Book of All Saints

Adrienne von Speyr, a renowned mystic and spiritual writer from Switzerland, was received into the Catholic Church at the age of 38 by one of the theological giants of he 20th century, Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar, on the Feast of All Saints, 1940. Balthasar became her spiritual director and confessor until her death in 1967 during which time Adrienne was favored with many gifts of authentic mystical prayer. Balthasar considered one of the central characteristics of Adrienne's prayer to be her transparency to the inspirations she received from God, along with a deep personal communion with the saints. Over a period of many years, Adrienne would see the saints (and other holy people)) at prayer, and she would dictate what she saw to Fr.von Balthasar--while she was in a state of mystical prayer. This book presents these powerful, mystical insights into the prayer lives of many saints and holy people taken from Adrienne's direct visions of them in prayer. Fr. von Balthasar gathered these spiritual vignettes into the first volume of the Nachlasswerke (works intended to be published only after Adrienne's death), the Book of All Saints. In this amazing spiritual work, the reader is able to participate in the devotional and spiritual life of the Church throughout the centuries by learning how numerous saints and holy people prayed, thus reflecting the timelessness and beauty of the prayer of the Church. "On the whole, I received far more from Adrienne, theologically, than she did from me . . . Today, after her death, her writings appear far more important to me than mine. I am convinced that when her works are made available, those in a position to judge will concur with me about their value and will thank God with me that He has granted such graces to the Church in our time." - Hans Urs von Balthasarvon Speyr, Adrienne is the author of 'Book of All Saints', published 2008 under ISBN 9781586171926 and ISBN 1586171925.