The Invocation of the Name of Jesus as Practiced in the Western Church - Softcover

Coomaraswamy, Rama Poonambulam

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1887752250 ISBN 13: 9781887752251

Publisher: Fons Vitae,US, 2000

Synopsis

Each of thirteen short chapters is devoted to a prominent figure of the christian St. Thomas Aquinas, Blessed Thomas Kempis, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Bernard. In this anthology of writings from the fathers of the Roman Church, Coomaraswamy shows that the invocation of the Holy Name extends throughout the history of Catholicism.

About this title

Synopsis

The method of prayer known as Hesychast or the Prayer of Jesus, as practiced in the Eastern Orthodox Church, has in the past few years become a central focus of Western Catholics and Christians in general who are interested in devotional or contemplative practices (such as the Centering Prayer movement). In this anthology of writings from the Fathers of the Roman Church, Rama Coomaraswamy shows that this interest is not just a recent phenomenon, but that the invocation of the Holy Name extends throughout the history of Catholicism, especially as "individual prayer (as opposed to canonical)" which "has as its aim.the purification of the soul" and "has the virtue (strength) of re-establishing equilibrium and restoring peace, in a word, of opening us up to grace." Coomaraswamy stresses that this renewal is especially necessary for contemporary individuals who have so often lost sight of both the purpose and method of prayer in their lives and no longer have any real connection with a traditional praxis that "makes the divine Logos present in man."

About the Author

Dr. Rama Coomaraswamy medical school graduate of Harvard University. After retiring from medicine, he was ordained at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, and now attempts to reconcile religion with psychiatry.

Edition details

• Publisher: Fons Vitae,US
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1887752250
• ISBN 13: 9781887752251
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 256