Teilhard de Chardin--The Divine Milieu Explained: A Spirituality for the 21st Century

I am really enjoying this book for two reasons. First, Dr. Savary does what the title of the book states. He explains clearly and briefly Teilhard's The Divine Milieu. This enables me to return to Teilhard's work and more easily delight in his more metaphorical and poetic language. I can have a reflective relationship with the Divine Milieu rather than struggle to understand the original concepts. Secondly the author strategically spaces practical spiritual exercises/activities showing me how to live in the Divine Milieu and not just read about it. For the reader interested in spiritual growth that moves beyond the individual this work is a reflective read and resource.

There are two keywords in the title of this new commentary on The Divine Milieu-- "spirituality" and "explained." How many readers have been waiting for an understandable "explanation" of the scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century! And how many more may have yearned for some sense of the relationship between the new science and religion. Where was the guidance to be found in making the spirituality of "the divine milieu" applicable in their lives and prayer! I, for one, have handled Teilhard de Chardin's books with reverence and awe, but with very little conscious application to my personal life. My action mostly consisted in graciously making Teilhard's books available to patrons of the libraries where I worked. Life was not easy for Teilhard de Chardin. His scientific thought and his Jesuit vocation were seen to be at odds. As a geologist and a paleontologist, he recognized that evolution is ongoing, that it penetrates every aspect of life and that it has a direction. New connections are always in process. He formulated a law of Attraction, Connection, Complexity, and Consciousness. In The Divine Milieu Explained, the reader is led through a series of exercises that invite consideration of one's own life experiences and a sense of the loving Providence of God at work in our lives, our experiences, our world. Our lives are made up of activities and passivities, of enhancements and diminishments, of attachments and detachments, of developments and renunciations--all of which are a part of both our own personal evolution and that of the world in which we live. The suggested spiritual exercises and spiritual practices are both eminently practical and eminently spiritual. If the reader follows through on them, this reviewer suggests that one would have to resist mightily to avoid becoming a holy person! Louis Savary both educates and invites the reader to take a plunge into the thought and spiritual realms of Teilhard de Chardin. One of the hallmarks of a Savary explanation is that it is kindly--the reader feels comfortable and complimented because she/he is entrusted with an immersion into the scientific thought and the spiritual life of one of the twentieth century's great scientist and great mystics. The format of the content is so constructed that the reader is encouraged to return again and again to read and reflect on the next concept. Your favorite "prayer-chair" is a suitable place to savor this book. It promotes spiritual growth and a reflective attitude toward all that is and that yet may be. Olga Neft

In "The Divine Milieu" Explained Louis Savary guides the reader step by step through the rich depths of Teilhard's classic. This book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Teilhard, providing access to the essentials of his thought along with practical exercises to integrate his spiritual insights. Writing from a clear understanding of Teilhard, Savary has given us a valuable companion to a work that is not only timely but essential. Whether Teilhard is a new find or a familiar friend, you'll want to read this book! Judy Cannato, author of Radical Amazement: Contemplative Lessons from Black Holes, Supernovas, and Other Wonders of the Universe (Sorin Press).

This is a book for serious thinkers who are seeking more than simplicity in their quest for spiritual enlightenment and practice. The read demands attention.

"Picture God as a gentle breeze" or "when you pick up your pen to write a note, sense God at the tip of your finger" these are examples of the spiritual exercises included in The Divine Milieu Explained. What a pleasure to read and really understand the philosophy of Teilhard de Chardin,because of the clarity and style of the writer, without losing any of the depth and beauty of the philosophy of Teilard de Chardin.