Frederick William FaberRecensioni

I've just finished reading 'All for Jesus' by Fr. Frederick Faber. This is not just a good book. This is a great book.

Frederick William Faber (1814 – 1863) was a noted English hymn writer and theologian, who converted from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism in 1845. He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood subsequently in 1847.

Written originally for distribution amongst members of the Confraternity of the Most Precious Blood, which Fr. Faber introduced to England in 1847, and transferred to the church of the London Oratory in 1850 when he became an Oratorian, this book is primarily an introduction to a deeper prayer life. It is all about developing our relationship with God, with others, and with ourselves. It is about the inner work.

It is also a book for what Fr. Faber describes as the 'Religious Middle Classes', those who will probably never reach a state of spiritual perfection in this life and yet are more advanced than the beginner. This is important because of what it implies - that the practices and attitudes suggested can be taken up by any faithful follower of Jesus.

Fr Faber lays the ground by identifying what he sees as the three instincts of the saints - eagerness for the glory of God, touchiness about the interests of Jesus, (which Faber says are the glory of His Father, the fruit of His Passion, the honour of His Mother, and the esteem of grace), and an anxiety for the salvation of souls.

What the book succeeds in doing is opening hearts to an abundance of new ways to relate to God, be that in supplication, intercession, adoration, praise, oblation, or thanksgiving, as well as the release of the souls in Purgatory.

I found the book challenging to read at first because I had no idea where it was going. But like most great books it can be compared to climbing a mountain - arduous at first but wow, the views from the summit are stunning.

This has to be one of my top ten Christian books, and was purchased because of recommendations on Goodreads, its high rating on Amazon, and its appearance on a number of 'top 100' Catholic books lists.

I have the 1960 copy. Hardcopy but not leather

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These essays on self-deceit come from the volume that Faber named Spiritual Conferences, because they have neither the formality of a lecture nor the dignity of the sermon. The editor chose these essays in the conviction that the failure of our world is the failure of worship; and all worship, be it Quaker, Episcopalian, Muslim, or what not, must have within it some place for self-examination. Here we are at a loss and Faber speaks to that loss. Without self-examination and confession to God, common morality, acts of charity and worship itself will turn sour within us and we shall be 10 times worse than if we had never heard of religion.

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Prsented to Stapehill 15 Septmber 1879

Includes Essays on: Kindness, Death, Self-Deceit, Weariness in Well-doing, and 8 others.

This is a gentle, helpful manual for meditation aimed at gratitude and spiritual growth, rather than harsher disciplines of penance. Fr. Faber offers guidance on good resources and texts for guided meditation, some history, and spiritual examples. This is written from a distinctly Catholic perspective, but may also be welcoming to "Catholic-adjacent" believers such as Episcopalians. It's not intended for non-religious meditation.

Recommended with the above caveat.

This is a gentle, helpful manual for meditation aimed at gratitude and spiritual growth, rather than harsher disciplines of penance. Fr. Faber offers guidance on good resources and texts for guided meditation, some history, and spiritual examples. This is written from a distinctly Catholic perspective, but may also be welcoming to "Catholic-adjacent" believers such as Episcopalians. It's not intended for non-religious meditation.

Recommended with the above caveat.

Frederick William Faber (1814-1863), best known as the author of "Faith of Our Fathers" and other hymns, was an Anglican vicar who converted to Catholicism and entered the priesthood. Through the medium of his Christian faith, Faber offers a timeless philosophy on the difficulty of self-knowledge and the search for truth. The subtitle, "A Comedy of Lies," is appropriate. Faber repeatedly makes his point with a hint of tongue-in-cheek. "An honest humorous sense of ridicule is a great help to holiness," he writes. "Perhaps nature does not contribute a greater help to grace than this."

"We must also remember that this cure of self-deceit is not a thing which can be done once for all, and then be over. It is a lifelong work," he warns. And cautions that we must "show extreme patience and good-humored contentment with little victories and modest successes."½

A piccolo volume

I was reading this when I entered the monastery... such an amazing book. It really brings you to understand the infinite value of a single drop of the Blood of Jesus... and allows you to discover so much about him in contemplating that Blood.

Hard going but worth persevering with; an interesting survey of different prayer methods and techniques with a useful discussion of the various states of prayer and spiritual growth as illustrated by the example of the saints.

Fácil de leer y rico en significado.

Father Frederick W. Faber Set of Eight Books (Bethlehem, The Precious Blood, Spiritual Conferences - Faber, The Blessed Sacrament, The Creator and Creature, The Foot Of The Cross, Growth In Holiness, and All For Jesus.)

This is likely one of the earliest religious tracts that comes from a place of psychological insight, surprisingly modern. Faber begins by listing and describing seven types of self-deceit. Somewhat more than half of the text is devoted to what lying dogs of human beings we are. Just at the point where I was ready to abandon what was beginnning to read like hell-fire-and-brimstone, Faber backs off and begins to offer solutions to our human condition of self-deceit. He only wanted us to know how really bad it can get, he explains, and urges us to be patient with ourselves as we negotiate the traps that await our efforts to reach Truth, both within and without. Faber's essay is a worthwhile addition to the literature of self-examination. To read more about it, go to
http://www.pendlehill.org/resources/files/free%20downloads%20pages/php050.php