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The Monastery Of The Heart - 26 Epilogue
The Monastery Of The Heart - 26 Epilogue
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Epilogue As we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.” Benedictine spirituality is not a spiritual practice that waxes and wanes, comes and goes, as we grow and chan
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 1 Introduction
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 1 Introduction
by Christine Valters Painter
INTRODUCTION They can be like a sun, words. They can do for the heart what light can for a field. —John of the Cross, Love Poems from God In October 2009 I was on pilgrimage in Ireland. We were visiting Glendalough, the ruins of an ancient Celtic monastic community founded by St.
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 4 THE ROLE OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 4 THE ROLE OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
by Christine Valters Painter
THE ROLE OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE In his book Worship and Spirituality, theologian Don Saliers describes spirituality as “our embodied humanity fully alive before God and neighbour, stretched by story, stretched by touch, stretched by song, stretched by eating and drinking, bathing,
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 5 “GIVE ME A WORD”
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 5 “GIVE ME A WORD”
by Christine Valters Painter
“GIVE ME A WORD” What is a sacred text? Traditionally it comes from a collection of authorized religious writings, such as the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. The desert mothers and fathers believed that God spoke to them directly and intimately through the words of the Bible, w
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 2 Beginning Our Exploration of Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 2 Beginning Our Exploration of Lectio Divina
by Christine Valters Painter
Beginning Our Exploration of Lectio Divina SACRED READING Listening for a Sacred Word Give me a small line of verse from time to time, oh God, and if I cannot write it down for lack of paper or light, then let me address it softly in the evening to your Great Heaven… Taken from L
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 7 SAVOURING SACRED TEXT
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 7 SAVOURING SACRED TEXT
by Christine Valters Painter
SAVOURING SACRED TEXT In the previous chapter I focused on lectio, the first movement of lectio divina, which includes the dynamics of settling and shimmering— preparing yourself to enter the deep silence of the heart and then listen for the word or phrase from the sacred text th
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 9 THE GIFT OF BEING
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 9 THE GIFT OF BEING
by Christine Valters Painter
THE GIFT OF BEING The fourth movement of lectio is called contemplatio, which is Latin for “contemplation.” While the whole process of lectio divina is considered contemplative prayer, contemplatio is the culmination of the previous three movements and the time when we enter more
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 8 SUMMONING YOUR TRUE SELF
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 8 SUMMONING YOUR TRUE SELF
by Christine Valters Painter
SUMMONING YOUR TRUE SELF In the previous chapter I focused on meditatio, the second movement of lectio divina, which immerses us in an experience of savouring the sacred words, listening for what they stir within us, and then making room to welcome in our feelings. In this chapte
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 10 VISIO DIVINA
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 10 VISIO DIVINA
by Christine Valters Painter
VISIO DIVINA The four movements of lectio create a sacred rhythm that nurtures our ability to experience God’s presence in the world around us. As we grow in our ability to become present to God in our prayer, this awareness begins to spill over into our daily lives. We may disco
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 12 NATURE AS SACRED TEXT
Lectio Divina the Sacred Art - 12 NATURE AS SACRED TEXT
by Christine Valters Painter
NATURE AS SACRED TEXT Every being is praising God The fire has its flame and praises God. The wind blows the flame and praises God. In the voice we hear the word which praises God. And the word, when heard, praises God. So all of creation is a song of praise to God… Taken from Le
The Living God - God as a person: four insights
The Living God - God as a person: four insights
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
A personal God: love and faithfulness 2 God as a person: four insights Appreciating that God is personal is central to a right understanding of the creeds. Let’s look at four insights that will help us grasp this more fully. First, in speaking of God as a person we’re making it c
The Monastery Of The Heart - 13 Good Work
The Monastery Of The Heart - 13 Good Work
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Good Work “When they live by the labour of their hands, then they are really monastics.” Prayer and contemplation, Benedict is clear, are no substitute for work. Nor are they an excuse to detach ourselves from the holy act of human responsibility for making the world go round… Ta
The Monastery Of The Heart - 17 Hospitality
The Monastery Of The Heart - 17 Hospitality
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Hospitality “Once guests have been announced, meet them with all the courtesy of love.” It is possible, of course, to make community out of “our kind of people,” out of people who look like us and think like us and have the same backgrounds we do… Taken from The Monastery Of The
The Monastery Of The Heart - 14 Co-Creation
The Monastery Of The Heart - 14 Co-Creation
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Co-Creation “Regard all utensils and goods of the monastery as sacred vessels of the altar.” Benedictine spirituality is a sacramental spirituality. It holds all things-the earth and all its goods-as sacred… Taken from The Monastery Of The Heart by Joan Chittister
The Monastery Of The Heart - 19 Conversion of Heart
The Monastery Of The Heart - 19 Conversion of Heart
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Conversion of Heart “It is high time for us to arise from sleep.” Every life is one long list of defining moments: At one moment, we discover that what we have done with our lives to this point is not really what we are meant to do… Taken from The Monastery Of The Heart by Joan C
Great Christian Thinkers - 37 St. Boniface, Apostle of The Germans
Great Christian Thinkers - 37 St. Boniface, Apostle of The Germans
by SPCK - Pope Benedict XVI
St. Boniface, Apostle of The Germans We reflect here on a great eighth-century missionary who spread Christianity in central Europe—indeed, also in my own country: St. Boniface, who has gone down in history as “the Apostle of the Germans.”… Taken from Great Christian Thinkers by
The Monastery Of The Heart - 22 Spiritual Tools
The Monastery Of The Heart - 22 Spiritual Tools
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Spiritual Tools “These are the tools of the spiritual craft.” Benedictine spirituality is clear: Beware the spirituality, the Rule implies, that lacks balance, that lacks the fullness of the spiritual life, that revolves around mystique and mystery, around esoteric ritual or secr
The Monastery Of The Heart - 25 Peace