My spiritual Director during my retreat, Fr. Adam Ryan, told me about a Benedictine tradtion known as lectio continua, of which a person has several things that he reads small sections for the rest of his life. He divided it up in two different ways.
S 7 (or scripture seven) which I intend on doing exactly the way he does it.
1 Torah/Pentateuch
2. Historical writings
3. Wisdom writings
4. Prophets
5. Gospels
6. Pauline writings
7. Non-Pauline, non Gospel New Testament writings
A 8 (or Adam eight)
1. Rule of Benedict
2. Life of Anthony
3. Sayings of Desert Fathers
4. Philokalia
5. Apostolic Fathers
6. Térèse of Lisieux
7. Thomas Merton
8. Something else he couldn't remember
I don't think I'll use his eight. I've come up with the D7...but here's where I need your help...
1. Rule of Benedict (my spiritual father)
2. letters of Ignatius of Antioch
3. The Apostolic Tradition of Hypolotus
4. The Prophets/Sabbath by Abraham Joshual Heschel
5. Documents of Vatican II
6. One of the many documents of John Paul II
7. ?????
I NEED YOUR HELP!!! I can't think of a seventh reading and you cannot end on six. Six is the number of incompleteness! It is the number after five and before seven. It's a passing note. It would be like ending a symphony on the fourth in a chord...the world and my prayer needs resolution. So, either email me and offer a suggestion or leave it in the comments section below. I'll announce the winner this Friday so your time is limited!
2 comments:
Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae?
What can I say, I am taught by the Dominican Friars.
I'll keep thinking too.
Summa might not be off the mark. I might have to second it although I haven't read it.
To be more broad...what about in general, the Church Fathers? St. Justin Martyr, St. Iraneus, St. Clemens, St. Ignatius?
Otherwise, St. Justin Martyr's "Apologia" could keep you busy for a lifetime.
Or St. Augustine's "Confessions" or "City of God" (his writings in general"
Glad to see JPII on your list...you have no idea how he has "directed" me just in a 1 credit class I took this semester. (My first grad theology class).
I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, and their works are deep enough to keep you busy for a long time.
If I think of anything else I'll stop by again..in any case, I look forward to your choice!
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