Preface · 5
Translator's Note · 11

Part 1: The Life, Tasks, and Works of Adrien von Speyer

Chapter 1 Life · 25
1.
Source · 28
2.
Childhood · 30
3.
Gymnasium in La Chaux-de-Fonds · 36
4.
Three Years of Illness · 38
5.
Gymnasium in Basel · 42
6.
Medical Studies · 43
7.
Marriage · 46
8.
Conversion · 49
9.
New Grace · 53
10.
The Last Period · 58
11.
Death · 69
12.
Personality · 74

Chapter 2: Theological Challenges · 79
1.
Fundamental Attitude · 83
2.
Theological Position · 92
3.
Extension of Grace · 108

Chapter 3, Work 147
1.
Formation of the Work · 150
2.
Extant handwritten manuscripts · 157
3.
Oral Works · 159
4.
Articles or Papers · 167
5.
Anthology · 168

Part 2: Adrien von Speyer's Statement

1.
Apparitions of the Mother of God · 176
2.
Encounter with Saint Ignatius · 179
3.
On the Evening of Conversion · 182
4.
Statement about yourself · 185
5.
Adrienne's Relationship with Death · 187
6.
Adrienne's Prayers as a Child · 195
7.
On the Changes in Neighborly Love in Childhood · 196
8.
On the Development of Love for God and Neighbor in Childhood · 205
9.
Adrienne and the Bible · 218
10.
Reserved · 226
11.
Conversation with a Fifteen-Year-Old Girl · 229
12.
Confidence · 232
13.
The Three Great Graces Adrienne Received · 236
14.
Adrienne's Attitude to Prayer Before His Conversion · 240
15.
Adrienne's Attitude Toward People's Flaws · 251
16.
Adrienne and the Confession · 256
17.
Adrienne's Attitude Toward Confession · 260
18.
Adrienne and the Adults · 270
19.
Adrienne, Adult, and Mission · 281
20.
Adrienne's Inner Attitude · 284

Part 3: Adrien von Speyer's Prayer

Chapter 1: Prayer on Earth · 294
1.
Morning Prayer · 296
2.
Prayer at the Beginning of Mass · 297
3.
Prayer Before the Sermon · 299
4.
Prayer after Communion · 301
5.
Night Prayer · 303
6.
Prayer before the Tabernacle · 305
7.
Prayer to the Risen Lord · 307
8.
Prayer for the Renewal of the Holy Spirit · 308
9.
Prayer for Transcendence · 310
10.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving after Confession at the End of the Year · 312
11.
Prayers in This Life · 314
12.
Through the Virgin Mary to Christ · 315
13.
Prayer for Those Suffering from Illness · 318
14.
Prayer for When You're Tired · 320
15.
An Old Nun's Prayer · 320
16.
Prayers for the Nearing Death · 322
17.
Saint Ignatius' "Take It" · 323
18.
The Prayer Taught by Saint Ignatius to Adrienne · 327
19.
Prayer for the Gift of Fairness · 329
20.
A Prayer for Those Who Flee from the Lord · 330
21.
Prayer for Liberation from Self · 331
22.
Prayer for Becoming a Useful Person · 332
23.
Prayer in Meditation on the Lord's Passion · 333
24.
A Prayer to Stop Clinging to What You Don't Have · 334

Chapter 2: Heavenly Prayer · 336
1.
“The glory of God illuminated the city, and his light was the Lamb.” · 338
2.
“There are twelve cornerstones in the city wall.
And on them are written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” · 340
3.
The Lamb's Book of Life · 350
4.
Grace from the Book of Revelation · 351
5.
Adoration offered by the servants before the throne of God and of the Lamb · 353
6.
“The Lord God is that light.” · 355
7.
The Lord's Prayer · 357
8.
“I am the first and the last.” · 363
9.
“Let anyone who can hear say, ‘Come!’” · 364

Appendix Final Considerations
1.
Adrien von Speyer: A Look at the Church from a Modern Perspective · 370
2.
How to Read Adrien von Speyer's Works · 374

