 Conception Seminary college Conception, Missouri |
Recommended Spiritual
Reading |
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Abbey
Center |
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Here are some books which I and others have found
helpful in our spiritual life. They
are not heavy-weight in the sense that they are long and theoretical.
They assume that one is not reading to have read, but
in order to reflect upon and pray over, so as to apply to one’s
life and come to a better appreciation of the wonderful working of
God’s grace in one’s life. |
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If
you would be interested in sharing books that you have found helpful in
your spiritual life, we would be happy to include them as part of this
list. We ask for the title, author, publisher, date and, in a sentence
or two, why you found the book helpful or to what it relates. Please
send your recommendations to communications@conception.edu. Dwight Longenecker, Listen My Son -St. Benedict for Fathers (Morehouse Publishing Co., October, 2000). This book might be of particular interest to our lay alumni. From the forward: "It is no wonder that Pope Paul VI named St. Benedict the patron of Europe. He saw that in Benedict's Rule were the foundations of a civilization of love. In the Rule, Benedict called his brother monks not only to obedience to the rightful authority but also to mutual obedience, based on their love for one another. This is the love which Christ has for us since he was sent 'not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' This same mutual self-giving love is at the heart of the Christian marriage, and the Christian home. When it begins to live there, it spreads outward to the whole of society." The author has provided a daily commentary on the Rule of Benedict for fathers. (Submitted by Fr. Reginald Sanders, OSB) Philip Schuster, Seeking
God’s Will Through Faith,
Hope and Charity, Conception,
Missouri: The Printery House,
2000, 144 pp. The author, a priest for more than fifty years, believes
that God has a plan for each of our lives, and Fr. Philip makes a good
argument to convince us. God
forms us in his image by the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
We can respond to his love by discovering his will for us.
Sometimes his will means carrying the cross – but always it is
carrying the cross not alone but with him.
I recommend this no-nonsense book. (Abbot James Jones, OSB) Maria Boulding, Gateway to Hope
(Petersham, MA., St. Bede’s Publications, 1985). Maria Boulding
is a Benedictine nun of Stanbrook Abbey in England. Her book, subtitled,
“An Exploration of Failure,” is
a fine grounding in spiritual theology. It
is good especially for those in the throes of, or who have passed
through, midlife! (150 pages) Segundo Galilea, Temptation and Discernment
(Washington, DC: Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1996).
This is a good little book (80 pages) on the practical
difficulties which can occur in trying to put together prayer and
ministry – a variation of the deeper themes of contemplation and
action. Its author is a priest of
the archdiocese of Santiago, Chile. It
was recommended to me by alumnus Fr.
Joseph Cisetti of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph (Pre-theology, 85-87). Johannes Baptist Metz, Poverty of Spirit
(Paulist Press, paperback, revised ed., 1998; tr. by John Drury).
Many of our readers will recognize this fine little work from its
1968 edition. The more recent edition is, to the best of my knowledge,
gender inclusive. If you are
looking for something on that very illusive subject of humility, this is
an excellent, back-door approach, straight out of the Gospels. Jean Vanier, The
Scandal of Service (Toronto,
Ontario: Novalis, 1996, 86pp.). The
founder of L’Arche communities where people live with and serve the
handicapped, this author is well qualified to speak on this subject.
He does it in a way which easily relates to our everyday lives.
It is Gospel living not for some far off place and in some yet to
be time, but at its most immediate and down to earth. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Bro Roger of Taize, Seeking
the Heart of God – Reflections on Prayer
(San Francisco: Harper, 1991,100 pp.)
This is a collection of short, very readable, reflections.
These two, well-known people alternate their reflections and
prayers on the subject of prayer. William
Shannon, Silence on Fire (NY:
Crossroads, 1991) “A wonderful description of the power that a
contemplative approach brings to the experience of daily life – gives
a good overview of the various movements in spirituality through the
centuries.” (Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB) |
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