"Happiness or the desire for happiness is itself the most certain sign of God's presence," says Father Thomas Keating, a founding member, chairman, and spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach. He has been in the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, a Roman Catholic monastic order, since the age of 20. Father Keating is an internationally known theologian, popular speaker, and accomplished author of 22 books and numerous videos and articles.
This beautifully designed paperback is a companion volume of edited transcripts from Contemplative Outreach's video series Heartfulness: Transformation in Christ. Here Father Keating shares the wisdom of his spiritual and theological vision in a series of interviews with Dr. Betty Sue Flowers, Professor Emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin and former director of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. She is the author of numerous books.
The book is divided into nine chapters on The Pursuit of Happiness, The Human Condition, Centering Prayer, Sin, Suffering, Redemption, Love and the Trinity, Divine Indwelling, and Divine Transformation. The closing sections of Heartfulness contain references and selections for further sStudy and feflection; guidelines for Christian life, growth, and transformation; a glossary of contemplative terms and practices; an index of citations, and a description of the organization Contemplative Outreach.
Some of the more salient points made by Father Keating in his substantive probes of the Christian faith are the statement that there is absolutely no punishment in God; the idea that believers don't have to create freedom or beauty or win over God since we have all three right now; deification — the transformation in Christ — is the full meaning of redemption; and our growth in Spirit comes as we see the Divine presence in all of our activities.
