Spiritual Letters

John Chapman OSB (1865–1933) was an English Roman Catholic priest and a New Testament and patristics scholar. He was the 4th Abbot of Downside Abbey of the English Benedictine Congregation from 1929 until his death.

• Preface to the First EditionA Memoir of Abbot ChapmanPART I: LETTERS TO LAY FOLK1-16 To One Living in the World17-22 To a Literary Man23-25 To Algar Thorold, ESQ., Editor of The Dublin Review26-27 To an Unmarried Lady28-33 To a Lady Living in the World34-36 To a Married Lady37-38 To a Lady Living in the World39 To a Married LadyPART II: LETTERS TO RELIGIOUS40-41 To a Benedictine Monk42-50 To a Canoness Regular of the Lateran51-53 To Two Others of the Same Order54-72 To a Benedictine Nun73-74 To a Canoness Regular of the Lateran75-76 To an Ursuline Nun77-79 To a Servite Nun80 To a Carmelite Nun81 To a Secular PriestPART III: LETTERS TO A JESUIT82-95 To a Jesuit ScholasticAppendix I:Contemplative prayer, a few simple rulesA note upon "contemplative prayer" Appendix II:What "is" mysticism?Supplement:96-99 To a secular priest100 To a young religious

Spiritual Letters was probably the single most influential book for me in my twenties, and still is.