The Very Rich Hours of Jacques Maritain: A Spiritual Life

by Ralph McInerny

Book Overview

The Very Rich Hours of Jacques Maritain is distinguished philosopher Ralph McInerny's hymn of praise to the spiritual and intellectual life of the great Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain (1881-1973). The structure of this work is modeled on the medieval book of hours, making use of the daily offices, from Matins through Compline, to examine each stage of the life of Maritain and his wife, Ra ssa. Through this unique blending of biography and meditation, McInerny creates a powerful portrait of the Maritains, one that reveals a model of the intellectual life as lived by Christian believers. McInerny's authoritative work provides an interesting and accessible avenue of entry to Maritain's life and thought. Among the topics McInerny covers are Maritain's remarkable and diverse set of friends, his involvement in French politics, and the development of his views on the nature and future of democracy, the church, and Catholic intellectual life. By skillfully interweaving Maritain's philosophy with anecdotes from his life, McInerny demonstrates what distinguished Maritain as a Catholic philosopher and why he is a source of inspiration for McInerny and others of his generation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0268035245
• ISBN13: 9780268035242
• Release Date: August 2011
• Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Lovely and challenging

I purchased this book on something of a whim, knowing nothing about Maritain. I found the book to be inspirational, fascinating, and provocative. "There us only one tragedy, not to be a saint." Here we are given a window into this influential philosophers long and fervent pilgrimage to become just that. I did not really expect the book to be what it is: it is far more than just biography. One really needs to have some knowledge of philosophy to really follow along; there are a number of sections which deal at length with metaphysics, epistemology, etc. from a Thomistic perspective. Some of this was tough sledding for me. In addition McInerny seems to presuppose a passing acquaintance with French and Latin as well. I was a bit surprised by this; did McInerny expect no one but academics to be interested in this work? It certainly seems to be written for a specific and rather limited audience. It has been said elsewhere that this is a beautiful book. It is, and it is very well written. If you are interested in the 20th century renewal of interest for the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas (among Roman Catholics), and in the man who seems to have been a central figure behind it all, you may find this a rewarding read. I will say, as a caveat, it is a book written for Roman Catholics exclusively, with the Reformation and Luther dismissed summarily. Protestants of every stripe will find much to disagree with, then, but might find it fascinating nonetheless.