Conversing with God. The great means of prayer

These two writings by Saint Alphonsus are as relevant as ever. Conversing with God is a spiritual booklet accessible to everyone. It teaches us to speak familiarly with God, starting from the questions, problems, hopes, and joys of everyday life. In its simplicity, the work is a true gem. The Great Means of Prayer is a longer and more complete work. The first part, primarily ascetical, discusses the necessity and meaning of prayer, which must be humble, trusting, and persevering. In the second part, which is distinctly theological in nature, Saint Alphonsus refutes Jansenist theses on grace and predestination, and strongly upholds the principle that God, desiring everyone to be saved, gives everyone the grace to pray, through which we obtain salvation. The more difficult and less relevant passages of this second part have been omitted, as they are tied to the theological debates of the time.