To draw fruit from spiritual reading it is necessary:
1. To recommend yourself beforehand to God . We must pray in the words of Samuel: "Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth".
2. Not to read in order to acquire learning, nor to indulge curiosity , but for the sole purpose of advancing in divine love.
3.To read slowly and with attention.
4. When you receive any special light in reading, or any instruction that penetrates the heart, to stop and to raise the mind to God by making a good resolution, or a good act, or a fervent prayer
St. Bernard says that it is useful then to interrupt the reading, and to offer a prayer, and to continue to pray as long as the impression lasts.
Spiritual books should not be read as one would read novels, sometimes it may happen that you draw more fruit from reading a single verse than from reading an entire chapter.
#spiritualreading
1. To recommend yourself beforehand to God . We must pray in the words of Samuel: "Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth".
2. Not to read in order to acquire learning, nor to indulge curiosity , but for the sole purpose of advancing in divine love.
3.To read slowly and with attention.
4. When you receive any special light in reading, or any instruction that penetrates the heart, to stop and to raise the mind to God by making a good resolution, or a good act, or a fervent prayer
St. Bernard says that it is useful then to interrupt the reading, and to offer a prayer, and to continue to pray as long as the impression lasts.
Spiritual books should not be read as one would read novels, sometimes it may happen that you draw more fruit from reading a single verse than from reading an entire chapter.
#spiritualreading
"Spiritual Reading"
Spiritual reading is devoted to the reading of lives of saints, writings of Doctors and the Fathers of the Church, theological works written by respected and reliable theologians and holy people, and doctrinal writings of Church authorities. It is different from lectio divina, which focuses on the Holy Scripture.
The biblical basis of the practice of spiritual reading is St. Paul's advice, "Attend to reading," (1 Tim 4:13) which meant that Timothy his disciple should "apply to the reading of holy books, not in a passing way and for a short time, but regularly and for a considerable time," said St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Catholic Church on Moral theology. St. Bernard of Clairvaux said that "spiritual reading and prayer are the arms by which hell is conquered and paradise won."
Saint Augustine says that "He who wishes often to be with God ought to pray frequently and read pious books," and all spiritual writers after him, without exception, have insisted on the necessity of spiritual reading for all those who wish to lead a really interior and supernatural life. Holiness is the fruit of prayer, and mental prayer is extremely difficult without the reading of spiritual books. Such reading provides the foundation on which the work of meditation is to be built up...
It is not an easy thing for us to think supernaturally, and an occasional look into a spiritual book will not be sufficient to develop in us the habit of doing so. If we are to keep our judgments sure in a spiritual sense, our outlook on life wise with true wisdom, and our conduct under the guidance and control of motives of faith as opposed to those of worldliness, spiritual reading must come to form the most substantial element in our daily intellectual nourishment. It is only thus that it will effectively counterbalance the evil tendencies of nature by awakening and sustaining supernatural tendencies in the soul. Spiritual reading substitutes, for the maxims and examples of the world, the maxims and examples of Our Lord and the Saints. In a word, it is a kind of daily invitation to look beyond earth to God and the things of God.
source: St. Alphonsus, Father Edward Leen, C.S.SP., Progress Through Mental Prayer
#spiritualreading
https://youtu.be/2L_M3x2o-2U
Spiritual reading is devoted to the reading of lives of saints, writings of Doctors and the Fathers of the Church, theological works written by respected and reliable theologians and holy people, and doctrinal writings of Church authorities. It is different from lectio divina, which focuses on the Holy Scripture.
The biblical basis of the practice of spiritual reading is St. Paul's advice, "Attend to reading," (1 Tim 4:13) which meant that Timothy his disciple should "apply to the reading of holy books, not in a passing way and for a short time, but regularly and for a considerable time," said St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Catholic Church on Moral theology. St. Bernard of Clairvaux said that "spiritual reading and prayer are the arms by which hell is conquered and paradise won."
Saint Augustine says that "He who wishes often to be with God ought to pray frequently and read pious books," and all spiritual writers after him, without exception, have insisted on the necessity of spiritual reading for all those who wish to lead a really interior and supernatural life. Holiness is the fruit of prayer, and mental prayer is extremely difficult without the reading of spiritual books. Such reading provides the foundation on which the work of meditation is to be built up...
