Contents Include: Part I Preliminaries: The 'Gap' in the Religious Situation of Today What is the Christian Life? The Object and Necessity of Mental Prayer Part II Methods: Ignatian Franciscan Carmelite Salesian Liguria Oratorian Part III Explanations: Some Chief Difficulties of Mental Prayer The Ascetic and Spiritual Preparation for Prayer Progress in the Life of Prayer Direction of Souls in the Life of Prayer An Analysis of the Teaching of St. John of the Cross on the State of Beginners Bibliography