William A. Barry (1930–2020)

Having read other of Barry's works I was looking to this book as a sort of primer to a formative prayer life. I was not mistaken! In a profound yet easily read way, Barry explores the levels of attitudes one may have about God (ambivalence, acceptance, fear, transparency, intimacy, etc.) which are actually more than attitudes; they are ways in which we relate to God.

Barry's use of scripture is in the lectio divina format ('sacred reading') that lets the reader explore the biblical story in show more depth. In doing so, one is brought to a deeper realization of just how much Jesus was/is an alive presence in his world and our present life.

An excellent resource for any "beginner" in the life of prayer and spiritual formation, but also a great resource for those who are leading or discipling others. show less

In this short volume, William Barry attempts to show the many creative tensions that work in the heart of Jesuits today and through history. With roots in the founding of the society, this work expounds on the changes that have shaped and shaken the society and the hearts of individuals among its numbers and those whose development for which it has been responsible. In all things, Barry attempts to provide a fair assessment, acknowledging not only the many graces of the Jesuits, but also the show more many times the society has strayed from its core values, whether those be internally in its structural and hierarchical relationships, its relationship to the world, or even its relationship to God.

The book is a wonderfully written overview of what it means to be a Jesuit, and should be near the top of the reading lists for those people discerning a call to religious life within the society, or those who find their lives surrounded by those interesting individuals. show less

William Barry, SJ, is considered one of the great spiritual directors. A retired Jesuit living at the Campion Center in Weston, Massachusetts, he still gives retreats, provides spiritual direction, and writes. This book brings God into ordinary life in very practical ways, never unduly idealizing what can sometimes be a very painful journey into closer relationship with God.

After reading this book, I sat for many weeks with the idea of God's crazy, all-encompassing love -- an "unwise" love, show more even, insofar as God's love pays no attention to basically anything except for LOVE. Fr. Barry gets this, has experienced this, and writes about it in this lovely little book.

Audience: Like the Robert Wicks book "Prayerfulness," this book is for those who have a faith life but wish to deepen, expand, and explore it. Fr. Barry's gentle approach is especially ideal for persons who may have experienced hurt, betrayal, or even disgust within their church communities, by bringing the narrative always back and back again to the God Who Loves. show less

"I believe that research on the historical Jesus need not be a threat but can be a spiritual resource for us Christians," says the author. Drawing on the highly acclaimed work "The marginal Jew" by John Meier, he helps us sift the evidence to discover what we can know with historical certainty about Jesus. But he leads us beyond the facts of history to an encounter with the risen Jesus, sharing both his own experience of prayer as well as the stories and accounts of other contemporary show more Christians who have come to know the risen Lord. He guides us in a prayerful dialogue that bridges the gap between the Jesus of history and the Jesus we experience in faith. show less