The Word Is Very Near You

by Wilfrid Stinissen

Publisher:

Ignatius

, 2020

Overview

“My wish”, writes Father Wilfrid Stinissen, “is to give some simple advice on how we can draw nearer to God’s Word and let it penetrate us in order that it will bear fruit in our lives.”

The acclaimed spiritual writer and Carmelite priest says that all Christian literature and preaching are nothing more than an attempt to explain and interpret what God himself has spoken to us in the Bible. God is active in his holy Word, and he is also active in man’s seeking and study, in his research and knowledge.

In Judaism, the study of Scripture has always had a prominent place, and the same is true of Christianity from the beginning, as can be seen above all in the writings of the Church Fathers. Some modern scholars have also made important discoveries that help illuminate even more the Bible’s broad, colorful vistas.

Yet without prayer, scholarship is only superficial glitter, destined to fade away. Father Stinissen teaches that prayer and the reading of Scripture belong inseparably together, and he shows the reader how combining them leads a person to close communion with God.

Key Features

• Teaches how to draw nearer to God’s Word and let it penetrate our lives
• Explains the importance of combining prayer and Scripture reading
• Shows how this combination leads to close communion with God

Contents

• Preface
• 1. On the Essence of the Bible
• 2. The Relationship between the Old and the New Testaments
• 3. Spiritual Interpretation of the Bible
• 4. How the Mystics Interpret the Bible
• 5. Praying with the Psalms
• 6. On Reading the Bible Regularly
• Epilogue

Praise for The Word Is Very Near You

Fr. Stinissen’s writing is profound enough for theologians, yet accessible enough for anyone seeking a fuller and more meaningful life.

—Vinny Flynn, Author, 7 Secrets of the Eucharist

Product Details

• Title: The Word Is Very Near You
• Author: Wilfrid Stinissen
• Publisher: Ignatius
• Print Publication Date: 2020
• Logos Release Date: 2025
• Pages: 140
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Bible; Bible › Devotional use; Bible › Lecture; Bible › Reading; Reading
• ISBNs: 9781642291209, 164229120X
• Resource ID: LLS:WRDSVDTRNMY3014
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-09-08T19:01:27Z

About Wilfrid Stinissen

Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, O.C.D., was born in Antwerp, Belgium, where he entered the Carmelite Order in 1944. He was sent to Sweden in 1967 to co-found a small contemplative community. His many books on the spiritual life have been translated into multiple languages. Among his works available in English are Into Your Hands, Father; Eternity in the Midst of Time; Bread That Is Broken; Mary in the Bible and in Our Lives; and The Holy Spirit, Fire of Divine Love, all published by Ignatius Press.