The Way of Life: Spiritual Essays from Unam Sanctam Catholicam

When confronted with the message of the Gospel, the Jews on the day of Pentecost were cut to the heart and said, “Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) Catholics today are asking themselves the same question. Phillip Campbell's The Way of Life offers a response. Drawing on the spiritual heritage of the Church, the essays in this book call us to refocus our sight on the Lord, cultivating “eyes to see” that we might have confidence in God’s providence. Covering a host of subjects ranging from the practical to the mystical, The Way of Life challenges us to rise above the darkness of our times, armed with a lively awareness of God's grace.

“Short, shrewd, and encouraging reflections on our need to seek holiness, and on how to do it.” —Fr. Thomas Crean, O.P.

“Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness (or so it is said), but Phillip Campbell does both in addressing a wide range of issues of concern to Catholics who take seriously God's universal call to holiness. These essays are clearsighted, discerning, challenging, and steeped in the Catholic spiritual tradition—an act of faith in the transformative power of grace in the individual soul and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church.” —Fr. Thomas Kocik

“One of the compelling themes running throughout this collection of essays is the need for ordinary Catholics to practice greater mortifications. This is not so much the conclusion of learned argumentation as it is the practical wisdom gained through reflection on the experience of striving and struggling for real growth in virtue, and it is all the more eloquent for that. If you find yourself easily drawn into fruitless fretting about the state of affairs in the Church or in the world, this book will help you to refocus your attention on the one thing necessary, which is to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow after Jesus Christ on the way of life.” —Dr. John Joy

“I have often benefited from reading Campbell's wise and gritty reflections, the fruits of a life marked with hardship, a heart steeped in Catholic tradition, and a mind always looking for light. These essays are especially helpful for Catholics who feel seasick in the storm-tossed boat of today's Church, wondering when the Captain of the bark will rise up to calm the waves. Campbell helps us to see that He is still and always in control and we can enter into His rest.” —Dr. Peter Kwasniewski