A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer

The Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer provides a practical overview of the life of prayer. Written by St. Peter of Alcantara (1499 – 1562), a Franciscan of the Stricter Observance who was a spiritual director to St. Teresa of Avila, the treatise was once widely read and acclaimed by great saints, including St. Francis de Sales.

St. Peter not only presents a concise method of mental prayer but also offers practical advice on when to deviate from the method. He further provides clear counsel on spiritual reading, strategies to overcome distractions, ways to persevere during spiritual dryness, and how to avoid an excessive inclination towards study during prayer.

He helps the reader apply the teaching by providing guided meditations for each day of the week. The saint also offers a series of beautiful meditations on the Passion of Christ, inviting you to reflect deeply on His great sacrifice.

A biography of the saint, detailing his profound sanctity and rigorous ascetic observances, is also included. His life is a testament to the power of prayer and the transformative effects of a life dedicated to prayer.