Spiritual Masters for All Seasons »

Every Age Needs figures of spiritual inspiration, but in times of difficulty and uncertainty, they are essential in helping us to rise above despair and to search for God deep within ourselves.

In this book, Michael Ford invites four spiritual masters-Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Anthony de Mello, and John O'Donohue-onto the same stage to show how they speak, not only to our own times, but for all seasons. In particular, he examines their legacy against the background of America and the world in recession, showing how their message of nonviolence, compassion, and inner integrity is much needed, not only in the "remaking of America" under Barack Obama, but also through the example the United States' president has set for the rest of the world.

Through unpublished interviews with these spiritual masters, encounters around the world with their friends, and reflections from readers who have been inspired by their writings, Michael Ford journeys across the United States and Europe to assess their place in the world of contemporary spirituality Included in his journey is a visit to Lambeth Palace in London to discover Thomas Merton's influence on the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Blending the spiritual with the journalistic, Michael Ford presents four unique writers as "spiritual masters for all seasons."

Acknowledgments 11

Prelude 13

1 Unmasking the Self The Faces of Thomas Merton 13

2 The Monk and the Archbishop A Conversation about Merton Dr. Rowan Williams 56

3 Trusting the Heart The Dynamics Henri J. M. Nouwen 66

4 The Monk and the Professor Conversations Merton Nouwen 91

5 Deconditioning the Mind The Awakening Anthony de Mello 102

6 Befriending the Soul The Landscapes John O'Donohue 133

Postlude 160

Notes 167

Selected Bibliography 173