Jacques Philippe

I had this notion in my late teens and early twenties that loving Therese was bandwagoning. In the Catholic circles I run, everyone is obsessed with her. So I avoided her until this book dropped into my lap.

Father Jacques finally warmed my heart to her. It was a gentle introduction to her lovely thoughts and was expounded upon in a way that only Father Jacques can do. This is the book I now recommend to anyone who is hesitant to know her or are intimidated by Story of a Soul like I was (and show more most of the time still am). show less

Every once in a while, a book comes along that tells you exactly what you need to hear in that moment. Interior Freedom was one of those books for me. I was feeling a lot of stress and anxiety for various reasons, and this book spoke pretty directly to my state of mind at the time. It's written from a Christian (specifically Catholic) perspective, and I don't think the solutions it offers would be useful for non-Christians. But it really gave me a new perspective on faith in particular: if I show more really believe in an almighty and all-loving God (as Christians profess to do), then I must have absolute trust in his love for me and his ability to bring good out of even the toughest situations. Definitely recommended for Christians of all denominations, especially those who are feeling weighed down by circumstances in their lives. show less

This slim little volume on prayer manages to cover a lot of ground. It focuses on the private prayer between individuals and God and details some important principles to keep in mind while praying. The primary message I took from this book is that prayer is less about what we do, and more about what we allow God to do in us. The book also emphasizes the importance of perseverance, humility, and making time for God. There are also a few extremely practical tips concerning times, places, and show more types of things to pray.

I was very impressed by this book and would recommend it to any Christian who is hoping to strengthen his or her prayer life. The book is written by a Catholic priest and contains several references to the writings of saints, particularly Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Thérèse of Lisieux. However, I definitely think that the “meat” of the book is appropriate for, and would be acceptable to, all Christians. I highly recommend it for a simple yet helpful guide to prayer. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the book, which seems to encapsulate its central message:

For the moment, what we need to grasp is that if, despite having good will, we are incapable of praying well, or producing any good sentiments or beautiful reflections, that should not make us sad. We should offer our poverty to the action of God. Then we will be making a prayer much more valuable than the kind that would leave us feeling self-satisfied. St. Francis de Sales used to pray, “Lord, I am nothing but a block of wood: set fire to it!” show less

This is the second book I've read by Father Jacques Philippe. Fr. Philippe prescribes a freeing perspective on dealing with our failings, which I've never really grasped from any teaching in the church. His instructions on maintaining peace offer hope to contend with the epidemic of anxiety existing in our world.