VEV Recommended Reading - Spirituality
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SPIRITUALITY
All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time
Ellsberg, Robert
Spirituality/Daily resources for prayer, devotion
Saints in history who had a capacity for goodness and love, which led to true happiness.
One Step Closer: Why U2 Matters to Those Seeking God
Scharen, Christian
Spirituality Inspiration reading contemporary sources
Reflection on how U2 "fits within the longer Christian tradition of voices that point us to the cross, Jesus, and the power of God's ways in the world."
Dakota: A Spiritual Geography
Norris, Kathleen
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
Maps the cultural/spiritual life of the High Plains. Norris is a best-selling author, poet, feminist, theological conservative and Benedictine oblate.
The Cloud of Unknowing
Anonymous
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
Written by a 14th Century monk, this book is a hallmark of Western literature and spirituality, a classic on the deep mysteries of faith.
Francis of Assisi: Performing the Gospel Life
Cunningham, Lawrence
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
A Roman Catholic perspective which presents Francis as a man of the incarnation and the cross.
Les Miserables
Hugo, Victor
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/historical sources
Classic 19th Century novel that includes a hunted man, social issues like injustice, inequality, civil unrest, a relentless detective, a saintly bishop, a tragic prostitute and her innocent daughter.
The Devoted Life: An Invitation To The Puritan Classics
Gleason, Randall
Kapcic, Kelly
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
An introduction to a wide range of influential Puritan writers that pushes through the normal stereotypes to the heart and soul.
Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard
Moore, Charles (editor)
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
Best introduction to Kerkegaard.
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
Albom, Mitch
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
A journalist recounts his weekly visits with a dying teacher who was his mentor.
A Ray of Darkness: Sermons and Reflections
Williams, Rowan, Archbishop of Canterbury
Spirituality/Inspirational reading
Contemporary sources
A collection of sermons and addresses that show how faith equips for engagement with the world.
The Way Of Transition: Embracing Life's Most Difficult Moments
Bridges, William
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
An honest account of the author's own transition upon the death of his wife of 35 years from cancer.
Works of Love : Kierkegaard's Writings, Vol 16
Kierkegaard, Soren
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
Kierkegaard's most important work on religion and Christian ethics.
Wounded Prophet: A Portrait of Henri J.M. Nouwen
Ford, Michael
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
Pilgrim's Progress
Bunyan, John
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
The classic allegory of Christian life by a Baptist Puritan.
The Cloister Walk
Norris, Kathleen
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
Norris is a best-selling author, poet, feminist, theological conservative and Benedictine oblate.
Anxious Souls Will Ask: The Christ Centered Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Matthews, John
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
A brief, brilliant book that shows the prison reflections of Bonhoeffer for those who desire to walk more closely with Jesus in today's troubled world.
The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship: A Brief Introduction and Guide to Resources
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
Intentional Communtiy
His struggle for justice, wrestling with the meaning of discipleship and example as a central figure in the Confessing Church during the Nazi period, martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer became one of the most influential leaders of the 20th Century.
Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
Intentional Community
His struggle for justice, wrestling with the meaning of discipleship and example as a central figure in the Confessing Church during the Nazi period, martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer became one of the most influential leaders of the 20th Century.
Two Worlds Are Ours: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism
MacQuarrie, John
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
A historical overview of mysticism featuring some major figures.
The Forgotten Desert Mothers: Sayings, Lives, and Stories of Early Christian Women
Swan, Laura
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
A collection of sayings of the greatest of the desert mothers.
Refreshing Water from Ancient Wells: The Wisdom of Women Mystics
Penrose, Mary
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Historical sources
Excellent collection of the writings of women mystics, including short biographical sketches of each person.
In the Heart of the Desert: Revised Edition: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Treasures of the World's Religions)
Chryssavgis, John
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Historical sources
Introduction to the spirituality of the desert saints.
Invitation to Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Anthology
Tyson, John
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Historical sources
A superb collection of writings from the early Christian era to the 20th Century.
An Ignatian Spirituality Reader
Traub, George SJ
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
Spirituality/Rule of Benedict
Selections by Ignatian spirituality experts, including Howard Gray, William Berry, Dennis Hamm, Ron Hansen and others.
Confessions (Penguin Classics)
Augustine
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
One of the most moving diaries ever written about one person's journey to the fountain of God's grace. Recommended edition, NY City Press, 1997.
Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith
Norris, Kathleen
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
How Norris learned to use religious words. Norris is a best-selling author, poet, feminist, theological conservative and Benedictine oblate.
God's Beloved: A Spiritual Biography of Henri Nouwen
O'Laughlin, Michael
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
O'Laughlin, Nouwen's teaching assistant at Harvard ,who offers his keen sense of Nouwen's uniqueness.
Mere Christianity
Lewis, C.S.
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
Lewis writes that Christianity is not a religion of angels and blind faith, but of free will, an innate sense of justice, and the grace of God.
The Old Brethren: People of Wisdom and Simplicity Speak to Our Time
Lehman, James
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
A history of a particular era in the Brethren Church.
Learning to Love: Exploring Solitude and Freedom (The Journals of Thomas Merton Vol. 6)
Merton, Thomas
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
A vision of monasticism that engaged current issues.
