{"id":4959,"date":"2012-08-17T22:27:00","date_gmt":"2012-08-17T22:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/2012\/08\/17\/spiritual-reading\/"},"modified":"2023-05-10T02:29:30","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T02:29:30","slug":"spiritual-reading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/2012\/08\/17\/spiritual-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"Spiritual Reading"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nSt Bernard of Clairvaux said that “Spiritual reading and prayer are the arms by which hell is conquered and paradise won.”<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a>Spiritual reading
\nis devoted to the reading of lives of saints, writings of Doctors and the
\nFathers of the Church, theological works written by holy people, and doctrinal
\nwritings of Church authorities. It is different from lectio divina<\/em> which focuses on Holy Scripture.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\nAll the founders of religious orders have strongly recommended this holy exercise and most have included it in their daily horarium (timetable).  In addition to the assigned daily time for the sisters’ spiritual reading, our community is also blessed to have reading during our meals in the refectory.  This is an ancient custom, in which one of the religious reads while the others take the meals, so as to elevate their minds and hearts to God. {For those of you who might worry about the sister given this task- how will she ever last until she <\/em>gets her food too – never fear!  She does not faint out of weariness!  She is relieved half-way through the meal by the second reader, so that no sister has to read for too<\/em> long…} <\/p>\n

 In our Dominican Constitutions, it is written that “After Grace…the Lector shall read some verses from the Holy Scripture…For the remainder of the time, she shall read some instructive and edifying book chosen by the Prioress.”    This is a delightful job for a sister, but also a serious duty.  The constitutions go on to say: “The Lector must always bear in mind that she has been chosen to minister spiritual food to the Community, while they are being refreshed corporally.  <\/em>This act of charity is a privilege, and the Sister appointed must endeavour, both by careful preparation, and by clear, pleasing reading, to make the subject as profitable and intelligible as may be to the hearers.”<\/p>\n

<\/a>The opportunity for the sisters to listen to spiritual classics in the refectory is priceless.  In this way, they are able to listen to hours and hours of good books each week, that they would otherwise not have the time to read on their own.  A variety of reading is chosen and one is always interested to see what is coming next for table reading.  Just this year, our sisters have been edified by numerous books in the refectory, among others – the lives of our Holy Father St Dominic, our Holy Mother St Catherine, as well as the Angelic Doctor St Thomas Aquinas.  They have also thoroughly enjoyed such books as Merry in God, <\/em>about a saintly Jesuit in World War I, and have equally heard with pleasure A Catholic Teacher’s Guide<\/em>…  Suffice it to say, with some books it is a temptation not to wait<\/u> until the next meal to continue hearing the reading, and not<\/em><\/strong> to peek<\/em> between meals to see what happens next in the book!<\/div>\n

\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n Pope St Pius X recommended spiritual reading as a means of holiness and explains:<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n“Everyone knows the great influence that is exerted by the voice of a friend
\nwho gives candid advice, assists by his counsel, corrects, encourages and leads
\none away from error. Blessed is the man who has found a true friend; he that
\nhas found him has found a treasure. We should, then, count pious books among
\nour true friends. They solemnly remind us of our duties and of the
\nprescriptions of legitimate discipline; they arouse the heavenly voices that
\nwere stifled in our souls; they rid our resolutions of listlessness; they
\ndisturb our deceitful complacency; they show the true nature of less worthy
\naffections to which we have sought to close our eyes; they bring to light the
\nmany dangers which beset the path of the imprudent. They render all these
\nservices with such kindly discretion that they prove themselves to be not only
\nour friends, but the very best of friends. They are always at hand, constantly
\nbeside us to assist us in the needs of our souls; their voice is never harsh,
\ntheir advice is never self-seeking, their words are never timid or deceitful.”\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n<\/a> <\/strong>Spiritual reading is not just something that is useful to those who are in the convent or monastery – but is also essential for those who live in the world.  St Alphonsus explains very well the necessity of this reading, daily if possible, and the advantages <\/span>it offers to the soul.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n“To a
\nspiritual life the reading of holy books is perhaps not less useful than mental
\nprayer.<\/em><\/strong> St.
