Happy National Book Lover's Day
As promised, I wanted to share a few of my favorite books that have helped me along in the various practices of meditation and prayer. The full list really is enormous, but I will share these six titles as a starting point.
The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in Daily Life, by Kevin O’Brien, SJ (Loyola Press). If you are unfamiliar with the Spiritual Exercises, this is an intensive, daily examination and meditation on life in relationship with the life of Jesus. Working through the exercises “in daily life” is typically a nine-month experience, but may extend longer depending on the time you spend meditating on the life of Christ during each week. I highly recommend, as does the material, that you walk through the exercises accompanied by a spiritual director. I personally met with my director every two weeks rather than monthly when I was working through the exercise. Yes, it’s a commitment. But this has been a major influence in how I listen for and engage with Jesus in my life. There are many other versions of the Spiritual Exercises which I’ve used, but this one is my favorite.
Praying Our Experiences: An Invitation to Open Our Lives to God, by Joseph F. Schmidt, FSC (The Word Among Us Press). This goes beyond praying for ourselves for help or wisdom or healing, although there is nothing wrong with that. This book encourages exploring and meditating on all of life, our giftedness and brokenness, our true self and false self, and bringing it into the grace of God’s presence.
Word into Silence by John Main, OSB, (Paulist Press). More than any other book on centering prayer, this little volume has helped me enter into the practice without being too caught up in the teaching of the practice… if that makes sense. Other great titles that go into more explanation about centering prayer include the classic by Father Thomas Keating, Open Heart, Open Mind.
Reimagining the Ignatian Examen: Fresh Ways to Pray from Your Day by Mark E. Tibodeaux, SJ, (Loyola Press). 34 Variations on the prayer of examen take you deeper into noticing spiritual freedom, naming the grace, relationship dynamics, hidden truths, shifts in your spirit, and so many other areas of exploration using the framework of the Ignatian prayer of examen.
Shaped by the Word: The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation, by M. Robert Mulholland Jr., (Upper Room Books). This book on meditative reading of scripture that takes down the barriers of “Bible study,” that keeps us in our heads. It connects the Word of God to the word God has spoken into us, or “spoken into being.” It moves us from information to formation.
Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation by Martin Laird, OSA, (Oxford Press). This is the first of a series from Martin Laird that is beautifully written, rich with metaphors that help us see truth, and real life examples and encouragement in centering prayer. I’ve read this volume numerous times because somehow it just speaks to me.
I’d love to know what books you would add to the best books on prayer and meditation list.
