The Way of Salvation

This volume contains the quintessence of the science of the saints. It gives a correct idea of the spirit, of the heart, and of the talent of Saint Alphonsus (1696-1787), bishop and Doctor of the Church. In this volume containing 97 meditations the saint provides considerations on the Eternal Truths and the "Last Things" (Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell). St Alphonsus' "The Way of Perfection," soon to be published, traces and paves the way that leads to divine love, or to sanctity and true happiness, and inspires us at the same time with the desire, the zeal, and the courage to undertake everything to reach this end. Then the third part, "The Way of Divine Union," transports us to the summit of the holy mountain and union with God, shows us in detail the mysteries of the interior life, and enables us to breathe its sweetest perfume. There is no question here of a study, a scientific work done for the sole purpose of exercising the mind. It is a food destined to give strength to the life of the soul. Each one takes for himself every day the amount that agrees with his spiritual temperament. Following each meditation the saint provides a prayer. He says: "I entreat my readers not to grow weary if in those prayers [petitions for the grace of perseverance and the grace of divine love]. For us, these are the two graces most necessary for the attainment of eternal salvation." This new edition of St Alphonsus' work includes the author's footnotes, most of them being Latin Vulgate scripture quotes, and a modernization of much of the language for the benefit of the contemporary reader (e.g. "you seek" for "thou seekest"). Roman numerals have also been replaced (e.g. "47" for "xlvii").