Spirituality Reading Plan
Here is very much a beginner’s list, as anyone well-read in Dominican spirituality can tell you. But what is Dominican spirituality?
Dominicans are quick to say that what many persons today mean by “spirituality” is a kind of concept only developed during Europe’s Renaissance — and therefore something that arises hundreds of years after the founding of the Dominican Order.
And so, do Dominicans even have a spirituality?
If by “spirituality” we mean a system or method of prayer, then yes: Dominicans do have a tradition of methods or spiritualities, although they are not presented as deriving from a kind of manual.
These books below provide (in our view) the clearest sketches of Dominican methods of prayer. It would be best to read these books in the order listed. We include Benedict XVI’s “Jesus trilogy” because the passionate study of the Word of God — Jesus Christ — is the foundation for anything spiritual, and the trilogy provides the best portrait of Christ, in our view.
Dominicans are quick to say that what many persons today mean by “spirituality” is a kind of concept only developed during Europe’s Renaissance — and therefore something that arises hundreds of years after the founding of the Dominican Order.
And so, do Dominicans even have a spirituality?
If by “spirituality” we mean a system or method of prayer, then yes: Dominicans do have a tradition of methods or spiritualities, although they are not presented as deriving from a kind of manual.
These books below provide (in our view) the clearest sketches of Dominican methods of prayer. It would be best to read these books in the order listed. We include Benedict XVI’s “Jesus trilogy” because the passionate study of the Word of God — Jesus Christ — is the foundation for anything spiritual, and the trilogy provides the best portrait of Christ, in our view.
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Stage 1
1. Paul Murray’s New Wine of Dominican Spirituality While Dominicans have long prided themselves on their intellectual tradition, that alone does not encompass the fullness of what we offer. Dominican spirituality, as our brother Fr. Paul Murray, OP, makes clear, is about the grace-filled initiative of God. This grace is what gives Dominicans their deep joy and out of which flows our contemplation and ministry. Short and easily accessible, a must read for those interested in Dominican spirituality. 2. Humbert Clerissac’s Spirit of St. Dominic Fr. Humbert Clerissac gave a series of conferecnes in 1908 to his English Dominican brothers and this work is the fruit and product of those conferences. St. Dominic and the Order he founded, Clerissac reminds us, maintain their relevancy in all times as a source of life and renewal for the Church in her pilgrim journey. Stage 2
1. Bede Jarrett's Life of Dominic A perennial classic, Bede Jarrett's biography of our Founder St. Dominic shows him within his context and times. St. Dominic, Jarret explains, was a man who was consumed with zeal for the house of the Lord and his response to the signs of the times around him shows that he was guided by the Holy Spirit in all that he preached and did. His life shows us a model for how we should all respond eagerly and with zeal to God's call. 2. Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth trilogy (link to first volume) It is our firm belief that Benedict XVI stands at the forefront of faithful exegesis and Scripture study. His Jesus trilogy is a remarkable reflection, borne from prayer, which paints for us the face of Christ. Benedict XVI utilizes the best of historical-critical methods but does so without any loss of faith. This trilogy should be found on a bookshelf in every Catholic household. Stage 3
1. Sigrid Undset’s Catherine of Siena Undset's biography of Catherine is meticulously researched with a great deal of time spent on the cultural and societal background which sets the stage for Catherine's own life and spirituality. One of the great women of the Order, and a lay woman as well, Catherine lived out the fullness of our Dominican charism through her ministry, calling even Popes to repentance and grace. She also famously urged reform within the Church. Hers was a love which came from Christ and which embraced the entire world with a burning need for their salvation. 2. Paul Murray’s Aquinas at Prayer A life of study and intellectual output but which lacks prayer is not a life. It is a tragedy. In this important work, Murray draws our attention to the deep and mystical spirit which Thomas Aquinas brought to all his labors. His was not an intellect alone but a spirit. Aquinas famously said at the end of his life that all he had written was as straw before the glory which God had shown him. Before God our intellects reach their limit and we can only turn to prayer. An essential work for integrating study and prayer into our own lives. Stage 4
1. Josef Pieper’s Silence of Thomas Aquinas While Dominicans are often considered thinkers and intellectuals, eventually we must confront something which defeats intellect: mystery. Specifically, the mystery of God. Pieper brings out to the forefront of our minds Aquinas's "apophatic" or negative theology which recognizes there are things we simply cannot say about God, the distance is too great and as such we are left in mystery and in silence. 2. A. Sertillanges’s The Intellectual Life "The wood of the desk is the wood of the Cross." A famous Dominican motto, but one which gets to the heart of our brother Sertillanges's work. While a few of his comments will appear dated, being first published before the Internet era, Sertillanges brings the great spirit of study and of learning which characterizes our Order into the realm of devotional practice. Study must be for us more than simple curiosity. Always we study for the salvation of souls and for the sake of our own holiness. Thus we must approach study in the same way we approach prayer. Sertillanges also provides numerous practical and easy to follow suggestions for building a habit of study into our lives, whatever our state in life might be. |
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