\nBernard says reading instructs us at once in prayer, and in the practice of
\nvirtue. Hence he concluded that spiritual reading and prayer are the arms
\nby which hell is conquered and paradise won. We cannot always have
\naccess to a spiritual Father for counsel in our actions, and particularly in
\nour doubts; but reading will abundantly supply his place by giving us lights
\nand directions to escape the illusions of the devil and of our own self-love,
\nand at the same time to submit to the divine will. Hence St. Athanasius used to
\nsay that we find no one devoted to the service of the Lord that did
\nnot practice spiritual reading.<\/u><\/i><\/b> Hence all the founders of religious
\nOrders have strongly recommended this holy exercise to their religious. St.
\nBenedict, among the rest, commanded that each monk should every day make a
\nspiritual reading, and that two others should be appointed to go about visiting
\nthe cells to see if all fulfilled the command; and should any monk be found
\nnegligent in the observance of this rule, the saint ordered a penance to be
\nimposed upon him. But before all, the Apostle prescribed spiritual reading to
\nTimothy. Attend unto reading<\/i>. Mark the word Attend<\/i>, which
\nsignifies that, although Timothy, as being bishop, was greatly occupied with
\nthe care of his flock, still the Apostle wished him to apply to the reading of
\nholy books, not in a passing way and for a short time, but regularly and for a
\nconsiderable time.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n\"Spiritual<\/a>The
\nreading of spiritual works is as profitable as the reading of bad books is
\nnoxious. <\/span><\/u><\/b><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAs the
\nformer has led to the conversion of many sinners, so the latter is every day
\nthe ruin of many young persons. The first author of pious books is the
\nSpirit of God<\/b>; but the author of pernicious writings is the devil<\/b>,
\nwho often artfully conceals from certain persons the poison that such works
\ncontain, and makes these persons believe that the reading of such books is
\nnecessary in order to speak well, and to acquire a knowledge of the world for
\ntheir own direction, or at least in order to pass the time agreeably. But I say
\nthat, especially for nuns, nothing is more pernicious than the reading of bad
\nbooks. And by bad books I mean not only those that are condemned by the Holy
\nSee, either because they contain heresy, or treat of subjects opposed to
\nchastity, but also all books that treat of worldly love. What fervor can a
\nreligious have if she reads romances, comedies, or profane poetry? What
\nrecollection can she have in meditation or at Communion? Can she be called the
\nspouse of Jesus Christ? Should she not rather be called the spouse of a sinful
\nworld? Even young women in the world that are in the habit of reading
\nsuch books are generally not virtuous seculars.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nBut some
\none may say, What harm is there in reading romances and profane poetry when
\nthey contain nothing immodest? Do you ask what harm? Behold the harm:
\nthe reading of such works kindles the concupiscence of the senses, and
\nawakens the passions; these easily gain the consent of the will, or at
\nleast render it so weak that when the occasion of any dangerous affection
\noccurs the devil finds the soul already prepared to allow itself to be
\nconquered. A wise author has said that by the reading of such pernicious books
\nheresy has made, and makes every day, great progress; because such reading has
\ngiven and gives increased strength to libertinism. The poison of these books
\nenters gradually into the soul; it first makes itself master of the
\nunderstanding, then infects the will, and in the end kills the soul. The
\ndevil finds no means more efficacious and secure of sending a young person to
\nperdition than the reading of such poisoned works.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nRemember
\nalso that for you certain useless books, though not bad, will be pernicious;
\nbecause they will make you lose the time that you can employ in occupations
\nprofitable to the soul.<\/span><\/b>
In a letter to his disciple Eustochium, St. Jerome<\/st1:city>
\nstated for her instruction that in his solitude at Bethlehem<\/st1:city>
\nhe was attached to the works of Cicero<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>,
\nand frequently read them, and that he felt a certain disgust for pious books
\nbecause their style was not polished. He was seized with a serious malady, in
\nwhich he saw himself at the tribunal of Jesus Christ. The Lord said to him:
\n\u201cTell me; what are you?\u201d \u201cI am,\u201d replied the saint, \u201ca Christian.\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d
\nrejoined the Judge, \u201cyou are a Ciceronian, not a Christian.\u201d He then commanded
\nhim to be instantly scourged. The saint promised to correct his fault, and
\nhaving returned from the vision he found his shoulders livid and covered with
\nwounds in consequence of the chastisement that he had received. Thenceforward
\nhe gave up the works of Cicero<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>,
\nand devoted himself to the reading of books of piety. It is true that in the
