On Cleaving to God
On Cleaving to God
attributed to Saint Albert the Great (1193-1280)
This famous and much loved little treatise, On Cleaving to God, (De Adhaerendo Deo) has always been attributed to Saint Albert the Great, who lived from about 1200 to 1280, and was one of the most respected theologians of his time.”I have had the idea of writing something for myself on and about the state of complete and full abstraction from everything and of cleaving freely, confidently, nakedly and firmly to God alone, so as to describe it fully (in so far as it is possible in this abode of exile and pilgrimage), especially since the goal of Christian perfection is the love by which we cleave to God.” –St. Albert the Great, On the highest and supreme perfection of man, in so far as it is possible in this life.
CONTENTS
Translator’s Introduction
Chapter 1 – On the highest and supreme perfection of man, in so far as it is possible in this life
Chapter 2 – How one can cling to and seek Christ alone, disdaining everything else
Chapter 3 – What the perfection of man consist of in this life
Chapter 4 – How man’s activity should be purely in the intellect and not in the senses
Chapter 5 – On purity of heart which is to be sought above all things
Chapter 6 – That the devout man should cleave to God with naked understanding and will
Chapter 7 – How the heart should be gathered within itself
Chapter 8 – How a religious man should commit himself to God in all circumstances whatsoever
Chapter 9 – How much the contemplation of God is to be preferred to all other exercises
Chapter 10 – That one should not be concerned about feeling tangible devotion so much as about cleaving to God with one’s will
Chapter 11 – How one should resist temptations and bear trials
Chapter 12 – How powerful the love of God is
Chapter 13 – The nature and value of prayer, and how the heart should be recollected within itself
Chapter 14 – That we should seek the verdict of our conscience in every decision
Chapter 15 – How contempt of himself can be produced in a man, and how useful it is
Chapter 16 – How God’s Providence includes everything.