Artist: Pieter JanssensImage from Wikimedia Commons
I particularly value the observation here that spiritual reading helps us cultivate adoration. I have found this to be true. I would also assert that spiritual reading helps us experience ourselves as members of the community of the lovers of God. We are, indeed, surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses" and, not only that, we are part of that cloud:
Spiritual reading is a regular, essential part of the life of prayer, and particularly is it the support of adoring prayer. It is important to increase our sense of God's richness and wonder by reading what his great lovers have said about him.
Ellie, I would absolutely love to hear some names of books that you have found especially helpful - I realise it would be an extensive list if you went into it thoroughly, but even a couple of titles you may have recently read would be good. I did read Evelyn Underhill on mysticism myself, though that was years ago now.
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm so slow with this, Cathy. Yes, there's quite a list but let me start off with the following:
ReplyDeleteChristian Zen by William Johnston
When the Well Runs Dry by Thomas Green
New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton
Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr
The Laughter of God: At Ease With Prayer by Miriam Pollard
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Classics:
The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila
The Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross.