The Passion from Within

Rating:
Summary: A unique look at the Passion
Review: Adrienne von Speyer is described as a mystic. After reading the first 30 pages of this book, I was thinking that I just do not understand mystics. The translation into English is not difficult, and yet I felt that I was understanding about one third of what von Speyer was trying to convey.

However, von Speyer's reflection on the passion of Our Lord quickly became more readable and enjoyable. The more time I spent with this book, the more I understood and enjoyed it.

Each day the "I'm really glad I bought that book" feeling in me grows a bit stronger. I imagine that the task of describing how our Lord must have felt as God and man during the course of his betrayal and passion would be very difficult. And yet, I don't get the feeling that von Speyer is speculating.

Von Speyer also meditates on how some of the Apostles (i.e., Peter, John, Thomas & Judas) must have felt during the evening our Lord was given over to sinners to be crucified. She also describes how their flight and betrayal must have caused particular pain to the Lord.

I really enjoyed the brief narrative on Pilate and how an aloof objectivity characterizes not only Pilate but many Christians today. To some, including Pilate, the Lord is someone to be enjoyed objectively or "studied" from a distance.

Adrienne von Speyer does not "study" Our Lord's passion. She provides an intimate portrait of the God who set aside his prerogatives to take on the sin of all men and die for them.

Read this book. You won't regret it, and you won't forget it.

Rating:
Summary: A Quiet Meditation
Review: Adrienne von Speyer is described as a mystic. After reading the first 30 pages of this book, I was thinking that I just do not understand mystics. The translation into English is not difficult, and yet I felt that I was understanding about one third of what von Speyer was trying to convey.

However, von Speyer's reflection on the passion of Our Lord quickly became more readable and enjoyable. The more time I spent with this book, the more I understood and enjoyed it.

Each day the "I'm really glad I bought that book" feeling in me grows a bit stronger. I imagine that the task of describing how our Lord must have felt as God and man during the course of his betrayal and passion would be very difficult. And yet, I don't get the feeling that von Speyer is speculating.

Von Speyer also meditates on how some of the Apostles (i.e., Peter, John, Thomas & Judas) must have felt during the evening our Lord was given over to sinners to be crucified. She also describes how their flight and betrayal must have caused particular pain to the Lord.

I really enjoyed the brief narrative on Pilate and how an aloof objectivity characterizes not only Pilate but many Christians today. To some, including Pilate, the Lord is someone to be enjoyed objectively or "studied" from a distance.

Adrienne von Speyer does not "study" Our Lord's passion. She provides an intimate portrait of the God who set aside his prerogatives to take on the sin of all men and die for them.

Read this book. You won't regret it, and you won't forget it.

Rating:
Summary: A unique look at the Passion
Review: I've read a lot about the the Passion of Christ over the past thirty years. This book is unique and absolutely stunning in its insights. If you loved Mel Gibson's The Passion, this will take you deeper in.

Rating:
Summary: Christ's view of the passion and why it is inevitable.
Review: It is difficult to call a book that takes you through the passion as great, or terrific. And "rich" is overused to descibe modern spirituality, and new age spirituality. Poignant is the word that decribes Von Speyr's detailed emotional trip of Christ's passion. Somehow Von Speyr is able to detail the movement of Christ's view of His passion. And she does it in a way that proves that each step was Christ's choice to fulfill his Father's plan. Very powerful and in some ways awful and unbearable. I have since read another book by Von Speyr, this one on death, and I think that both are superb books. Rather than call her a mystic though I think maybe she is better decribed as a realistic mystic. For Catholics a beautiful book.

Rating:
Summary: Christ's view of the passion and why it is inevitable.
Review: It is difficult to call a book that takes you through the passion as great, or terrific. And "rich" is overused to descibe modern spirituality, and new age spirituality. Poignant is the word that decribes Von Speyr's detailed emotional trip of Christ's passion. Somehow Von Speyr is able to detail the movement of Christ's view of His passion. And she does it in a way that proves that each step was Christ's choice to fulfill his Father's plan. Very powerful and in some ways awful and unbearable. I have since read another book by Von Speyr, this one on death, and I think that both are superb books. Rather than call her a mystic though I think maybe she is better decribed as a realistic mystic. For Catholics a beautiful book.