\nworks like those of Cicero we sometimes find useful sentiments; but the same
\nSt. Jerome wisely said in a letter to another disciple: \u201cWhat need have you of
\nseeking for a little gold in the midst of so much mire,\u201d when you can read
\npious books in which you may find all gold without any mire?…..  <\/span>To some the reading of books on Mystic
\nTheology may be pernicious (also); for it may incline them to seek after
\nsupernatural prayer, and to abandon the ordinary method of mental prayer by
\nconsiderations and affections: thus they may be left without one or the other.  <\/span>For no one should seek to attain the prayer
\nof contemplation unless God clearly calls him to it.  <\/span>Hence, St Teresa after death, appeared to one
\nof her nuns and directed that the Superiors should forbid<\/em><\/strong> the religious to read
\nher books of visions and revelations, saying that she had become a saint not by visions and revelations,
\nbut by the practice of virtue.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nBut let us
\nreturn to the subject, and consider the great blessings that the reading of
\nspiritual books brings to the soul.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIn the first place, as
\nthe reading of bad books fills the mind with worldly and poisonous sentiments;
\nso, on the other hand, the reading of pious works fills the soul with holy
\nthoughts<\/strong> and good desires\u2026..<\/o:p>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIn the
\nsecond place, the soul that is imbued with holy thoughts in reading is always
\nprepared to banish internal temptations.<\/span><\/b> The advice that St. Jerome<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> gave to his disciple Salvina was:
\n\u201cEndeavor to have always in your hand a pious book, that with this shield you
\nmay defend yourself against bad thoughts.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n The same St. Jerome<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>
\nrecommended Demetriade to avail herself of spiritual reading as of a mirror. He
\nmeant to say that as a mirror exhibits the stains of the countenance, so holy
\nbooks show us the defects of the soul. St. Gregory, speaking of spiritual
\nreading, says: \u201cThere we perceive the losses we have sustained and the
\nadvantages we have acquired; there we observe our falling back or our progress
\nin the way of God.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
\nIn the
\nthird place, spiritual reading serves to make us see the stains that infect the
\nsoul, and helps us to remove them.<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n
\nIn the
\nfourth place, in reading holy books we receive many lights and divine calls<\/span><\/b>. St. Jerome<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> says that when we pray we speak to
\nGod; but when we read, God speaks to us.<\/i> St. Ambrose says
\nthe same:  \u201cWe
\naddress him when we pray; we hear him when we read.\u201d <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIn
\nprayer, God hears our petitions, but in reading we listen to his voice.<\/span><\/b> We cannot, as I have already said, always
\nhave at hand a spiritual Father, nor can we hear the sermons of sacred orators,
\nto direct and give us light to walk well in the way of God. Good books supply
\nthe place of sermons. St. Augustine<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>
\nwrites that good books are, as it were, so many letters of love the Lord
\nsends us<\/b>; in them he warns us of our dangers, teaches us the way of
\nsalvation, animates us to suffer adversity, enlightens us, and inflames us with
\ndivine love. Whoever, then, desires to be saved and to acquire divine love,
\nshould often read these letters of paradise.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nHow many
\nsaints have, by reading a spiritual book, been induced to forsake the world and
\nto give themselves to God! <\/span><\/b>It is known to all that St. Augustine<\/st1:city>,
\nwhen miserably chained by his passions and vices, was, by reading one of the
\nepistles of St. Paul<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>,
\nenlightened with divine light, went forth from his darkness, and began to lead
\na life of holiness. Thus also St. Ignatius, while a soldier, by reading a
\nvolume of the lives of the saints which he accidentally took up, in order to
\nget rid of the tediousness of the bed to which he was confined by sickness, was
\nled to begin a life of sanctity, and became the Father and Founder of the
\nSociety of Jesus\u00f3an Order which has done so much for the Church. Thus also by
\nreading a pious book accidentally and almost against his will, St. John
\nColombino left the world, became a saint, and the founder of another religious
\nOrder. St. Augustine<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>
\nrelates that two courtiers of the Emperor Theodosius entered one day into a
\nmonastery of solitaries; one of them began to read the life of St. Anthony,
\nwhich he found in one of the cells; so strong was the impression made upon him,
\nthat he resolved to take leave of the world. He then addressed his companion
\nwith so much fervor that both of them remained in the monastery to serve God.
