FINALLY, I invite Companions of Columba, Culdees, and any other friends of like mind to follow an ongoing conversation thru means of this 'blog. We here at The Columba Center of Saints Peter and Paul have been experimenting with the ancient Christian wisdom of monasticism and searching for the ways in which this wisdom may inform our own pilgrimage today. We have found ourselves part of a much larger movement as a result, as many faithful seekers are coming to treasure the ancient monastic tradition and seek one another's company as they seek the poor Christ.
Sacred study is a foundation-stone of the monastic heritage, first of Scripture, but also of texts which contribute to ongoing Christian formation. One year ago we agreed to such a study of Michael Casey's book "Toward God". Casey is a Trappist (Cistercian) Abbot from Australia, and "Toward God" is one of the most solid and wise contemporary books I have read on the Western tradition of monastic-inspired prayer--never dumbed-down or condescending, clear, accessible, unsentimental. "Toward God" is still in print, and for anyone in PDX I still have one copy for sale. Otherwise I am sure it is available from Amazon as well as from bookstores with a Catholic Christian bent or a wide assortment of theological materials (maybe even Powell's). Here's the bibliographical info:
Casey, Michael "Toward God: The Ancient Wisdom Of Western Prayer". Liguori, Missouri: Liguori Publications, 1996.
What I will covenant to do is this: Each Thursday I will post a comment on the week's chapter of "Toward God" in this 'blog. At the end of the post click on "comments" to add your own thoughts, if desired, as comments on the post. These can be read by any of us who clicks on "comments". If we cover a chapter a week, we'll conclude with "Toward God" in mid-April, during Eastertide. Then we can talk about whether or not this experiment worked for us. And anyone who wishes to read along with us, no matter where you are, and wishes to make creative contribution is welcome to do so!
Just for sake of clarity, the first post to the 'blog each week will usually be the previous week's sermon, posted by Wednesday AM at the latest.
Light and peace in the Son of Mary,
kurt neilson+
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