It is not an easy thing for us to think supernaturally, and an occasional look into a spiritual book will not be sufficient to develop in us the habit of doing so. If we are to keep our judgments sure in a spiritual sense, our outlook on life wise with true wisdom, and our conduct under the guidance and control of motives of faith as opposed to those of worldliness, spiritual reading must come to form the most substantial element in our daily intellectual nourishment. It is only thus that it will effectively counterbalance the evil tendencies of nature by awakening and sustaining supernatural tendencies in the soul. Spiritual reading substitutes, for the maxims and examples of the world, the maxims and examples of Our Lord and the Saints. In a word, it is a kind of daily invitation to look beyond earth to God and the things of God.
source: St. Alphonsus, Father Edward Leen, C.S.SP., Progress Through Mental Prayer
#spiritualreading
https://youtu.be/2L_M3x2o-2U
YouTube
Spiritual Reading, Catholic Audiobook
Spiritual reading is a practice of reading books and articles about spirituality with the purpose of growing in holiness.
Spiritual reading is devoted to the reading of lives of saints, writings of Doctors and the Fathers of the Church, theological works…
Spiritual reading is devoted to the reading of lives of saints, writings of Doctors and the Fathers of the Church, theological works…
The necessity of spiritual reading
"Don’t neglect your spiritual reading. Reading has made many saints."
Saint Josemaría Escrivá, The Way
The great conversions:
•St. Augustine was born in 354 AD in Africa. His mother, St. Monica, was a devout Christian, who raised her son with a Christian education; however, he was not baptized. Augustine’s father was a pagan who did not convert to Catholicism until on his death bed and he had taught his son to be more concerned with worldly goods and pleasures. St. Augustine was miserably imprisoned by his passions and vices.
"I loved my own error—not that for which I erred, but the error." (Confessions 2:4).
St. Monica continued to pray for the conversion of her son and husband. At the age of 32, St. Augustine heard a young voice tell him to take and read St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. God’s light penetrated his heart, and he was led out of spiritual darkness into the marvelous light of Christ.
•St. Ignatius was a soldier who was recuperating from an injury which he sustained while in battle. While recovering, he picked up a volume of the lives of the saints in order to pass the time in bed. Afterward, he was led to begin a life of sanctity. Eventually, he became both the father and founder of the Jesuits.
Ignatius describes what happened in his autobiography (written in the third person).
"As Ignatius had a love for fiction, when he found himself out of danger he asked for some romances to pass away the time. In that house there was no book of the kind. They gave him, instead, “The Life of Christ,” by Rudolph [De Vita Christi by Ludolph of Saxony], the Carthusian, and another book called the “Flowers of the Saints,” both in Spanish. By frequent reading of these books he began to get some love for spiritual things. This reading led his mind to meditate on holy things, yet sometimes it wandered to thoughts which he had been accustomed to dwell upon before."
"While perusing the life of Our Lord and the saints, he began to reflect, saying to himself: “What if I should do what St. Francis did?” “What if I should act like St. Dominic?” He pondered over these things in his mind, and kept continually proposing to himself serious and difficult things. He seemed to feel a certain readiness for doing them, with no other reason except this thought: “St. Dominic did this; I, too, will do it.” “St. Francis did this; therefore I will do it.”
•Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), while raised in the Jewish faith, she distanced herself from all religion in young adulthood. She pursued worldly knowledge and became an atheist philosopher. This intellectual journey led her to explore Christian writings, such as the New Testament and St. Ignatius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. However, her head and heart were captivated by the Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, which began her journey to the Catholic Church. One evening Edith picked up St. Teresa's book and was reading it all night;
“When I had finished the book, I said to myself: This is the truth.”
#spiritualreading
"Don’t neglect your spiritual reading. Reading has made many saints."
Saint Josemaría Escrivá, The Way
The great conversions:
•St. Augustine was born in 354 AD in Africa. His mother, St. Monica, was a devout Christian, who raised her son with a Christian education; however, he was not baptized. Augustine’s father was a pagan who did not convert to Catholicism until on his death bed and he had taught his son to be more concerned with worldly goods and pleasures. St. Augustine was miserably imprisoned by his passions and vices.
"I loved my own error—not that for which I erred, but the error." (Confessions 2:4).
St. Monica continued to pray for the conversion of her son and husband. At the age of 32, St. Augustine heard a young voice tell him to take and read St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. God’s light penetrated his heart, and he was led out of spiritual darkness into the marvelous light of Christ.
