Bernard of Clairvaux holds a distinguished place in the history of Christian spirituality. During the twelfth century this gentle monk from France became the primary guide for those who follow the path of selfless love as well as a spokesman for a revival in monastic life. This collection of his most important writings provides a superb introduction to a man who has greatly shaped the Western monastic and mystical traditions.

St. Gregory of Nyssa (335-394 CE), who came from an illustrious Christian family of Capadocia, became bishop of the small town of Nyssa in 371 and is known as one of the founders of mystical theology in the Church. In The Life of Moses, one of the most important books in the study of Christian mysticism, Gregory retells the story of Moses's life from the biblical account in Exodus and Numbers and then refers back to these stories as the basis for profound spiritual lessons. The ultimate goal of Gregory's spirituality is to strive for infinite progress in the never-completed...

This beautiful collection of works from two of the most beloved religious figures of all time gathers the letters and writings of both Francis and Clare of Assisi in a poignant presentation of the power of faith and simplicity that speaks powerfully to us in our hectic world. Francis of Assisi is a widely celebrated saint, well-known for his love of nature and his remarkable life of poverty. Clare is the woman who lived out his legacy in Assisi after his death, passing on his vision and his cause. Together they shaped the spirituality of early thirteenth-century Europe. Both born to noble...

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is one of the most influential figures in the history of the Church. A bishop, philosopher, and doctor of the Church whose thought has molded the Western tradition, Augustine was deeply spiritual, and his writings emphasize the soul's experience of God in its depths. This book features selections from his writings, including Confessions and The City of God, and is the perfect introduction to his influential spiritual life and teachings.

A beautiful portrait of the radical devotion of St. Antony and his call to holy living.

"It was truly amazing that being alone in such a desert Antony was niether distracted by the demons who confronted him, nor was he frightened of their ferocity when so many four-legged beasts and reptiles were there. But truly he was one who, as Scripture says, having trusted in the Lord, was like Mount Zion, keeping his mind unshaken and unruffled; so instead the demons fled and the wild beasts, as it is written, made peace with him."--from The Life of Antony

Athanasius (c. 295-373) was...

This HarperCollins Spiritual Classic collects the significant writings of the Pietists, whose influence continues to shape Christianity today.

"Perfection is nothing other than faith in the Lord Jesus and is not in us or ours but in Christ or of Christ for whose sake we are considered perfect before God and thus his perfection is ours by ascription."--August Hermann Francke

Although the movement was relatively brief, the longstanding influence of Pietism reaches many aspects of our intellectual, political and religious culture today. Originating in late sixteenth and early...