Michael Miguel de Molinos
1640-1697
Some perhaps will say, that the Will loves not, nor moves when the understanding has no clear ideas;
because, it is an incontestable maxim, that we cannot love what we do not know.
To this I answer, that though the understanding does not know God by ideas, reflections and reasonings,
it may nevertheless know him by means of a general, indistinct, obscure Faith;
and that this general knowledge, though it is not distinct, yet as it is supernatural, it is more clear and perfect,
than all the sensible and particular ideas that can be formed of God in this life;
because all sensible and corporeal images are infinitely distant from the Supreme Being
Primary Source
The Spiritual Guide, 1675, Eng tr., Leeds 1775
Other Sources
G. Burnet: Three Letters concerning the Present State of Italy, written...in 1687, London, 1688
John Bigelow (the elder): Molinos the Quietist, N.Y., 1882
Kathleen Lyttelton, The Spiritual Guide of De Molinos, London, 1907
The Spiritual Guide
Which leads, by the Inward Way,
Through the Vail,
to
Perfect Contemplation
And to the Rich Treasure of
Internal Peace
by Doctor Michael de Molinos
First printed in Italian at Venice, in 1675
This English Translation, Leeds 1775
Part One
Of the Darkness, Dryness and temptations wherewith God purtifies souls; and of Interior Recollection
Chapter 1
In order that God may rest in the soul, the heart should always be kept peaceable in whatsoever disquiet, temptation and tribulation
Chapter 2
Though the soul perceive itself deprived of speculations and reasonings, yet it ought to persevere, and not be afflicted, because this emptiness leads to greater felicity
Chapter 3
A continuation of the same matter
Chapter 4
The soul is not to afflict itself, nor intermit prayer, because it sees itself encompassed with dryness
Chapter 5
Continuation of the same matter: A description of two kinds of Devotion; that the sensible kind should not have too much stress laid on it; and that the soul is not idle when its own activity and reasonings are still and silent
Chapter 6
The soul is not to be disquieted when it finds itself encompassed with darkness, becase the same promotes its felicity
Chapter 7
In order that the soul may attain to its supreme Internal Peace, it is necessary that God purge it after his way, because the exercises and mortifications that of itself it sets about, are not sufficient
Chapter 8
A continuation of the same
Chapter 9
The soul ought not to be disquieted, or draw back in the spiritual way, because it finds itself assaulted by temptations
Chapter 10
Wherein the same point is handled
Chapter 11
Declaring the nature of internal recollection, and instructing the soul how it ought to behave itself therein; and the spiritual warfare, whereby the devil endeavors to disturb it at that time
Chapter 12
A continuation of the same matter
Chapter 13
What the soul ought to do when internally recollected
Chapter 14
Shows how the soul, placing itself in the prsence of God, with perfect resignation, by the act of pure faith, walks always in virtual and acquired contemplation
Chapter 15
A continuation of the same matter
Chapter 16
The way by which one may attain internal recollection, through the most holy humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ
Chapter 17
Of the internal and mystical silence
Part Two
Of Spiritual Martyrdoms whereby God purifies souls; of Contemplation, infused and passive; of perfect Resignation, Inward Humility, Divine Wisdom, True Annihilation, and Inward Peace
Chapter 1
The difference between the outward ad inward man
Chapter 2
Continues the same
Chapter 3
The means of obtaining internal peace is not the delight of sense; not spiritual consolations, but the denying of self love
Chapter 4
Of two spiritual Martyrdoms, wherewith God cleanseth the soul that he unites with himself
Chapter 5
How important and necessary it is to the interior soul, to suffer blindfold this first and spiritual martyrdom
Chapter 6
Of the second spiritual martyrdom, by which God purifies the soul, in order to unite it with himself
Chapter 7
Inward mortification and perfect resignation are necessary for obtaining internal peace
Chapter 8
Continues the same matter
Chapter 9
For the obtaining of Internal Peace, it is necessary for the soul to know its misery
Chapter 10
Wherein it is showed and discovered what is false humility, and what is the true; with the effects of each
Chapter 11
Maxims, to know a simple, humble, and true heart
Chapter 12
Inward solitude is that which chiefly brings a man to obtain internal peace
Chapter 13
In which it is showed what infused and passive contemplation is, and what are its wonderful effects
Chapter 14
Continues the same matter
Chapter 15
Of the two means whereby the soul ascends up to infused contemplation, with its particular steps and degrees
Chapter 16
Signs to know the inner man, and the mind that is purified
Chapter 17
Of Divine Wisdom
Chapter 18
Treating the same
Chapter 19
Of True and Perfect Annihilation
Chapter 20
In which it is showed, how this Nothing is the ready way to obtain Purity of Soul, perfect Contemplation, and the rich Treasure of Internal Peace
Chapter 21
Of the high felicity of Internal Peace, and the wonderful effects thereof
Chapter 22
A Mournful Exclamation, and Lamentable Moan to God, for the small number of souls that arrive at Perfection, the Love-Union, and the Divine Transformation