Transformation in Christ

Von Hildebrand ("Von H") is both a spiritual diagnostician and surgeon, knowing when to take the knife to counterfeit spirituality. This is the greatness of the work - how he distinguishes naturalistic impulses and effects from their spiritual counterparts. Do I real have the peace that surpasses all understanding or do I simply have a phlegmatic and complacent temperament? Von H combines razor sharp logic with real heart and passion - a kind of combination of St Thomas Aquinas and St Augustine. He also brilliantly shows how the Christian life requires that we hold opposites within ourselves - we must be zealous and passionate about our transformation in Christ and yet we must be sweetness itself, drinking deeply of Divine patience. Make no mistake, this is a difficult book - each of the 18 Chapters is challenging and , like all spiritual classics, we are likely to squirm as we face uncomfortable disclosures about ourselves - we begin to see that Von H has indeed diagnosed our sham spirituality as being the mere manifestation of naturalistic impulses. To give an idea what this book is about, I will make some short observations on each Chapter, but these are only initial thoughts and reflections - there is immense depth in this book (500 pages) - Von H, like Cassian, has a wonderful insight into the manifold varieties of the human person - he knows us through and through. How wonderful it is that the Church has had such a great philosopher and lay man, a husband and a father, to serve Christ and his Church. Dietrich Von Hildebrand pray for me! The readiness to Change In this Chapter, Von H puts before us the stark choice we are given: do we really want to be transformed in Christ - all of us who seek to answer this question know that there are all sorts of resistances we put up against the inflow of God's grace - we wish to retain our own areas of sovereignty but Von H urges us to be like wax ready to receive the stamp of Christ. But, God does not wish to annihilate our personality and freedom - the paradox is that we only become our true selves so that our unique personality shines when we become transformed in Christ. And this is where Von H brilliantly shows us true personality versus the kind of conventional personality into which we have grown, petrified by prejudices and conventions. Readiness to change and be moved towards Christ: this is the key. Contrition In contrition, Man finds his greatness, he humbles himself and submits to God, knowing that he has done wrong. Self knowledge Von H contrasts the real desire to know thyself with a mere neutral observer type attitude, typical of the psychological approach. The former can only be realised though a radical confrontation with God. "We ought to feel a boundless gratitude to those who rudely destroy our illusions concerning our person". "We mistake our enthusiasm for a virtue for its real presence in us". We need the help of other so are illusions about ourselves can be shattered

This is an excellent book for one who has spent many hours in reflection and contemplation. It is not an easy-read, but is worth reading. It brings the word "silence" closer to ones life. In order to understand these pages in the book, one must practice silence of the mind in order to let the message come through.

Thanks be to God for gifting this author with so much clarityin thinking, wholesome approach to the true nature of humanity, andability to translate his wisdom into understandable concepts which can be applied in daily life. For the serious seeker who is willing to strip himself of illusions, this work is a jewel.

In reading the book, it brings new insights in a relationship that is an ongoing process, allows to to put into perspective the needs one's own life here on this earth and the life to come.

An in depth look at the abstract qualities that come from and are aimed at cultivating in our relationship with God (mercy, humility, love, understanding, wisdom, sobriety...)