Representative theologians and mystics of the 20th century
Great Encounter

Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Clare, Saint Francis of Sales and Saint Joanna Francesca de Chantal.
What do they have in common? As spiritual companions, they have profoundly influenced each other's faith journey.
They shared a spiritual friendship to follow God more deeply and brought positive changes to each other's lives.
There are two people in modern times who have had this kind of spiritual relationship.
These are Hans Urs von Balthasar, a theologian representing the 20th century, and Adrienne von Speyer, a female mystic.
They have supported each other's spiritual growth through close collaboration for 27 years.
In particular, Balthasar, as a spiritual leader, observed Speyer for a long time and wrote a book based on the stories he shared with him and his experiences.
It is 『My First Encounter with Adrienne von Speyer』.
This book is more than just a story about one individual; it is a significant work that shows how deep and meaningful love for God can be.

I can say that I have received far more theological teaching from Adrienne than Adrienne has from me.
As a confessor and spiritual director for 27 years, I have observed Adrien's inner life closely, and I have never doubted the authenticity of his vocation or the humility and purity with which he lived it.
- From the preface

Balthasar vividly conveys
The Life and Spirituality of Adrien von Speyer

Adrien von Speyer was a Swiss physician and Protestant.
He had a mystical experience as a child, meeting the Virgin Mary and Saint Ignatius.
After that, he faced many difficulties in life and wandered, but through Balthasar, he converted to Catholicism and began a new path as a mystic.
He saw many visions and left behind various oral works based on them before his death.
In this book, Balthasar clearly reveals the profound influence of Speyer on his theology.
He even stated in various media that his theological views would not have been formed without Speyer.
Balthasar introduces what kind of person Speyer was in “First Encounter with Adrien von Speyer.”
First, we cover his life, theology, and major works, then introduce his statements and prayers, providing a comprehensive understanding of Speyer.
And in this flow, it leads us to approach Speyer's thoughts more naturally.
In the first part of the book, readers can examine Speyer's life and learn how his theology and spirituality were formed.
In the following statements, we find a solid foundation for what we have discussed above, and finally, through a prayer that condenses his spirituality, we can understand the message that Speyer wanted to give us today.
This will help us understand the core message that Balthasar was trying to convey when introducing Speyer.


Adrien von Speyer has demonstrated this Christian possibility in a most convincing way.
The possibility is that the contemplation and prayer of faith will not diminish, but rather become stronger and more resilient, as we engage in secular work and responsibilities.
- From the text

Adrienne von Speyer,
Spirituality for living today
Show

Those who are new to this book may find Adrienne von Speyer's spirituality difficult to grasp.
However, as you read the book, you will become more clear about the teachings he is trying to convey.
The core teachings that run throughout Speyer's theology and spirituality are to look to the Trinity, who establishes communion through love, to have an attitude of obedience like the Virgin Mary when the angels announced the birth of the Lord, and to live with the attitude of the Son Jesus according to the will of the Father even in the miserable situation of suffering, dying on the cross, and descending into the afterlife.
Balthasar wants to convey this message through this book.
In particular, Balthasar considered Speyer's works more important than his own and made great efforts to have them published.
Thanks to this, many works were published, and starting in 2023, works such as 『The World of Prayer』, 『Love, Encounter with God』, and 『Jesus' Last Prayer』 were translated and published in Korean.
When reading these Korean translations, reading this book introducing Speyer along with them will help you better understand his spirituality.
Even though he suffered greatly from illness, Speyer continued to strive to share what he had received from God.
This was to lead us to love God based on our faith and practice that love toward our neighbors.
He showed this appearance throughout his life.
Faithfully entrusting oneself to God's will is the attitude of life that Speyer and Balthasar wish to convey to believers today.

The works of Balthasar and Speyer are invaluable treasures, imbued with a solid theological content and a profound spiritual perspective. I believe they will serve as excellent spiritual guides for believers in our country living in the 21st century.
- From the translator's note