SPCK
Great Christian Thinkers - 4 St. Irenaeus of Lyons
Great Christian Thinkers - 4 St. Irenaeus of Lyons
by SPCK - Pope Benedict XVI
St. Irenaeus of Lyons In reflecting on the prominent figures of the early Church, we come to the eminent personality of St. Irenaeus of Lyons. The biographical information on him comes from his own testimony, handed down to us by Eusebius in his fifth book on Church history… Take…
Great Christian Thinkers - 2 St. Ignatius of Antioch
Great Christian Thinkers - 2 St. Ignatius of Antioch
by SPCK - Pope Benedict XVI
St. Ignatius of Antioch Saint Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch, from 70 to 107, the date of his martyrdom. At that time, Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch were the three great metropolises of the Roman Empire… Taken from Great Christian Thinkers by Pope Benedict XVI
Great Christian Thinkers - 1 St Clement, Bishop of Rome
Great Christian Thinkers - 1 St Clement, Bishop of Rome
by SPCK - Pope Benedict XVI
St Clement, Bishop of Rome After the first witnesses of the Christian faith, mentioned in the New Testament writings, we find the Apostolic Fathers, that is, to the first and second generations in the Church subsequent to the Apostles. And thus, we can see where the Church’s jour…
Great Christian Thinkers - Publisher's Foreword
Great Christian Thinkers - Publisher's Foreword
by SPCK - Pope Benedict XVI
PUBLISHER’S FOREWORD It is a matter of particular pride at Fortress Press that we offer this compilation of brief portraits composed and presented by Pope Benedict XVI on key figures from Christian history… Taken from Great Christian Thinkers by Pope Benedict XVI
The Monastery Of The Heart - 26 Epilogue
The Monastery Of The Heart - 26 Epilogue
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Epilogue As we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.” Benedictine spirituality is not a spiritual practice that waxes and wanes, comes and goes, as we grow and chan…
The Monastery Of The Heart - 25 Peace
The Monastery Of The Heart - 25 Peace
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Peace Turn away from evil and do good; let peace be your quest and aim.” Over the archway of medieval monasteries were commonly carved the words Pax Intrantibus, “Peace to those who enter here.” Taken from The Monastery Of The Heart by Joan Chittister
The Monastery Of The Heart - 24 Good Zeal
The Monastery Of The Heart - 24 Good Zeal
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Good Zeal “Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God, so there is a good zeal which leads to God.” The Rule of Benedict was written in the sixth century, in an ascetical climate more given to personal self-denial than to the discipline of community bui…
The Monastery Of The Heart - 23 Sacred Art
The Monastery Of The Heart - 23 Sacred Art
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Sacred Art “They are to practice their craft with all humility.” The bond between Benedictine spirituality and art goes deep. Medieval monasteries were centres of the arts and patrons of the arts because art, as a reflection of beauty- which is itself an attribute of God- came to…
The Monastery Of The Heart - 22 Spiritual Tools
The Monastery Of The Heart - 22 Spiritual Tools
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Spiritual Tools “These are the tools of the spiritual craft.” Benedictine spirituality is clear: Beware the spirituality, the Rule implies, that lacks balance, that lacks the fullness of the spiritual life, that revolves around mystique and mystery, around esoteric ritual or secr…
The Monastery Of The Heart - 21 Humility
The Monastery Of The Heart - 21 Humility
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Humility “After ascending all these steps of humility, we will quickly arrive at the ‘perfect love’ of God which ‘casts out fear.’” In Benedictine spirituality, there is a twelve-runged ladder that leads to God… Taken from The Monastery Of The Heart by Joan Chittister
The Monastery Of The Heart - 20 Stability of Heart
The Monastery Of The Heart - 20 Stability of Heart
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Stability of Heart “Do not… run away from the road that leads to salvation.” The will of God in life does not come in straight lines, or clear signs, or certain choices… Taken from The Monastery Of The Heart by Joan Chittister
The Monastery Of The Heart - 19 Conversion of Heart
The Monastery Of The Heart - 19 Conversion of Heart
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Conversion of Heart “It is high time for us to arise from sleep.” Every life is one long list of defining moments: At one moment, we discover that what we have done with our lives to this point is not really what we are meant to do… Taken from The Monastery Of The Heart by Joan C…
The Monastery Of The Heart - 18 A Listening Heart
The Monastery Of The Heart - 18 A Listening Heart
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
A Listening Heart “Listen carefully to my instructions… and attend to them with the ear of your heart.” There is a magnet in a seeker’s heart whose true north is God. It bends toward the Voice of God with the ear of the heart and, like sunflowers in the sun, turns all of life tow…
The Monastery Of The Heart - 17 Hospitality
The Monastery Of The Heart - 17 Hospitality
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Hospitality “Once guests have been announced, meet them with all the courtesy of love.” It is possible, of course, to make community out of “our kind of people,” out of people who look like us and think like us and have the same backgrounds we do… Taken from The Monastery Of The …
The Monastery Of The Heart - 16 Responsibility
The Monastery Of The Heart - 16 Responsibility
by SPCK - Joan Chittister
Responsibility “Let everyone receive help as the size of the community or local conditions warrant.” Benedictine spirituality is communal. It never intends to create a world of isolates, even for the isolated… Taken from The Monastery Of The Heart by Joan Chittister
The Monastery Of The Heart - 15 Loving Care