For the past several blog posts I've been listing books recommended by James M. Russell's Spiritual Classics. I have not included in my listings all the books he includes in his collection; my listings and comments are not meant to be a summary of his work. Also, I'm not sure I can heartily recommend Russell's book as an introduction to these works; his point of view is too often foreign to mine. I am however glad that I am reviewing this work and that I have learned of a few more "spiritual classics" I hadn't previously encountered.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Teresa, mystic and reformer
The Interior Castle
by Teresa of Avila
1577
Read also: The Life of Saint Teresa.
Teresa was a mystic and a reformer. To some, this seems a mystery to be resolved. To me, one gives veracity to the other, much like faith and works. "Faith without works is dead." And works without faith is futile vanity.
by Teresa of Avila
1577
Read also: The Life of Saint Teresa.
Teresa was a mystic and a reformer. To some, this seems a mystery to be resolved. To me, one gives veracity to the other, much like faith and works. "Faith without works is dead." And works without faith is futile vanity.
Friday, April 20, 2012
The Way of a Pilgrim
written in the 19th century
by an anonymous writer, (Russian traveler? Greek monk?), someone fairly knowledgeable.
Setting is Russia.
Ideas taken from Orthodox Christian tradition, particularly the Philokalia, which advocates the ideas of hesychasm;
Focus of The Way of a Pilgrim is prayer, constant prayer, particularly using "the Jesus Prayer" as a mantra.
The experiences described by the Pilgrim is resonant of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.
J.D. Salinger used The Way of a Pilgrim in his Fanny and Zooey.
This sounds like a book I would enjoy reading immensely.
written in the 19th century
by an anonymous writer, (Russian traveler? Greek monk?), someone fairly knowledgeable.
Setting is Russia.
Ideas taken from Orthodox Christian tradition, particularly the Philokalia, which advocates the ideas of hesychasm;
Focus of The Way of a Pilgrim is prayer, constant prayer, particularly using "the Jesus Prayer" as a mantra.
The experiences described by the Pilgrim is resonant of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.
J.D. Salinger used The Way of a Pilgrim in his Fanny and Zooey.
This sounds like a book I would enjoy reading immensely.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Little Flowers
from Russell's Spiritual Classics:
The Little Flowers of St. Francis
Who: Anonymous
What: stories of Saint Francis and others of his "motley crew" !
Where: Italy
When: 14th century
How: originally in Umbrian?
Why: accounts of the early Franciscan movement
As regards St. Francis, I've only yet read Chesterton's work. I look forward to getting a copy of the Little Flowers; I'm sure I will treasure it. There are many editions from which to choose!
The Little Flowers of St. Francis
Who: Anonymous
What: stories of Saint Francis and others of his "motley crew" !
Where: Italy
When: 14th century
How: originally in Umbrian?
Why: accounts of the early Franciscan movement
As regards St. Francis, I've only yet read Chesterton's work. I look forward to getting a copy of the Little Flowers; I'm sure I will treasure it. There are many editions from which to choose!
Cloudy
more from Russell's Spiritual Classics (see my last two posts)
The Cloud of Unknowing
Who: Anonymous, an English Monk?, possibly a Carthusian
What: spiritual guidebook, including translations of other religious texts ( such as Dionysius the Areopagite, a 5th c. Syrian); a statement of apophatic mysticism
When: 14th century
Where: England?
How: original in English?
Why: to approach God in prayer through love rather than rationality
Influenced: Meister Eckhart, St. John of the Cross, some Trappist monks, Spinoza?, Kant, Kierkegaard
Hmm... My experience of God is so grace-filled, so "in my face," that I am moved to approach God w/ the complete trust of a loved child, and because of this grace (where-in I KNOW I am loved), I approach God as One Who Knows Me and One Who Can Be Known because our communion is already in the flow of God's Love.