•St. Ignatius was a soldier who was recuperating from an injury which he sustained while in battle. While recovering, he picked up a volume of the lives of the saints in order to pass the time in bed. Afterward, he was led to begin a life of sanctity. Eventually, he became both the father and founder of the Jesuits.
Ignatius describes what happened in his autobiography (written in the third person).
"As Ignatius had a love for fiction, when he found himself out of danger he asked for some romances to pass away the time. In that house there was no book of the kind. They gave him, instead, “The Life of Christ,” by Rudolph [De Vita Christi by Ludolph of Saxony], the Carthusian, and another book called the “Flowers of the Saints,” both in Spanish. By frequent reading of these books he began to get some love for spiritual things. This reading led his mind to meditate on holy things, yet sometimes it wandered to thoughts which he had been accustomed to dwell upon before."
"While perusing the life of Our Lord and the saints, he began to reflect, saying to himself: “What if I should do what St. Francis did?” “What if I should act like St. Dominic?” He pondered over these things in his mind, and kept continually proposing to himself serious and difficult things. He seemed to feel a certain readiness for doing them, with no other reason except this thought: “St. Dominic did this; I, too, will do it.” “St. Francis did this; therefore I will do it.”
•Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), while raised in the Jewish faith, she distanced herself from all religion in young adulthood. She pursued worldly knowledge and became an atheist philosopher. This intellectual journey led her to explore Christian writings, such as the New Testament and St. Ignatius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. However, her head and heart were captivated by the Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, which began her journey to the Catholic Church. One evening Edith picked up St. Teresa's book and was reading it all night;
“When I had finished the book, I said to myself: This is the truth.”
#spiritualreading
Ecce Verbum
The necessity of spiritual reading "Don’t neglect your spiritual reading. Reading has made many saints." Saint Josemaría Escrivá, The Way The great conversions: •St. Augustine was born in 354 AD in Africa. His mother, St. Monica, was a devout Christian…
The necessity of spiritual reading
"..he who wishes often to be with God ought to pray frequently and read pious books."
St. Augustine
"The lack that comes for souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder.
What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection."
"Don't consider me too demanding if I ask you once again to set great store by holy books and read them as much as you can. This spiritual reading is as necessary to you as the air you breathe."
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
"As the reading of bad books fills the mind with worldly and poisonous sentiments; so, on the other hand, the reading of pious works fills the soul with holy thoughts and good desires."
"But before all, the Apostle prescribed spiritual reading to Timothy. Attend unto reading. Mark the word Attend, which signifies that, although Timothy, as being bishop, was greatly occupied with the care of his flock, still the Apostle wished him to apply to the reading of holy books, not in a passing way and for a short time, but regularly and for a considerable time."
"The reading of spiritual works is as profitable as the reading of bad books is noxious. As the former has led to the conversion of many sinners, so the latter is every day the ruin of many young persons. The first author of pious books is the Spirit of God; but the author of pernicious writings is the devil, who often artfully conceals from certain persons the poison that such works contain, and makes these persons believe that the reading of such books is necessary in order to speak well, and to acquire a knowledge of the world for their own direction, or at least in order to pass the time agreeably (...) Wise author has said that by the reading of such pernicious books heresy has made, and makes every day, great progress; because such reading has given and gives increased strength to libertinism."
St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Spiritual reading and prayer purify the intellect, while love and self-control purify the soul's passible aspect.
St. Thalassios the Libyan
"What need have you of seeking for a little gold in the midst of so much mire," when you can read pious books in which you may find all gold without any mire?
St. Jerome
The crafty enemies of the Church and human society attempt to seduce the people in many ways. One of their chief methods is the misuse of the new technique of book-production. They are wholly absorbed in the ceaseless daily publication and proliferation of impious pamphlets, newspapers and leaflets which are full of lies, calumnies and seduction. Furthermore, under the protection of the Bible Societies which have long since been condemned by this Holy See, they distribute to the faithful under the pretext of religion, the holy bible in vernacular translations. Since these infringe the Church's rules, they are consequently subverted and most daringly twisted to yield a vile meaning. So you realize very well what vigilant and careful efforts you must make to inspire in your faithful people an utter horror of reading these pestilential books. Remind them explicitly with regard to divine scripture that no man, relying on his own wisdom, is able to claim the privilege of rashly twisting the scriptures to his own meaning in opposition to the meaning which holy mother Church holds and has held.
