Light and Images: Elements of Contemplation

by Adrienne von Speyr

One of Adrienne von Speyr's most cherished concerns was to rekindle Christians' desire for contemplation and thus to renew the Church's prayer. Light and Images is one of the most important of her works on the subject. She sets forth the deepest theological foundations of contemplative prayer according to the reciprocal relationship between light and "images".

Like the simple images that open up infinite depths to the eye of faith,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898708834
• ISBN13: 9780898708837
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Ignatius Press
• Length: 155 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.8" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

The Son is the Light and the Image

Written by Adrienne von Speyr (1902-1967), a Swiss doctor and mystic, Light and Images: Elements of Contemplation is complementary to her book The World of Prayer. Both books are excellent and form a good picture of Speyr's understanding of the Christian life of prayer and contemplation. Whereas The World of Prayer is a fuller theoretical treatment, this book, Light and Images, offers concrete entrances into contemplation that can be practically used for ones' own prayer. This book may be difficult for first time readers of Speyr (try Confession, Handmaid of the Lord, any of her Scripture commentaries, or Hans Urs von Balthasar's First Glance at Adrienne von Speyr). That said, the book really is accessible to all who have some sense of their need for contemplation. Speyr was always a strong advocate for contemplation because it "shows itself to be the inevitable and sole necessary way to let the Father's will be done on earth in a fruitful way and to be so devoted to heaven that God's revelation in the Word remain ever living and relevant" (Light and Images, 154). Speyr sees the image of the Son as the expression of the divine light. The Son is the perfect intersection of light and image. He who is the perfect image of the Father ("He who has seen me has seen the Father" [Jn 14:9]) is also the one who radiates perfect divine light ("I am the light" [Jn 8:12]). Speyr also believes that man, created in the image of God, can deepen this image by contemplating the Son as the image and the light. Particularly fascinating in this book is her account of the dark night and awakening from the night. In this account, one can see Speyr's Carmelite spirituality of the dark night interacting with her Ignatian spirituality of consolation and desolation. I heartily recommend this book for all those looking for good spiritual meat. One of my favorite quotations from this book is "meaning must have its roots in God's triunity" (Light and Images, 149). This book will guide you into the meaning of your life, which will only be found in the Trinity.