The 30 Days with a Great Spiritual Teacher
series is a collection of short devotionals edited by John Kirvan that offer
readings and prayer based on the work of a spiritual master.
I recently had the pleasure of reading two books in
this series: Let There Be Light, based on
the work of Hildegard of Bingen; and Set
Aside Every Fear, which focuses on the writings of Catherine of Siena. Both
of these women are saints and doctors of the Church.
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was an aristocratic
abbess of the twelfth century. She was a “mystic, visionary, prophet, reformer,
a scientist, an encyclopedist, a composer, and a dramatist – a Renaissance
personality well before the Renaissance.” She wrote on a wide variety of
topics. The goal of this devotional is “to bring together passages of spiritual
wisdom from many different places in her writings” that focus on the theme of
night and day, light and darkness. The readings are based on her visions and
are largely symbolic. The reflections and prayers invite you to use and trust
your imagination.
The daily readings for each morning in Let There Be Light feature two sections:
prophecy and commentary. There is then a mantra to carry with you throughout
the day. Night prayer includes a reflective exercise for bringing the day to an
end and a prayer based on Psalm 36. The readings and reflections are brief but
offer much to ponder.
One reflection relevant for Lent is the one offered
for Day Six:
It was the face of a jealous God.
We are born, each of us,
With a desire for good
and a lust for evil.
We are called to life
and attracted to death.
We hear: “Do good.”
And we respond: “Choose pleasure.”
We embrace bitterness,
stealing from ourselves a treasury of good
and laying up a treasury of evil.
A jealous God sees us
and turns a terrible face to us.
But rather than condemning us,
he calls us to penitence
he recalls us to life.
He uses his power sparingly
with mercy,
never slaying, but breathing new life,
hearing our prayers.
I know what I deserve.
Your mercy humbles me
but gives glory to your name.
Catherine of Siena (1347 – 1380) was a lay Dominican
who lived a life of fasting, prayer, and service to others. She also was a
gifted mediator, helping solve disputes, both locally and in the papal courts. Her
most famous work is The Dialogue, a “summary of her theology, her spirituality,
her pastoral concerns, and her convictions.”
Set Aside Every Fear
focuses on “the image of the river and the bridge . . . The irreducible
connection between love of God and service of humanity . . . [and the] dialogue
of love between the God-who-is and we-who-are-not.” Each day begins with a
passage of God speaking. There is a single-sentence mantra meant to accompany
you through the day, and an evening meditation in which we respond to God.
Day Four offers a powerful reflection on love of
neighbor.
God
Speaks . . .
I
want you to know
that every virtue and every failing
involves your neighbor.
that every virtue and every failing
involves your neighbor.
Anyone
who does not love her neighbor,
who does not help her,
who does not pray for her,
injures herself.
For to cut yourself off from neighbor
is to cut yourself off from grace.
Unless you love me you cannot love your neighbor,
and to deprive your soul of love for me and
your neighbor
is to do evil.
who does not help her,
who does not pray for her,
injures herself.
For to cut yourself off from neighbor
is to cut yourself off from grace.
Unless you love me you cannot love your neighbor,
and to deprive your soul of love for me and
your neighbor
is to do evil.
Both Let There Be
Light and Set Aside Every Fear offer
beautiful, powerful meditations and prayers. Both would be perfect for an
at-home retreat.
There are several other books in the series. If you want to
spend some time with the two other female doctors of the Church, Let Nothing Disturb You is based on the
writings of Teresa of Avila, and Simply
Surrender focuses on the teachings of Therese of Lisieux.