Pope Pius IX
Notes:
The purpose of spiritual reading is not to merely finish a book. The books that aid the soul are not to be finished but absorbed, i.e. benefitted from. Such books are meant to be lived.
In order to perfect our life, it is necessary to perfect our knowledge and frequently return to books we read when we can further benefit from them. Spiritual reading serves to make us see the stains that infect the soul, and helps us to remove them.
#spiritualreading
"..he who wishes often to be with God ought to pray frequently and read pious books."
St. Augustine
"The lack that comes for souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder.
What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection."
"Don't consider me too demanding if I ask you once again to set great store by holy books and read them as much as you can. This spiritual reading is as necessary to you as the air you breathe."
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
"As the reading of bad books fills the mind with worldly and poisonous sentiments; so, on the other hand, the reading of pious works fills the soul with holy thoughts and good desires."
"But before all, the Apostle prescribed spiritual reading to Timothy. Attend unto reading. Mark the word Attend, which signifies that, although Timothy, as being bishop, was greatly occupied with the care of his flock, still the Apostle wished him to apply to the reading of holy books, not in a passing way and for a short time, but regularly and for a considerable time."
"The reading of spiritual works is as profitable as the reading of bad books is noxious. As the former has led to the conversion of many sinners, so the latter is every day the ruin of many young persons. The first author of pious books is the Spirit of God; but the author of pernicious writings is the devil, who often artfully conceals from certain persons the poison that such works contain, and makes these persons believe that the reading of such books is necessary in order to speak well, and to acquire a knowledge of the world for their own direction, or at least in order to pass the time agreeably (...) Wise author has said that by the reading of such pernicious books heresy has made, and makes every day, great progress; because such reading has given and gives increased strength to libertinism."
St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Spiritual reading and prayer purify the intellect, while love and self-control purify the soul's passible aspect.
St. Thalassios the Libyan
"What need have you of seeking for a little gold in the midst of so much mire," when you can read pious books in which you may find all gold without any mire?
St. Jerome
The crafty enemies of the Church and human society attempt to seduce the people in many ways. One of their chief methods is the misuse of the new technique of book-production. They are wholly absorbed in the ceaseless daily publication and proliferation of impious pamphlets, newspapers and leaflets which are full of lies, calumnies and seduction. Furthermore, under the protection of the Bible Societies which have long since been condemned by this Holy See, they distribute to the faithful under the pretext of religion, the holy bible in vernacular translations. Since these infringe the Church's rules, they are consequently subverted and most daringly twisted to yield a vile meaning. So you realize very well what vigilant and careful efforts you must make to inspire in your faithful people an utter horror of reading these pestilential books. Remind them explicitly with regard to divine scripture that no man, relying on his own wisdom, is able to claim the privilege of rashly twisting the scriptures to his own meaning in opposition to the meaning which holy mother Church holds and has held.
Pope Pius IX
Notes:
The purpose of spiritual reading is not to merely finish a book. The books that aid the soul are not to be finished but absorbed, i.e. benefitted from. Such books are meant to be lived.
In order to perfect our life, it is necessary to perfect our knowledge and frequently return to books we read when we can further benefit from them. Spiritual reading serves to make us see the stains that infect the soul, and helps us to remove them.
#spiritualreading
Ecce Verbum
The necessity of spiritual reading "..he who wishes often to be with God ought to pray frequently and read pious books." St. Augustine "The lack that comes for souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder. What power spiritual reading has…
Study, so you may be doers of the Word
Once when the Brethren asked whether it were his will that the clerks that had been already received into the Order should devote themselves unto the study of Holy Scripture, he made answer: “It is indeed my will, yet for so long alone as they follow the example of Christ, Who, we read, prayed more than He read, and for so long as they do not lose their zeal for prayer, nor study only that they may know how they ought to speak; rather let them study that they may be doers of the word, and, when they have done it, may set forth unto others what they too should do.
St. Bonaventure, The Life of St. Francis
#spiritualreading
Once when the Brethren asked whether it were his will that the clerks that had been already received into the Order should devote themselves unto the study of Holy Scripture, he made answer: “It is indeed my will, yet for so long alone as they follow the example of Christ, Who, we read, prayed more than He read, and for so long as they do not lose their zeal for prayer, nor study only that they may know how they ought to speak; rather let them study that they may be doers of the word, and, when they have done it, may set forth unto others what they too should do.
