Spiritual reading

Spiritual reading may be a practice of reading books and articles about spirituality with the aim of growing in holiness.


Spiritual readings are dedicated to the reading of lives of saints, writings of Doctors and therefore the Fathers of the Church, theological works written by holy people, and doctrinal writings of Church authorities. It is different from Lectio Divina which focuses on the bible.


The biblical basis is St. Paul's advice Attend to reading which meant that Timothy his disciple should apply to the reading of holy books, not during a passing way and for a short time but regularly and for a substantial time said that St. Alphonsus Liguori of the Catholic Church on Moral theology and Bernard of Clairvaux said that spiritual reading and prayer are the arms by which hell is conquered and paradise won.


The biblical basis of this practice is St. Paul's advice to his disciple Timothy whom he appointed . St. Paul told him to Attend reading. The word attends an allusion to the various other concerns that a bishop has got to attend to. By this, consistent with St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church on Moral theology, Paul wished him to use the reading of holy books not during a passing way and for a short time but regularly and for a substantial time.

The Fathers of the Church recommended this practice and Jerome says that once we pray we speak to God but once we read God speaks to us. St. Ambrose of Milan says the same: We address him once we pray we hear him once we read.

Prayer is the arms by which hell is conquered and paradise won and St. Jose explained that spiritual reading builds up a store of fuel. It looks like a lifeless heap but I often find that my memory of its own accord will draw from its material which fills my prayer with life and inflames my thanksgiving after Communion.


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