.

One recommendation this book has: it was the reading of The Third Spiritual Alphabet which led St. Teresa of Jesus, in her early timorous days, to go forward in the way of mental prayer—a precious encouragement to one who at that early period and for many years after, received nothing but discouragement from her spiritual advisers. There are many in like circumstances who have not been so fortunate as St. Teresa.