St. Bonaventure, The Life of St. Francis
#spiritualreading
Ecce Verbum
Study, so you may be doers of the Word Once when the Brethren asked whether it were his will that the clerks that had been already received into the Order should devote themselves unto the study of Holy Scripture, he made answer: “It is indeed my will, yet…
Spiritual reading
"Let devotion accompany all your studies. Study less to make yourself learned than to become a saint."
"Consult God more than your books, and ask him, with humility, to make you understand what you read."
St. Vincent Ferrer
"Knowledge must precede love, and only when she has attained love, can she strive to follow and to clothe herself with the truth."
The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena
Notes:
•Many become neither holy nor learned, because true learning doesn't consist in seeking one's own glory in excessive study, but in the science of the saints; that is to say, in knowing how to love Jesus and your neighbor.
#spiritualreading
"Let devotion accompany all your studies. Study less to make yourself learned than to become a saint."
"Consult God more than your books, and ask him, with humility, to make you understand what you read."
St. Vincent Ferrer
"Knowledge must precede love, and only when she has attained love, can she strive to follow and to clothe herself with the truth."
The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena
Notes:
•Many become neither holy nor learned, because true learning doesn't consist in seeking one's own glory in excessive study, but in the science of the saints; that is to say, in knowing how to love Jesus and your neighbor.
#spiritualreading
Ecce Verbum
The necessity of spiritual reading "..he who wishes often to be with God ought to pray frequently and read pious books." St. Augustine "The lack that comes for souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder. What power spiritual reading has…
How to acquire knowledge
A letter of St. Thomas to Brother John
Because you have asked me, my brother John, most dear to me in Christ, how to set about acquiring the treasure of knowledge, this is the advice I pass on to you:
That you should choose to enter by the small rivers, and not go right away into the sea, because you should move from easy things to difficult things.
Such is therefore my advice on your way of life:
1. I suggest you be slow to speak, and slow to go to the room where people chat.
2. Embrace purity of conscience; do not stop making time for prayer.
3. Love to be in your room frequently, if you wish to be led to the wine cellar.*
* This reference to the "wine cellar" is actually a reference to Bernard's commentary on the Canticle of Canticles, and signifies the place of wisdom.
4. Show yourself to be likable to all, or at least try; but do not show yourself as too familiar with anyone; because too much familiarity breeds contempt, and will slow you in your studies; and do not get involved in any way in the deeds and words of worldly people.
5. Above all, avoid idle conversation; do not forget to follow the steps of holy and approved men.
6. Never mind who says what, but commit to memory what is said that is true.
7. Work to understand what you read, and make yourself sure of doubtful points.
8. Put whatever you can into the cupboard of your mind as if you were trying to fill a cup.
9. "Seek not the things that are higher than you."
Follow the steps of blessed Dominic, who produced useful and marvelous shoots, flowers and fruits in the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts for as long as life was his companion.
If you follow these things, you will attain to whatever you desire. Farewell.
#spiritualreading
A letter of St. Thomas to Brother John
Because you have asked me, my brother John, most dear to me in Christ, how to set about acquiring the treasure of knowledge, this is the advice I pass on to you:
That you should choose to enter by the small rivers, and not go right away into the sea, because you should move from easy things to difficult things.
Such is therefore my advice on your way of life:
1. I suggest you be slow to speak, and slow to go to the room where people chat.
2. Embrace purity of conscience; do not stop making time for prayer.
3. Love to be in your room frequently, if you wish to be led to the wine cellar.*
* This reference to the "wine cellar" is actually a reference to Bernard's commentary on the Canticle of Canticles, and signifies the place of wisdom.
4. Show yourself to be likable to all, or at least try; but do not show yourself as too familiar with anyone; because too much familiarity breeds contempt, and will slow you in your studies; and do not get involved in any way in the deeds and words of worldly people.
5. Above all, avoid idle conversation; do not forget to follow the steps of holy and approved men.
6. Never mind who says what, but commit to memory what is said that is true.
7. Work to understand what you read, and make yourself sure of doubtful points.
8. Put whatever you can into the cupboard of your mind as if you were trying to fill a cup.
9. "Seek not the things that are higher than you."
Follow the steps of blessed Dominic, who produced useful and marvelous shoots, flowers and fruits in the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts for as long as life was his companion.
If you follow these things, you will attain to whatever you desire. Farewell.
#spiritualreading