Tools of Formation
Possibly too many resources for a single page – a short compendium of important writings
Rule of Benedict
This is a short, potentially life-changing book.
full text:the Rule at Christian Classics Ethereal Library
divided up for daily reading
html: a link to daily readings of the Rule from St. John’s Abbey in Minnesota
paperback: an inexpensive edition from Litpress
A description of the Daily or Divine Office, the Liturgy of the Hours
The Wikipedia page about Canonical Hours
Helps for prayer:
For Benedictines –
This is the version of the Office that I use. Its starting point is St. Benedict’s instruction as given in the Rule, and in a single volume.
“Benedictine Daily Prayer; A Short Breviary, Second Edition”
Benedictine Daily Prayer from Litpress – Second Edition
For Roman Catholics – A Liturgy of the Hours:
This is a the more “cathedral” style (meaning that it is not so much Psalm based), as authorized by the Roman Catholics. Personally, I own and have used (and really like) this, but not my first choice.
Divine Office, four volume edition, from Catholic Book Publishing
For Episcopalians – The Book of Common Prayer:
American Episcopalians book of choice – it is wonderful and its scope includes the Daily Office, along with liturgies and prayers for all sorts of occasions. Also, it contains a full text of the Psalms, and of all the translations I have read, this is my favorite.
So beautiful.
as html: Book of Common Prayer, online
as pdf: Book of Common Prayer, as a pdf file
hardcover: a very nice hardcover edition from Oxford University Press
Other helps and links for consideration
Calendar of Saints
Wikipedia’s Calendar of Saints
Life of Our Most Holy Father St. Benedict
Christian Classics Ethereal Library’s edition of the Life of Saint Benedict
Ancrene Wisse
about: Wikipedia’s page on the Ancrene Wisse
a full diglot text (Middle and Modern English):
a wonderful diglot edition of the Ancrene Wisse on archive.org
The Spiritual Meadow by John Moschos
This is a marvelous book. Written about St. John’s travels starting in the late 500s and into the early 600s AD, it is sort of a travelogue of Christians, in the wild. The Orthodox Church celebrates his feast day on March 11.
about: Wikipedia’s page on John Moschos
paperback: The Spiritual Meadow from Litpress
The Little Flowers of St. Francis
Along with Moschos’ Spiritual Meadow, an amazing read.
Wikipedia’s page on The Little Flowers of Saint Francis
The Philokalia
about: Wikipedia’s page on The Philokalia
paperback: The Philokalia from a mass-market bookstore
The Way of a Pilgrim
about: Wikipedia’s page on The Way of a Pilgrim
paperback: The Way of a Pilgrim from a mass-market bookstore
Thomas Merton in Alaska
The journals from Merton’s visit to Alaska that included stops across the State, a few photos, and his search for a potential location to land a hermitage.
The book also includes notes from workshops held for the nuns at the Convent of the Precious Blood in Eagle River, which is now the site of St. John Orthodox Cathedral.
This book may be rather difficult to find, and it is even missed by some bibliographies that cover his writings, but quite a wonderful piece of Mertonicana, and well worth seeking out.
paperback: Thomas Merton in Alaska, from a mass-market bookstore
and a couple of Saints
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower
about: A Wikipedia page for The Little Flower
Anthony the Great
The first of “our kind” to go into the wilderness. Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians celebrate his Feast Day on January 17, the Copts celebrate it on Tobi 11 (January 30 on the Gregorian Calendar) Wikipedia’s page on St. Anthony