This appealing book offers a simplified reading of the spiritual writings of Elizabeth of the Trinity and is presented with an engaging front cover and illustrations by the author throughout. It is easy to read and outlines the life of Elizabeth of the Trinity, offering quotations from her writings and from scripture. There is much here for reflection, and as the title implies, it is indeed ‘for everyone’.
The opening chapter, entitled ‘Introducing Elizabeth’, outlines her early life and shows how she saw the hand of Divine Providence in all aspects of her existence. She had exceptional musical talent as a pianist and practised for hours each day. Her whole soul was attuned to music — music was her joy, and it became a metaphor she often used in her spiritual writings. Various milestones in her life are described, showing how God became the focus of her love and her life, and how the mystery of the silence of music could be just as powerful as the sound (pp. 12–13).
Drawn to a life of prayer, Elizabeth entered the Carmel at Dijon. Carmelite life is essentially a life of prayer (pp. 21–24). During the noviciate, she experienced a spiritual darkness and struggled with the absence of the music that had once sustained her. Yet at that time she wrote to a friend:
‘The life of a Carmelite is a communion with God from morning to evening and from evening to morning; through everything we see Him, for we bear Him within us, and our life is an anticipated heaven…’ She knew that her call was to be with Him in faith, not feeling (p. 21). As her vocation deepened, she grew into her name – Elizabeth of the Trinity – which expressed her desire to disappear, to be lost and possessed by the Three (pp. 23–24). After taking her vows, all doubt fled, and she found a peace that surpassed understanding. She chose for herself another name – Praise of Glory – for her life’s only meaning had become a simple act of praise (p. 24).
The second chapter introduces the Prayer to the Trinity. Elizabeth felt an irresistible movement of love for the Trinity and composed this prayer, which summarises the key themes of her life: adoration, silence, peace, conformity to Christ, and surrender to the Holy Spirit. The prayer is now recited and loved throughout the world and is even included in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (p. 26).
Towards the end of her life, Elizabeth wrote two retreats – one for her sister and one for herself.
These two retreats form the heart of the book. They have been gently adapted by the author to help the reader savour Elizabeth’s teaching and her invitation to a deep interior life (pp. 26–28).
The retreat for her sister, Heaven on Earth, follows next. Elizabeth and her sister Marguerite were exceptionally close. When Marguerite, a young wife and mother, asked for spiritual guidance, Elizabeth was quick to assure her that she too was called to a life with the indwelling God. She told her that the heart of a mother reflects the very heart of God, and that we are all called to love and be loved, regardless of our vocation. The retreat is presented in a series of consecutive prayers, each with a title and illustration. Throughout, Elizabeth draws richly from scripture – written for all, even if lived out in different ways (pp. 34–35).
The final chapter is Last Retreat. Here the introduction helps readers trace the final stages of Elizabeth’s life as she lived with Addison’s disease: marked by intense pain, headaches, vomiting, and an inability to eat. Yet she now longed to spend her remaining days preparing to ‘sing the praises of the Trinity in heaven’ (pp. 61–62). She saw this final retreat as her noviciate for heaven, leaving behind a legacy of faith. Once again, she draws on scripture and the writings of St Paul. The retreat spans sixteen days, each entry given a title and a reflective illustration.
The postscript recounts Elizabeth’s death at the age of twenty-six. Her final words were: ‘I am going to Light, to Love, to Life’ (p. 99).
The book concludes with a useful For Further Reading section (p. 101).
I would recommend this book ‘to everyone’. It leads the reader into prayer, into the silence of contemplation, and indeed into the music of silence. It is easy to carry and deeply nourishing for spiritual reading, whether at home or while travelling. The Prayer to the Trinity and the two retreats are precious resources for any soul seeking to deepen their prayer life.
