The Art of Catholic Meditation “Prayer consists in the elevation of the soul to God; in prayer all the faculties of the soul, especially the understanding and the heart and the will, are brought into activity in order that they may raise the soul to God, but it is only the highest power of the soul, namely, the will, which can actually come, so to speak, into contact with God and be united with Him by love. When we pray aright, God in His love bends down to man and raises him as a father may take his child in his arms and let it cling to his neck.” With these words, Fr. Edward Hoare introduces Hints on Meditation , a spiritual manual for those who long to deepen their life of prayer. Moving from the basics of vocal and mental prayer to the more advanced paths of affective, recollective, and contemplative prayer , Hoare provides both clarity and encouragement. Drawing on the wisdom of St. Ignatius, the Sulpician tradition, and spiritual masters like St. Teresa of Ávila, he offers practical guidance on choosing subjects for meditation, overcoming distractions and fatigue, cultivating humility, examining one’s progress, and uniting prayer with daily life . Far more than a set of instructions, Hints on Meditation charts the soul’s journey through the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways , showing how meditation leads from discipline and self-denial toward intimate union with God. Written with pastoral warmth and practical depth, this book remains a timeless companion for anyone who desires to enter more fully into the transforming mystery of prayer.