This Tremendous Lover: Adapting to Reality

I have been reading This Tremendous Lover by M. Eugene Boylan, O.C.R. This book was provided to me by Tiber River, which is a great book review site run by Aquinas and More online Catholic store.

I am sunk in shame that I received this book so long ago and yet am only now truly reading it. Yet better late than never because this is a highly inspirational and grounding read. So much so that I am going to be sharing excerpts. Truth to tell, I never read this without a pen nearby. It is that good.

A bestseller over 60 years ago, written to act as an introduction to the spiritual life for every day Catholics, this book still speaks to us over the years on a highly practical level. Although sometimes the points Boylan is making have an emphasis that does not strictly apply to our modern lives, it is never a point wasted. As my husband has pointed out when I've read examples to him, quite often those points are still true for people today but they are just not spoken of as much.

With all that background, I bring to you the first excerpt.

There is, however, one conclusion that follows from our principles which seems to be in full agreement with the prescriptions of modern psychology. This science finds, as we do, that the source of much mental trouble and anguish lies in one's incomplete adaptation to reality. Our discussion, starting from the principle of our incorporation in Christ and our vocation to everlasting union with Him in heaven, leads to a practical program of humility, charity, and abandonment to the will of God. By humility, one accepts oneself with all ones' deficiencies; by charity, one "adjusts" oneself to other members of society and lives for them as well as for oneself; by abandonment, one strives to fulfill one's allotted task, and to accept willingly all that Providence allows to happen in one's life. This is in full agreement with modern scientific conclusions; our view has the further advantage of giving a sanction to, and a perfect reason for, such a loving acceptance of reality, and of explaining it in its true context and purpose.

From the preface, This Tremendous Lover
by M. Eugene Boylan, O.C.R.

This struck me, when I read it, with the full force of truth. Why else would we strive as we do in a religion with seemingly impossible goals? Because it is true. Because when we adhere to such a way of life we are finally in line with reality.