Carlo Carretto

Carlo Carretto (1910-1988) was a member of the Little Brothers of Jesus, the order inspired by the spirituality of Charles de Foucauld. Through his bestselling Letters from the Desert and more than a dozen other books, Carretto presented an ascetic, yet joy-filled spirituality that called to mind the spirit of his favorite saint, Francis of Assisi. Especially appealing to lay people, he showed that it was possible to live a contemplative life in the midst of the world. This selection from over a dozen books covers the spirituality of the desert, Carrettos reflections on God, the church, prayer, engagement with the world, and the mystery of suffering and death.

Robert Ellsberg, publisher of Orbis Books and General Editor of the Modern Spiritual Masters series, has edited anthologies of Dorothy Day, Charles de Foucauld, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Flannery OConnor. His most recent book is Blessed Among All Women.