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Rating: 
Summary: Great Book, Full of Practical Advice
Review: I bought this book as a text for Spring Hill College Summer Institute of Spirituality course...which, sadly, I was unable to take. I kept the book, though. Hauser, an academic, and a Jesuit priest, shows how to make comtemplative prayer not just a part of life--a part of one's day--but how to *integrate* into one's life. He bases his technique on the exercises of St. Ignatius, and at the end of each chapter, includes several questions for reflections. His advice throughout is concrete and practical--this is not a book of esoteric theology. For instance, in the chapter entitled "Obstacles to the Spirit," he identifies bad moods as one obstacle to the Holy Spirit, and describes 5 courses of action the contemplative can take to overcome that obstacle. Overall, well-written, direct, and concrete, with plenty of specific examples.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Full of Practical Advice
Review: I bought this book as a text for Spring Hill College Summer Institute of Spirituality course...which, sadly, I was unable to take. I kept the book, though. Hauser, an academic, and a Jesuit priest, shows how to make comtemplative prayer not just a part of life--a part of one's day--but how to *integrate* into one's life. He bases his technique on the exercises of St. Ignatius, and at the end of each chapter, includes several questions for reflections. His advice throughout is concrete and practical--this is not a book of esoteric theology. For instance, in the chapter entitled "Obstacles to the Spirit," he identifies bad moods as one obstacle to the Holy Spirit, and describes 5 courses of action the contemplative can take to overcome that obstacle. Overall, well-written, direct, and concrete, with plenty of specific examples.
Rating: 
Summary: A most useful book.
Review: This book is most useful for any who want a basic introduction to Jesuit spirituality--particularly discernment of spirits. While the author admits his method may seem complicated, the book is well illustrated and clearly written. Perhaps more important than slavishly imitating his method--something the author would hardly recommend--is the opportunity to see how someone else has gone about the nitty-gritty practical components of becoming a contemplative in action and thereby to be inspired to develop one's own method.
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