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An essential selection from the great late-20th century Catholic spiritual teacher
Ladislaus Boros, writer, spiritual teacher, theologian, and philosopher, is a lost star of the twentieth century. A young refugee from Hungary who was received and trained by Jesuits in Germany after his escape from Soviet occupation, he became a man of spiritual genius—a forerunner of new and welcoming teachings that are full of wisdom for our current times. In them, God is merciful, compassionate, and loving; an ally in our suffering and longing—not a judge, distant to our hopes and sorrows. Boros’ premature death in 1981 took most of his work out-of-circulation in English.
The purpose of this selection—from eight of his more than twenty books—is to introduce Boros to a contemporary audience. In these writings, he addresses profound questions about what it is to be human—our deepest longings, desires, and hopes, even those yet unknown to us. This isn’t self-help or devotional writing. Rather, it takes us on pilgrimage in search of love for ourselves and for one another. He explores the possibilities of finding meaning in this life, in death, and beyond. While doing so, Boros examines the life of Jesus as a fully human being, free in will, yet destined for death, just as are we all—but also, as divine, transcending death, and making hope an eternal quest.
“I have read, with great joy and impressiveness, passages from what I hope will be a forthcoming book based on the writings of Ladislaus Boros. I look forward to when this is available in book format. It has been rich to read and reflect on new ways of understanding Jesus’ message of living a life of service as well as honouring and trusting the life we have been given. Thank you again for the way you help us to see the bright colourfulness and to hear the full harmonies of the world in LB’s words.” —Dr. Ingrid Sochting, director, University of British Columbia Psychology Clinic
“It is good to hear that you are progressing with your plans for the Boros reader. Your selection of texts makes a lot of sense, and we do believe you have a valuable and great book in the making.” —Robert Cathomas and Helga Jacobsen, editors, Chalice-Verlag, German publishers of all of Boros’ writings
Ladislaus Boros (1927-81) was a Hungarian Jesuit priest, widely acclaimed as one of the brightest stars in the Catholic theological firmament after the Second World War. He published many books of reflection as his life slowly evolved in new spiritual directions. By 1973, he had renounced his religious orders, married, and was laicized. He died in Switzerland before his fifty-fifth birthday. Modern-day mystic Cynthia Bourgeault sparked renewed interest in Boros’ thought in 2021 when she published a new edition, with commentary, of his book, The Mystery of Death.
Lynn R. Szabo is professor emeritus of American Literature and Creative Writing at Trinity Western University in Vancouver. She is the editor of the first comprehensive selection of Thomas Merton’s poetry, In the Dark Before Dawn, a spiritual director, and has served as a facilitator with the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada. She lives in Vancouver, BC.
Jonathan Montaldo was principal editor of The Intimate Merton: His Life from His Journals with Brother Patrick Hart. He also edited the second volume of Thomas Merton’s private journals, published in seven volumes by HarperCollins, under the title Entering the Silence (1945-1959), and served as director of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University, and associate director at the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living in Louisville, Kentucky. He lives in Mantua, NJ.