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Frantically Trying to Fit in All the Spiritual Stuff?
I once told a spiritual adviser that I really liked Thomas a’Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ. He shook his head a bit and said he preferred to read Thomas Aquinas. He said he found the profound truths of, say, the Summa Theologica more moving spiritually than devotional works.
I tried it myself. I think he had a point.
But the point I really came away with?
To each their own.
This new book by Vicki Burbach about spiritual reading reminded me of this. I’ve long been a fan of spiritual reading, but I’ve long struggled with what place to give it in my life.
Let’s face it: Catholic spirituality is wholly impractical. Here’s a list (not exhaustive) of things that priests or books have counseled me to do every day:
Spiritual reading
Scripture reading
Praying (adoration, repentance, thanksgiving, petition)
Mass
The Rosary
Meditation
The Morning Offering
The Examen
On top of those, there’s a host of other recommended things, though not necessary quotidian: Eucharistic Adoration, corporal acts of mercy, spiritual act of mercy…
