Suggestions of Music in a Lenten Mode
March 4:
"The Book of Common Prayer (after 22 Years)," The Rt. Rev. Robert Estill
"The World's Religions" - Book Study
March 11:
"The Book of Common Prayer (after 22 Years)," The Rt. Rev. Robert Estill
"The Prose of the Old Testament," David Jamieson-Drake
"The World's Religions" - Book Study
March 18:
"Liturgy and Worship at the Chapel of the Cross," The Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams
"The World's Religions" - Book Study
March 25:
"What Does It Mean to be a Cross of Nails Center?"
"The Prose of the Old Testament," David Jamieson-Drake
"The World's Religions" - Book Study
The Spiritual Life Committee hopes this small collection of resources helps you lead an intentional and holy Lent, a season for stripping away our defenses, distractions, and attachments, and facing some of the difficult things in our lives.
"When your tongue is silent, you can rest in the silence of the forest. When your imagination is silent, the forest speaks to you, tells you of its unreality and of the Reality of God. But when your mind is silent, then the forest suddenly becomes magnificently real and blazes transparently with the Reality of God." Thomas Merton, Sign of Jonas (1956), p. 332
David Dodson recommends recordings of the following as aids to finding a Lenten mode.
* Motets and Mass settings from the Renaissance and Tudor periods have profound and simple power. Most are available on CD.
* William Byrd -- "Masses for 4 and 5 Voices"; motets
* Thomas Tallis -- "Motets"
* Tomas Luis de Victoria -- "Requiem for 6 Voices"; motets
* Josquin Des Pres -- motet
During Passiontide:
* J.S. Bach -- "St. Matthew Passion"; "St. John Passion," Music of the 20th Century
* Henryk Gorecki -- "Misere and other Sacred Pieces"
* Arvo Part -- "Sacred Pieces"
* Herbert Howells -- "Requiem"
* Ralph Vaughn Williams -- "Mass in G minor"; various motets
Please check the book table for these and other possibilities, or order them from Ed/Lit Resources in Oxford, 919-693-5547, or Internet book dealers.
David Aers recommends:
Julian of Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" (Penguin Books, 1999). This book (in this edition), and especially Chapters 47-49.
From Joan Fouts:
Henri J. M. Nouwen, "Show Me the Way: Readings for Each Day of Lent" (Crossroads, 1994); and "Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life" (Harper San Francisco, 1998)
Alan Paton, "Instrument of Thy Peace" (Seabury, 1968). 21 meditations on the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.
Isaias Powers, "Quiet Places with Mary: 37 Guided Imagery Meditations" (Twenty-third Press, 1986)
"Quiet Places with Jesus: 40 Guided Imagery Meditations for Personal Prayer" (Twenty-third Press, 1978)
Martin L. Smith, "Seasons of the Spirit: Readings for the Days of Lent" (Cowley, 1991)
Edward Hays, "The Lenten Labyrinth: Daily Reflections for the Journey of Lent" (Forest of Peace, 1994)
From Lois Harvey:
Marcus Borg, "The God We Never Knew" (Harpers, 1997)
Martin Smith, "A Season for the Spirit"
From the "Reading with a View to Spirituality" group (Gayle Hartis):
Thomas Kelly, "A Testament of Devotion." An ageless classic focusing on the importance of being constantly mindful of God and offering lots of encouragement to keep up the effort.
From Tim Hinton:
Edward W. Hughes, "Oh God, Why? A Spiritual Journey towards Meaning, Wisdom, and Strength" (Bible Reading Fellowship, 1996). An Ignatian manual of support through Lent for bruised pilgrims.
Rowan Williams, Bishop of Wales, "The Wound of Knowledge." A superb study of the history of Christian spirituality from St. Paul to Luther and St. John of the Cross.
From Tim West:
J. Robert Baker, et al, eds. "A Lent Sourcebook: The Forty Days." Liturgy Training Publications, 1990. About two dozen short prayers and readings for each day of Lent, from a huge array of sources, in two spiral-bound volumes.
Martin L. Smith, SSJE. "Reconciliation: Preparing for Confession in the Episcopal Church" Boston: Cowley Publications, 1986. A short book providing a deep understanding of the sacrament.
You might try more Merton during Lent. There is much to choose from. Maybe "Seasons of Celebration" (Noonday Press, 1977) or "New Seeds of Contemplation" (W.W. Norton, 1974). In the latter, Merton says that contemplation is "life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is spiritual wonder ... awareness of the reality" of the Source, "with a certitude that goes beyond reason and beyond simple faith." Merton invites us to "cast our awful solemnity to the winds and join in the general dance."
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