Quote from this masterpiece:

“What is needed is not writing or talking, but silence and action. Talking distracts. Silence and action recollect and strengthen the spirit. The way to safeguard the spirit is through suffering and silence, closing all the senses, immersing oneself in solitude, oblivious of all creatures and all events, even though the world may come to an end.” – Third Spiritual Alphabet, Francisco de Osuna

He has inspired St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila

BUMP

Must have this book. Someone give please.

I don't have the book in any form but from a Google search it looks like it's available on Amazon, from TAN, other second-hand sellers.  There are also a couple of places that have it for download but I've never used these sites before so I cannot comment on them.  

You're right -- this book has been highly praised for decades.  I'd like to have it in my library too as an e-book.  

Good luck!

My beef with the internet this time is that this book has been out for centuries, and so the copyright no longer covers it because it is in the public domain, yet the only places to get the book are from sites that are SELLING it. They have no right to sell it. They did not write or translate it, and it has been out for many centuries. It is a Christian classic and should be free for anyone to read. Or is it the situation that only those with money can access good books like these? Despite the means to disimulate them freely to all.
 :furtive:

I thought I had seen it online for download within this past year but I may be wrong.  I like to download every old religious book I can find--if it's from a reputable source--because some day they may ALL be gone, free or for profit.

If/when you buy books that were written before V2, be sure that you have an exact translation of the original.  I've found 'revisions' and they are not always mentioned as being such.  The language is much softer and compromising in the newer 'editions' in some of the ones I've found.  I know -- I started reading these books when I was 10.  I can spot the changes and I DON'T LIKE IT!! needless to say.  That's one reason I'd BUY this book ONLY if it was a second-hand edition pre-V2.  

And I understand your copyright concerns.  Unfortunately, I don't know the legalities of why it is not free.  I'd sure expect the Guttenberg Project or CCEL to have it but they don't.  That's what makes me think there MUST be some legal stranglehold on it and made me suspicious of trusting the sites that offer it for download.  Yes, it is a classic alright!  Should certainly be free by now.  I can understand a copyright on a "revised" edition, but somewhere in this universe the original, untouched version of this book should be available free if anyone has put it online.

I've noticed that A LOT of religious books that were for free download have disappeared from the Internet and they're not in print for sale either.  It's been getting worse over the past 5 or so years.  Some are turning up for a price and others are just plain gone.  Publishers know Trad Catholics are willing to pay the bucks to get what they want and they're taking advantage of us, selling books at exorbitant prices sometimes.  It's sickening and downright dirty dealing in my estimation.  And some Religious Orders that used to publish the works of their saints have stopped doing so also.

If I find it somewhere, I'll let you know and would appreciate the same from you.  Thanks and good luck!
nipr

Yes, certainly Marsha, the publisher needs to be reimbursed and make a profit.  But meeting the needs of the consumer is one thing and taking them for a ride is another.

My "beef" about the cost of books is that I've noticed that when people start talking on forums about this or that book they want and cannot find, then you see it for sale on the Internet at an outrageous price.  Someone told me within this past year that The Liturgical Year was selling for $4,000.  I looked it up and they were right!  And "I Accuse the Council" skyrocketed in price just after being discussed on the forums.  Maybe publishers use search engines to know our desires?

Your suggestion about helping PG is a good idea, Marsha.  I've looked into doing this but at the moment I can't commit myself to it for serious reasons.  I would like to do so in the future if I am able.  Thanks for suggesting it.  Maybe others will consider doing it.  

The Liturgical Year is only $175 here.  Shop around and you can usually find what you want w/in reason.  TLY is even FREE on the net. See this link.

Publishing costs have skyrocketed as the value of dollar has plummeted but well established publishers do a reasonable job of keeping their products priced to sell.  Stay away from ebay and you'll avoid the sharks.

Marsha

I'm glad you posted this.  I didn't mean to discourage anyone from looking for it.  I already had a copy which cost about what you quoted before I saw a publisher asking $4,000 for the series, new.  

I've never been displeased when ordering used books from Amazon, AbeBooks, Alibi or other such retailers.  Usually they are in better condition than what I expected and I can get the original version that way too.  Sometimes I can find what I want only on eBay but so far everything has been okay, but I check the others places first.  

Nope.

I have read reviews saying that it is very difficult to read, perhaps lack of demand is the reason it has not been digitized yet.