Among manuals on the life of prayer, the chapters on prayer from Jean-Nicholas Grou's School of Jesus Christ stand out as one of the best short expositions of the essence of prayer that have ever been written. Like such other great writers on prayer as William Law, Henry Martyn and Charles de Foucauld, Grou emphasises the importance of mental discipline for the healthy life of the soul.

Translated by Joseph Dalby, these simple but effective instructions are the ripe fruit of the author's long life of prayer and meditation.

Introduction
Translator's Note

I. God Alone Teaches Us to Pray
II. God Alone Teaches Us to Pray (continued)
III. God Alone Teaches Us to Pray (continued)
IV. God Alone Teaches Us to Pray (continued)
V. God Alone Teaches Us to Pray (continued)
VI. The Multiplicity of Vocal Prayers
VII. The Efficacy of Prayer
VIII. Continual Prayer
IX. Common Prayer
X. The Lord's Prayer

   Introduction » (PDF, 267 KB)
   Extract from Chapter 3: God Alone Teaches Us To Pray » (PDF, 228 KB)

Jean-Nicholas Grou was born in 1730, and joined the Jesuit Order. He wrote several works on prayer and the spiritual life, and is recognised as one of the great 18th century writers on these subjects.

He fled to England following the French Revolution, where spent most of his life speaking and teaching about prayer and spiritual intimacy. He died in 1803.