\nWe read in the Chronicles of the Discalced Carmelites that a lady in Vienna<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> was prepared to go
\nto a festivity, but because it was given up she fell into a violent passion. To
\ndivert her attention she began to read a spiritual book that was at hand, and
\nconceived such a contempt for the world, that she abandoned it and became a
\nTeresian nun. The same happened to the Duchess of Montalto, in Sicily<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>. She began also
\nby accident to read the works of St. Teresa, and afterwards continued to read
\nthem with so much fervor, that she sought and obtained her husband\u00eds consent to
\nbecome a religious, and entered among the Discalced Carmelites.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nBut the
\nreading of spiritual books has not only contributed to the conversion of
\nsaints, but has also given them during their whole life great aid to persevere
\nand to advance continually in perfection.<\/span><\/b> The glorious St. Dominic used to embrace his
\nspiritual books, and to press them to his bosom, saying, \u201cThese books give me
\nmilk.\u201d And how, except by meditation and the use of pious books, were the
\nanchorets enabled to spend to many years in the desert, at a distance from all
\nhuman society? That great servant of God, Thomas a Kempis, could not enjoy greater
\nconsolation than in remaining in a corner of his cell with a spiritual book in
\nhis hand. It has been already mentioned in this work that the Venerable Vincent
\nCarafa used to say that he could not desire a greater happiness in this world
\nthan to live in a little grotto provided with a morsel of bread and a spiritual
\nbook. St. Philip Neri devoted all the vacant hours that he could procure to the
\nreading of spiritual books, and particularly the lives of the saints.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIf you ask
\nme what book is most useful for you who are religious, above all I counsel you
\nto read the books that you find best calculated to excite your devotion, and to
\nmove you most powerfully to unite your soul to God.  <\/span>Of this character are the works of St Francis
\nde Sales, of St Teresa, of Father Granada, of Rodriguez, of St Jure, of
\nNieremberg, of Pinamonti and other similar books\u2026In general, I advise you to
\nlay aside works that are hard to be understood, and  <\/span>to read books of devotion written in a plain
\nand simple style. Be careful also to read the subjects that you know will
\ncontribute most to your perfection. Among the rest, read frequently the lives
\nof the saints\u2026<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nOh! How
\nprofitable is the reading of the lives of the saints! <\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIn books
\nof instruction we read what we are bound to do<\/span><\/b>, but in the lives of the saints we read
\nwhat so many holy men and women, who were flesh as we are, have done<\/i><\/b>.
