Father Haggerty helps St. John of the Cross to be understood by all

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Carmel Communications
March 15, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, March 15, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic tradition calls St. John of the Cross the "Mystical Doctor" for his massive treatises on the spiritual life and contemplative prayer. His writings can seem daunting to the average Catholic looking to deepen their spiritual life and relationship with God. Father Donald Haggerty's latest book, SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS: MASTER OF CONTEMPLATION, seeks to guide readers on a journey of the saint's writings on contemplative prayer, making the works easier to comprehend and put into everyday practice.

Father Haggerty is no stranger to the contemplative life. His books, including The Contemplative Hunger and Contemplative Enigmas, shed needed light on the more intense — and fruitful —aspects of contemplative prayer and the intimacy with God it can bring.

SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS is furnished abundantly with quotations from across the Mystical Doctor's writings, while confronting the mysteries, difficulties and joys of prayer. For all his theological richness, Saint John gave practical, realistic advice on navigating the world of contemplation, and Father Haggerty — a spiritual director for decades — applies these principles to our lives today in relatable and concrete ways, which is perfect for the Lenten penitential season.

Even though the writings of St. John of the Cross can seem daunting, Thérèse of Lisieux claimed she found no other spiritual reading that could satisfy her soul like those written by John of the Cross. SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS offers readers a unique step-by-step introduction to the way of contemplation as Saint John understood it and taught it — a burning, transformative intimacy with the God who made us.

SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS will appeal to those new to prayer and those who have read and re-read the original writings of St. John of the Cross. Father Haggerty masterfully summarizes and organizes the deep spiritual truths of contemplative prayer that St. John of the Cross revealed during his own lifetime.

"As a young priest, I learned the treasures of Saint John of the Cross. Later, I was hardly surprised to discover that Pope Saint John Paul II had a deep devotion to this saint," said Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York. "Nor will you be, if you read Father Haggerty's latest gem."

For more information, to request a media review copy or to schedule an interview with Father Donald Haggerty, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com) of Carmel Communications.

SOURCE Carmel Communications

CONTACT: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com