Readings in the Classic Movements in Christian Spirituality
Readings corresponding to the great spiritual life movements in the history of the Church.
The Desert Movement. 3rd and 4th centuries.
The Life of Antony and the Letter to Marcellinus
by Saint Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria; Trans. Robert C. Gregg. Paulist Press, 1980.
A favorite passage: Life of Antony: Paragraphs 55-67; pp. 72-81.
The Monastic Movement. 6th century.
The Rule of St. Benedict
by Saint Benedict, Abbot of Monte Cassino; Editor Timothy Fry, Vintage, 1998.
A favorite passage: Chapters 2-7; pp 8-20.
The Cistercians. 12th century.
Bernard of Clairvaux : Selected Works
by Bernard of Clairvau; Editor G. R. Evans. Paulist Press.
A favorite passage: On the Song of Songs: Sermon 7. Intimacies of the Love of God (Pages unknown)
The Franciscans. 13th century.
Francis and Clare : The Complete Works
by Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi; Translation and introduction by Regis J. Armstrong and Ignatius C. Brady, Paulist Press, 1982.
A favorite passage: Admonitions & Canticle of the Sun, pp. 25-39
The English “Mystics”. 14th century.
The Fire of Love
by Richard Rolle; Translation and introduction by Clifton Wolters, Penguin, 1972.
A favorite passage: Prologue through Chapter 2, pp. 45-53
Calvin/Reformed movement. 16th century.
Institutes of the Christian Religion.
by Jean Calvin; Translation by Battles.
A favorite passage: Book 3, Chapter 7 – The Sum of the Christian Life, pp 689-701 (This selection is from the portion of the Institutes published as the Golden Booklet)