With Christ - Blessed Columba Marmion

WITH CHRIST is an anthology of writings from Blessed Marmion’s outstanding trilogy: Christ, the Life of the Soul; Christ in His Mysteries; and Christ, the Ideal of the Monk; as well as from his letters in Union with God and personal notes on his own spiritual life—focused on the theme of suffering and sharing in the Passion of Our Lord.

In the words of the editor of this volume, Dom Raymund Thibaut, “It is most important to know how to accept suffering; and surely the supreme work of mercy is that difficult science, that delicate art, of teaching men to carry their cross. Not everyone can excel in this art or teach this exalted science effectively, but only he who has a great heart and the supernatural experience of sorrow.” Dom Thibaud continues, “Wherever Dom Marmion goes, he sheds light; he lends a helping hand; he calms and comforts; he inflames hearts, strengthens wills, and sanctifies souls. This overflowing charity, this beneficent zeal, as well as the ring of conviction in his faith and the authority acquired from experience in guiding souls—all these made his words singularly persuasive.”

Wholly surrendered to the love of Christ, he wanted only to give Christ to souls and souls to Christ. “We must contemplate Jesus,” Blessed Marmion wrote, “He is God revealing Himself to us. Through a humble faith in Him we have the solution to all our difficulties.” Dom Marmion often thought of Christ as “the Man of sorrows” and his devotion to the Passion of Jesus is well known. He knew also that nothing is so fruitful as union with the source of living water which flows from Calvary and gives every trial a sovereign virtue and an indefinite power to purchase redemption for the entire world.

A book to be read especially during the great penitential seasons of the liturgical year, and in times of temptation, trial, and loss—here are words that can restore or strengthen confidence, bestow peace, and stabilize the soul in the supreme security of abandonment to God.

“He bequeathed to us an authentic treasury of spiritual teaching for the Church of our time. In his writings he teaches a way of holiness, simple and yet demanding, for all the faithful.”—Pope John Paul II

“[The works of Marmion] are outstanding in the accuracy of their doctrine, the clarity of their style, and the depth and richness of their thought.”—Pope Pius XII

“Abbot Marmion carries us back to a wider and more wholesome tradition, and many will rise up to bless him, as they find in his teaching new strength, and fresh vigor in their striving after God.”—Francis Cardinal Bourne

“He revealed the soul of the liturgy to us, by which I mean all those elements of doctrine and of life which it holds in reserve within the visible envelope of its rites and symbols.”—Dom Lambert Beauduin

Born in Ireland in 1858, Blessed Columba Marmion became Abbot of Maredsous Abbey, Belgium, and one of the great spiritual masters of the twentieth century. His conferences and books have influenced popes, cardinals, priests, monks, and laity alike.