Treatise on Prayer and Meditation

by Peter of Alcántara

In this famous Treatise, St. Peter of Alcantara assists the Catholic soul to find devotion, that supernatural affection that removes distaste for spiritual effort and urges one on to serve God joyfully and genersously. St Peter made this book short and simple, yet packed into it "all that is necessary to know about prayer." It is full of saintly counsels on prayer, which is the key to the entire spiritual life. The reader of the Treatise will access the classic Catholic wisdom on mental prayer, including what to think about, how to follow a method, when to disregard a method, the importance of the heart over the head, what to do in times of spiritual dryness and much more. This introduces souls to mental prayer as a means of obtaining all spiritual goods. St. Peter of Alcantara was a 16th - century Spaniard and a spiritual director of St. Teresa of Avila, the great Doctor of Prayer. He was known for his severe penances and after he died, he is said to have appeared to St. Teresa and exclaimed: "O blessed penance that has led me to Heaven!"

Genres: Catholic, Spirituality, Prayer, Religion

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2011

About the author

Saint Peter of Alcantara, O.F.M. (Spanish: San Pedro de Alcántara) (1499 – October 18, 1562), was a Spanish Franciscan friar canonized in 1699.

He was a man of remarkable austerity and poverty who travelled throughout Spain preaching the Gospel to the poor. He wrote a Treatise on Prayer and Meditation, which was considered a masterpiece by St. Teresa, St. Francis de Sales and Louis of Granada.

While in prayer and contemplation, he was often seen in ecstasies and levitation. In his deathbed, he was offered a glass of water which he refused, saying that "Even my Lord Jesus Christ thirsted on the Cross..." He died while on his knees in prayer on October 18, 1562 in a monastery at Arenas (now Arenas de San Pedro, Province of Ávila, Old Castile).

Reviews

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, comprehensive book on prayer and meditation. Great information within the pages. I will definitely refer to this book again. Five stars! 🙏🏻

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished in one sitting on Good Friday. This fortifying guide on how to properly indulge in mental prayer was written by St. Peter Alcantara and first published in 1558. I read the French 1962 version that was issued in honour of his four-centenary anniversary. It was very good, explaining in rich details the different steps of mental prayer and devotion.

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENGLISH: A good introduction to prayer, meditation, retreat and devotion, with exercises and warnings.

SPANISH: Buena introducción a la práctica de la oración, meditación, recogimiento y devoción, con ejercicios y avisos.

[Jose-Luis La Torre-Cuadros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro pequeño en tamaño pero gigantesco en sabiduría espiritual, escrito para desafiarnos a crecer en la oración y la devoción.

[Vyacheslav]

Treatise on Prayer and Meditation by Peter of Alcantara

[Carlos Eduardo Chies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read about meditative praying. Simple, straight to the point, very rich!