Letting God Come Close - 5th Edition by William A Barry (Paperback)

About the Book

Spiritual directors will benefit greatly from Letting God Come Close by William A. Barry, SJ, a spiritual director for more than 30 years. Fr. Barry's approach to directing the Spiritual Exercises is imaginative and innovative, yet faithful to the intent of Ignatius of Loyola. Using clear, down-to-earth examples from his own experiences, Barry instills in spiritual directors the trust, confidence, and skills they need to help retreatants get close to God through the Spiritual Exercises.

Book Synopsis

An approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius As more and more people begin to reclaim their spiritual heritage, longoverlooked traditions resurface, offering seekers new ways to rekindle their spiritual selves. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola is such a tradition, and its recovery in the church has sparked the interest of many believers--religious and laypeople alike.
In light of this resurgence, Fr. William A. Barry, a director of the Spiritual Exercises for more than thirty years, offers Letting God Come Close, a guide that shows spiritual directors how to effectively and creatively help individuals meet the living God through the Exercises. Using clear, down-to-earth examples from his own experience, Fr. Barry hopes to instill in the director the trust, confidence, and skills needed to help retreatants approach God. "Spiritual directors will find a gold mine here of help in understanding and giving the Exercises."
--George Aschenbrenner, S.J., director, Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth "For over thirty years Barry has listened attentively for the ways God deals directly with God's people through the Spiritual Exercises. God's voice comes through and Barry helps directors pay attention."
--George R. Murphy, S.J., adjunct lecturer in spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley

From the Back Cover

An approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

As more and more people begin to reclaim their spiritual heritage, long-overlooked traditions resurface, offering seekers new ways to rekindle their spiritual selves. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola is such a tradition, and its recovery in the church has sparked the interest of many believers--religious and laypeople alike.
In the light of this resurgence, Fr. William A. Barry, a director of the Spiritual Exercises for more than thirty years, offers Letting God Come Close, a guide that shows spiritual directors how to effectively and creatively help individuals meet the living God through the Exercises. Using clear, down-to-earth examples from his own experience, Fr. Barry hopes to instill in the director the trust, confidence, and skills needed to help retreatants approach God.

About the Author

William A. Barry, SJ, is a veteran spiritual director who is currently serving as tertian director for the New England Province of the Society of Jesus. He has taught at the University of Michigan, the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, and Boston College. His many works include Letting God Come Close, A Friendship Like No Other, Here's My Heart, Here's My Hand, Seek My Face, and God's Passionate Desire (Loyola Press), and God and You.