Saturday, October 24, 2009

Spiritual Reading and Practices

To keep the spark going in my spiritual life, I try not to fall into routine and am always switching up on spiritual reading, novena's, practices and prayers. Except the Rosary - of course - which is a mainstay.

In the last month or so, I had been thinking of either doing the St. Louis DeMontefort Consecration or St. Teresa of Avila's spiritual practice of the seven mansions of the soul. I've done both of these before (and did the St. Louis DeMontefort Consecration for many years in a row) but haven't visited these practices for years.

Both are very intense, both in effort and fruits they bring and it seemed I never really had the time in the past five or so years.

Last weekend, I made my twice a month visit to the bookstore to pick up reading materials and fate played a hand into my choice. Barnes and Noble at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham has several bargain tables (usually 7 dollars and under) I customarily rummage through - and I found "Entering the Castle An Inner Path to God and Your Soul by Caroline Myss. I thought (and hoped) of St. Teresa when I read the title but cynic in me picked it up and expected new age crap. I gave it my 30 second look through a few pages and was pleasantly surprised to find it was a guide to St. Teresa's spiritual practices.

I'm absolutely loving being connected to this spiritual practice again and the book is a phenomenal tour guide. It's easy reading, filled with insight to navigating the conscience, the soul and the ego to meditative prayer and connecting with the voice of the Holy Spirit.

If you're looking for some soul food, this book comes highly recommended.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Carol. I'd also recommend "Abandonment to Divine Providence," which I know is the path to peace (although I'm still unwilling to let go of my own self.) Spiritual practices are the only things that can keep good Catholics sane these days, I think.

Faith said...

Sounds good. Have you tried "A Retreat with Catherine of Siena," by St. Anthony Messenger Press? You remind me of St. Catherine of Siena. You might try "Catherine of Siena: Spiritual Development in Her Life and Teaching. Catherine's Dialogue is difficult because she writes of her personal experience, her images, and her spirituality, "Catherine of Siena: Spiritual Development in Her Life and Teaching," by Thomas McDermott, OP is good reading.
A good web site on St. Catherine of Siena is http://www.drawnbylove.com/ It's a mother lode of info.

TTC said...

Thank you both for the great recommendations. I'll put them on my list!

Faith - Most people don't know this - but for many, many years, I sat quietly in front of the Eucharist and had more of a St. Teresa of the Little Flower groove going on. I like that calling so much better. Somewhere in the atonement line, I pulled the short straw! Some day, I hope I burn off enough of my sins that I'm allowed to go back!