\nHence, their example, if it produce no other fruit, will at least humble us and
\nmake us sink under the earth. In reading the great things that the saints have
\ndone, we shall certainly be ashamed of the little that we have done and still
\ndo for God. St. Augustine<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>
\nsaid of himself: \u201cMy God, the examples of Thy servants, when I meditated on
\nthem, consumed my tepidity and inflamed me with Thy holy love.\u201d Of St. Francis,
\nSt. Bonaventure writes: \u201cBy the remembrance of the saints and of their virtues,
\nas if they were so many stones of fire, he has inflamed with new love for God.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nSt. Gregory
\nalso relates that in Rome<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>
\nthere was a beggar called Servolus; he was afflicted with infirmities, and
\nlived on the alms that he collected: he gave a part to the poor, and employed
\nthe remainder in purchasing books of devotion. Servolus could not read, but he
\nengaged those whom he lodged in his little house to read for him. St. Gregory
\nsays that by listening to these spiritual readings Servolus acquired great
\npatience and a wonderful knowledge of the things of God. Finally, the saint
\nstates that at death the poor man besought his friends to read for him; but
\nbefore breathing his last he interrupted the reading, and said: \u201cBe silent, be
\nsilent, do you not hear how all paradise resounds with canticles and harmonious
\nmusic?\u201d After these words he sweetly expired. Immediately after his death a
\nmost agreeable odor was diffused over the room, in testimony of the sanctity of
\nthe beggar, who left the world poor in earthly goods, but rich in virtue and
\nmerits.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a>But to
\ndraw great fruit from spiritual reading:<\/span><\/b><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIt is,
\nin the first place<\/span><\/b>,
\nnecessary to recommend yourself beforehand to God, that he may enlighten the
\nmind while you read. It has been already said, that in spiritual reading the
\nLord condescends to speak to us; and, therefore, in taking up the book, we must
\npray to God in the words of Samuel: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth<\/i>.
\nSpeak, O my Lord, for I wish to obey Thee in all that Thou wilt make known to
\nme to be Thy will.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIn the
\nsecond place,<\/span><\/b> you
\nmust read not in order to acquire learning, nor to indulge curiosity<\/u><\/i>, but
\nfor the sole purpose of advancing in divine love.<\/b> To read for the sake of
\nknowledge is not spiritual reading, but is, at the time of spiritual reading, a
\nstudy unprofitable to the soul. It is still worse to read through curiosity.<\/b>
\nWhat profit can be expected form such reading? All the time devoted to such
\nreading is lost time. St. Gregory says that many read and read a great deal,
\nbut, because they have read only through curiosity, they finish reading as
\nhungry as if they had not been reading. Hence the saint corrected a physician
\ncalled Theodore for reading spiritual books quickly and without profit.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nTo
\nderive advantage from pious books it is necessary to read them slowly and with
\nattention.<\/span><\/b> \u201cNourish
\nyour soul,\u201d says St. Augustine<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>,
\n\u201cwith divine lectures.\u201d Now to receive nutriment from food, it must not be
\ndevoured, but well masticated. Remember, then, in the third place, that to reap
\nabundant fruit from pious reading, you must masticate and ponder well what you
\nready; applying to yourself what is there inculcated.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAnd when
\nwhat you have read has made a lively impression on you, St. Ephrem counsels you
\nto read it a second time.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nBesides,
\nwhen you receive any special light in reading, or any instruction that
\npenetrates the heart, it will be very useful to stop, and to raise the mind to
\nGod by making a good resolution, or a good act, or a fervent prayer.<\/span><\/b> St. Bernard says, that it is useful
\nthen to interrupt the reading, and to offer a prayer, and to continue to pray
\nas long as the lively impression lasts<\/i>. Let us imitate the bees, that pass
\nnot from one flower to another until they have gathered all the honey that they
\nfound in the first. This we should do, although all the time prescribed for the
\nreading should be spent in such acts; for thus the time is spent with greater
\nspiritual profit. Sometimes it may happen that you draw more fruit from reading
\na single verse than from reading an entire page.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nMoreover,
\nat the end of the reading you must select some sentiment of devotion, excited
\nby what you have read, and carry it with you as you would carry a flower from a
\ngarden of pleasure.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n~from “On Spiritual <\/strong>Reading,” <\/strong>The True Spouse of Jesus Christ<\/em> – <\/st1:place><\/st1:city>St. Alphonsus Liguori <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

St Bernard of Clairvaux said that “Spiritual reading and prayer are the arms by which hell is conquered and paradise won.” Spiritual reading is devoted to the reading of lives of saints, writings of Doctors and the Fathers of the Church, theological works written by holy people, and doctrinal writings of Church authorities. It is … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-convent-life","infinite-scroll-item","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4959"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5229,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4959\/revisions\/5229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}