I would like to study this work someday; however, I'm not very attracted to the idea of the unknowableness of God. I rather believe God makes Himself Knowable through Love. And this is the best kind of knowing!!! :)
The Cloud of Unknowing
Who: Anonymous, an English Monk?, possibly a Carthusian
What: spiritual guidebook, including translations of other religious texts ( such as Dionysius the Areopagite, a 5th c. Syrian); a statement of apophatic mysticism
When: 14th century
Where: England?
How: original in English?
Why: to approach God in prayer through love rather than rationality
Influenced: Meister Eckhart, St. John of the Cross, some Trappist monks, Spinoza?, Kant, Kierkegaard
Hmm... My experience of God is so grace-filled, so "in my face," that I am moved to approach God w/ the complete trust of a loved child, and because of this grace (where-in I KNOW I am loved), I approach God as One Who Knows Me and One Who Can Be Known because our communion is already in the flow of God's Love.
I would like to study this work someday; however, I'm not very attracted to the idea of the unknowableness of God. I rather believe God makes Himself Knowable through Love. And this is the best kind of knowing!!! :)
Augustine's City of God
more from Spiritual Classics, ed. Russell
City of God
Who: Augustine of Hippo
when: early 5th century
Where: north Africa? Rome?
How: original in Latin
Why: encourage readers to keep their eyes and hearts fixed on the City of God regardless of any temptations or trials
I read Augustine's Confessions quite a while ago, but never read his City of God. Russell suggests Augustine is a "difficult read but intriguing read" for the "modern reader," but I think he sounds timely! When are we without trials and temptations?
City of God
Who: Augustine of Hippo
when: early 5th century
Where: north Africa? Rome?
How: original in Latin
Why: encourage readers to keep their eyes and hearts fixed on the City of God regardless of any temptations or trials
I read Augustine's Confessions quite a while ago, but never read his City of God. Russell suggests Augustine is a "difficult read but intriguing read" for the "modern reader," but I think he sounds timely! When are we without trials and temptations?
Desert Fathers
Spiritual Classics; the thinking person's guide to great spiritual books
edited by James M. Russell
Magpie Books. London
copyright 2009
Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Latin name: Apophthegmata Patrum
Time-frame: 3rd/ 4th centuries
Locale: desert regions of Egypt
Original Source(s): passed down from the Coptic Church
"The basic idea of the fathers -- that we can ascend to God through a mixture of self-sacrifice, abstinence, and meditation leading to spiritual progress -- became a fundamental model of Christian practice that is still influential today."
Collections:
Amazon lists over 1,000 collections edited by various writers; some of the 1,000 being multiple versions of one editor.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_16/185-7735205-4355945?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sayings+of+the+desert+fathers&sprefix=Sayings+of+the+d%2Caps%2C330#/ref=sr_pg_1?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Asayings+of+the+desert+fathers&keywords=sayings+of+the+desert+fathers&ie=UTF8&qid=1334003114
Here is one of Merton's.
I'm not sure how I will choose my edition!!! I always lean toward's Merton, but each collection has a unique vantage point.
edited by James M. Russell
Magpie Books. London
copyright 2009
Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Latin name: Apophthegmata Patrum
Time-frame: 3rd/ 4th centuries
Locale: desert regions of Egypt
Original Source(s): passed down from the Coptic Church
"The basic idea of the fathers -- that we can ascend to God through a mixture of self-sacrifice, abstinence, and meditation leading to spiritual progress -- became a fundamental model of Christian practice that is still influential today."
Collections:
Amazon lists over 1,000 collections edited by various writers; some of the 1,000 being multiple versions of one editor.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_16/185-7735205-4355945?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sayings+of+the+desert+fathers&sprefix=Sayings+of+the+d%2Caps%2C330#/ref=sr_pg_1?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Asayings+of+the+desert+fathers&keywords=sayings+of+the+desert+fathers&ie=UTF8&qid=1334003114
Here is one of Merton's.
I'm not sure how I will choose my edition!!! I always lean toward's Merton, but each collection has a unique vantage point.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)