The Seven Storey Mountain
Merton, Thomas
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
Merton’s autobiography.A vision of monasticism that engaged current issues.
Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries
Sittser, Jerry
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Historical sources
Sittser is very involved with VEV partner Krista Foundation and is a popular professor at Witworth University (Spokane). In this book, he gives a history of spirituality including practices and stories of believers who thirst for God.
Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
Merton, Thomas
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
A series of notes, opinions, reflections and experiences that examine the most urgent questions of his age.
The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
Nouwen, Henri
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources.
New Seeds of Contemplation
Merton, Thomas
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
A vision of monasticism that engaged current issues.
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Hendrickson Classic Biographies)
Bainton, Roland
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
A most readable and great biography about the man who spearheaded the Protestant Reformation.
The Imitation of Christ
A Kempis, Thomas
Spirituality/Inspirational reading/Historical sources
A 14th century classic, written in a candid and conversational style.
In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership
Nouwen, Henri
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
The Way of the Heart
Nouwen, Henri
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
Creative Ministry - Beyond professionalism in teaching, preaching, counseling, organizing, and celebrating
Nouwen, Henri
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World
Nouwen, Henri
Spirituality/Inspirational reading Contemporary sources
Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life
Linn, Dennis
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
This children's book is popular among volunteers, and shows the simple use of the Ignatian examen.
Psalms Through the Year: Spiritual Exercises for Every Day
Johnson, Marshall
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Daily devotional resources that has a one-page reading for each day from the psalms, with a prayer and space for individual petitions.
The Saints' Guide To Happiness: Everyday Wisdom From The Lives Of The Saints
Ellsberg, Robert
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
A daily reader with entries from 367 saints, from Christian and other faith traditions.
Sacred Way,Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life, 2005 publication
Jones, Tony
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Jones is a leading force the emerging church. Work is a map to the ancient-future and includes contemplative and bodily approaches to spirituality for developing a rule of life.
On Our Way: Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life
Bass, Dorothy (editor)
Briehl, Susan (editor)
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Written for people in their twenties, this book has 12 chapters/authors, including a chapter by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (New Monasticism), who writes about Living as Community. Other chapters include God's Call, Care for Creation, Loving Our Neighbors.
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
Lamont, Anne
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Honest and direct collections of autobiographical essays from a life in a world of obsession.
Conversations with Scripture and with Each Other: Spiritual Formation for Lay Leaders
Shaw, Thomas M. SSJE
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Shaw is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and a member of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. This is a practical book designed to encourage and strengthen the faith of lay leaders.
Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus (Youth Specialties)
Yaconelli, Mark
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Yaconelli is cofounder and director of Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project. This is a "how to" for creating meaningful silence and contemplative activities to recognize the presence of Jesus.
Christian Meditation
Urs von Balthasar
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
A
short work that is not a "how to" book, but reflections about Christian meditation, its experience and union with God.
Truly Present
Dahill, Lisa
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Dahill is a former Lutheran Volunteer Corps member and current assistant professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Columbus, OH). This short book introduces contemplative prayer practices to awaken one to the holiness of everyday life.
Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices
McLaren, Brian
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Part of the Ancient Practices Series edited by Phyllis Tickle, emerging church leader McLaren gives a guide for ancient practices to help experience God in new and fresh ways.
The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times: New Perspectives on the Transformative Wisdom of Ignatius of Loyola
Brackley, Dean SJ
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Spirituality/Examen
Shows that Ignatius' Examen includes not only private experience but also social and moral concerns and care for others.
The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola (Tan Classics)
Ignatius of Loyola
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Spirituality/Examen
Daily exercises to be used over a four-week period, normally under the guidance of a spiritual director.
The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way
Anonymous
Spirituality/Resources for prayer, devotion
Spirituality/Historical sources Historical sources
18th Century pilgrim teachings include the Jesus Prayer.
Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today
Chittister, Joan OSB
Spirituality/Spiritual practices/Rule of Benedict
Wise and enduring spiritual guidelines for everyday living.
Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form
Pennington, Basil
Spirituality Sp/ritual practices Centering prayer
Pennington is a leading authority on spirituality, especially centering prayer.
Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures
Pennington, Basil
Spirituality/Spiritual practices/lectio
Pennington is a leading authority on spirituality, especially centering prayer.
Sacred Reading: A Journal
Boa, Kenneth
Spirituality/Spiritual practices/lectio
Ninety readings with related questions.
Historic Creeds: A Journal
Boa, Kenneth
Spirituality/Spiritual practices/lectio
Ninety readings with related questions.
A Blessed Life: Benedictine Guidelines for Those Who Long for Good Days
Derkse, Wil
Spirituality/Spiritual practices/Rule of Benedict
Derkse, a Scientient and educator, offers a simple guide for lay persons.
Honoring the Body: A Guide for Conversation, Learning, and Growth (Workbook/Study Guide for Honoring the Body: Meditations on a Christian Practice)
Paulsell, Stephanie
Spirituality Spiritual practices
Examines the spiritual significance of human embodiment through routine daily activities and scriptural reflection.