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Since
January 17, 2008
January 17, 2008
The Year of St. Paul
Many Catholics today are seeking spiritual direction but find a lack of availible spiritual directors. Often, our parish priests are now doing the work that would have been done by as many as three priests in the past. Where does that leave us?
Nothing can replace the value of a good spiritual director. However, if you do not have that option availible to you, you can give thanks that we live in this media and technology age. there is now very easy access to writings of the saints and spiritual greats in the form of books, web sites, and recently even videos (DVD) of recently canonized saints teaching. This last point amazes me. I recently was watching a video of Saint Jose Marie Escriva teaching a large group of people and answering questions from the crowd. I was blown away as I tried to grasp that I was watching and hearing a canonized saint teach!
While there is an abundance availible, we must also realize that with so much good comes some not so good stuff mixed in. this is like every other media form we have. Radio, TV, the Internet... all can be used for great blessing or to transmit garbage to the masses.
Here I would like to list a few resources in various forms of media that I would recommend. These are specifically are directed to anyone seeking spiritual direction who is unable to find a good spiritual director.
Books:
Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales
Imitation of Christ, Thomas O' Kampis
Web Sites:
Podcasts:
iPhone Applications:
There are many iPhone applications of the Bible, and many are free. You may not find the New American Bible as an application (heavily copywritten by the U.S. Bishops) but it is okay to download a FREE good protestant translation such as the NIV or King James. Just remember that you are missing a few very important books.
If you must have the New American Bible on your iPhone:
I just discovered a web site called iPhone Bible. This is designed for the iPhone (Safari browser) but also works perfectly with Firefox and Android. You can check it out on your computer with either one. It will onlywork limitedly with Internet Explorer - probably plain text. I really like what they have done: they have made a simple set pf pages that look iPhone-ish where you quickly navigate to the passage of Scripture which you are looking for. It then sends you to the USCCB online version of the NAB. Thus, you get a phone friendly application but since they send you to the USCCB site, there are no copywrite problems. I tried it on my Blackberry and it worked, but was in plain text. Still very functional, but ugly. I cannot wit to try it on my new G1 phone when it comes this month. One nice feature is you can also choose the daily readings. How long until you thing Apple will make them change the name though?
Nothing can replace the value of a good spiritual director. However, if you do not have that option availible to you, you can give thanks that we live in this media and technology age. there is now very easy access to writings of the saints and spiritual greats in the form of books, web sites, and recently even videos (DVD) of recently canonized saints teaching. This last point amazes me. I recently was watching a video of Saint Jose Marie Escriva teaching a large group of people and answering questions from the crowd. I was blown away as I tried to grasp that I was watching and hearing a canonized saint teach!
While there is an abundance availible, we must also realize that with so much good comes some not so good stuff mixed in. this is like every other media form we have. Radio, TV, the Internet... all can be used for great blessing or to transmit garbage to the masses.
Here I would like to list a few resources in various forms of media that I would recommend. These are specifically are directed to anyone seeking spiritual direction who is unable to find a good spiritual director.
Books:
Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales
Imitation of Christ, Thomas O' Kampis
Web Sites:
Podcasts:
iPhone Applications:
There are many iPhone applications of the Bible, and many are free. You may not find the New American Bible as an application (heavily copywritten by the U.S. Bishops) but it is okay to download a FREE good protestant translation such as the NIV or King James. Just remember that you are missing a few very important books.
If you must have the New American Bible on your iPhone:
I just discovered a web site called iPhone Bible. This is designed for the iPhone (Safari browser) but also works perfectly with Firefox and Android. You can check it out on your computer with either one. It will onlywork limitedly with Internet Explorer - probably plain text. I really like what they have done: they have made a simple set pf pages that look iPhone-ish where you quickly navigate to the passage of Scripture which you are looking for. It then sends you to the USCCB online version of the NAB. Thus, you get a phone friendly application but since they send you to the USCCB site, there are no copywrite problems. I tried it on my Blackberry and it worked, but was in plain text. Still very functional, but ugly. I cannot wit to try it on my new G1 phone when it comes this month. One nice feature is you can also choose the daily readings. How long until you thing Apple will make them change the name though?
