“You will not see anyone who is truly striving after his spiritual advancement who is not given to spiritual reading.”
~St. Athanasius of Alexandria
Reflection:
While St. Athanasius’s (c. 296–298 – 2 May 373) declaration that all serious spiritual seekers are also devoted spiritual readers may be hyperbole, — historically speaking, in spite of the development of the printing press in the 15th century, literacy was not as ubiquitous as it is today until the 18th and 19th centuries when books became more easily accessible and public education became free and compulsory — it remains a standard for which we who are serious about spiritual growth should strive, as well as a reminder that we must take a role of active participation in our own spiritual progress.
Reading the works of the saints, mystics, and theologians, as well as spiritual literature, poetry, and especially Scripture, is a great way to focus our attention on God and the various ways he has revealed himself to our predecessors and peers. Spiritual reading is a form of prayer, a means by which we can commune with God and his people across the ages. It has been said that a person is the average of the five people they associate with most frequently (often attributed to Jim Rohn). One could do much worse than to be the average of people like Moses, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Ignatius Loyola, Thomas Merton, and Jesus himself, to name a few, all of whom are accessible to us whenever we want, if only we are willing to pick up a book.
~Robert Van Valkenburgh
Question for Meditation:
In what ways is my commitment to spiritual reading, or lack thereof, helping or hindering my progress toward deeper intimacy with God?
Related Scripture:
“Attend to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.” — 1 Timothy 4:13 (NRSV)
Further Reading:
If you enjoyed this post, here’s a post exploring prayer as fundamental to spiritual formation and growth, which complements the theme of engaging the life of the Spirit through disciplined practices like spiritual reading: Why is Prayer the First Step Towards Transforming a Broken World
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