Spiritual Progress: Becoming the Christian You Want to Be
Written by a Catholic priest who is the Vatican analyst for NBC News,  this primer on the spiritual life is geared to "beginners in the broadest  sense"—those just embarking on a religious path as well as readers in need of  a refresher. Williams emphasizes the practical aspects of maintaining and  growing in a relationship with God, covering such areas as discerning God's  will, prayer and impediments to spiritual work. He illustrates his points with  brief excerpts from writers like Jean-Pierre de Caussade and John Henry Newman,  but his primary source is scripture, giving the book a broad appeal. Thomas  touches on specific Catholic practices, such as the sacraments and the role of  Mary and the saints in the spiritual life, but he does so by offering sound,  simple definitions that explain rather than defend. Readers who are more  advanced in the spiritual life may find his opening chapters elementary, but  they are written for those who lack the spiritual formation presupposed by the  authors of traditional spiritual manuals. Most helpful to anyone with more  experience in the spiritual life will be the chapters on spiritual direction  ("Your Own Personal Trainer") and the spiritual program, a structured, written  plan outlining ideals, goals, obstacles and means of achieving objectives.(Feb. 13)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.