Books by Susan Muto

Thomas Merton once described the Precautions and Counsels of St. John of the Cross as "the most detailed and concrete and practical set of rules for arriving at religious perfection I have ever seen." Yet many today need assistance in discovering the treasures these brief works contain. In this book, Susan Muto continues her efforts to open up the riches of John of the Cross for modern audiences. She shows how these challenging texts, first written for sixteenth century friars and nuns, are firmly rooted in the values of the Gospel, and offer essential practical and spiritual wisdom for contemporary men and women of every age and way of life. Also included are a translation of the Precautions and Counsels by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D., as well as a preface by the translator.

Then God Said teaches us to open our eyes and behold the gifts of creation that unfold before us in all their splendor. We abide in awe before the generative forces of the universe. We delight in the splendor of created things and thank God for this outpouring of gifts from the beginning of time. Each chapter of Then God Said invites us to contemplate the first revelation in creation--from water and sky to cattle and creeping things. We ponder, page by page, the power of the Father, the presence of the Son, and the productivity of the Holy Spirit. We behold anew the majesty of this planet and the merciful dispensation of the Divine under which we live day by day. We celebrate the beauty of the earth and the sheer majesty of each minute trace of the transcendent. Readers are encouraged to find the footprints of love that move the sun, the moon, and all the stars. Creation not only reminds us of God's glory; it offers us a sacramental understanding of all that we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell, thereby increasing our ecological sensitivity and our commitment to foster respectful stewardship over all that we survey.