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The key features of “English spirituality”

The complete consort dancing together. – T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding. I’m currently reading Martin Thornton’s English Spirituality. So far, it’s proving far less hard work than might be suggested by...

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The threefold Rule of “simply Christian” spirituality

As we saw in my previous post, Martin Thornton regards Benedictine spirituality as a key influence on “English spirituality”, and he devotes a chapter to St Benedict’s influence on spirituality,...

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Reading the Bible “ascetically”

To return to Martin Thornton’s English Spirituality (see previous posts 1 | 2), in an early chapter Thornton discusses the role of Bible reading in personal devotion. He begins by observing the...

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Pragmatic and pastoral: Luther on prayer

One underappreciated gem from Martin Luther’s writings is his “Simple Way to Pray”, addressed to his barber, Peter Beskendorf, who had asked for guidance on prayer. In this booklet, Luther shows many...

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Spiritual direction: a cry for help

If anyone makes himself his own master in the spiritual life, he makes himself scholar to a fool. – St Bernard Having finished English Spirituality, I’ve now moved on to another book by Martin...

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Recollecting Christ: the spiritual value of the church calendar

In my previous post, I mentioned in passing that Martin Thornton refers to “recollection” as one branch of “private prayer” (itself part of the threefold Rule of Christian devotion, along with the...

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The calendar and the Bible: for us, today

In a previous post, we saw how Martin Thornton (quoting Sergius Bulgakov) argues that the church calendar is a form of recollection that is not merely the calling to mind of events in salvation...

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For your contemplation

In practice, that there is only one vocation. Whether you teach or live in the cloister or nurse the sick, whether you are in religion or out of it, married or single, no matter who you are or what...

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Richard Beck on hope for “Winter Christians”

Last night I had the pleasure of hearing Richard Beck speak at The Borough Common in London, as part of his UK speaking tour. Richard’s wife, Jana, also contributed actively to the discussion. Richard...

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Word, bath, meal: the raw materials of Christian spirituality

Abendsmahlbild, St Nikolai’s Church, Luckau Christians meet for worship on Sunday. Christians pray, together or singly, on all days of the week at morning and evening, perhaps also at noon or night....

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