Spiritual Literacy
Posted on: January 27, 2014
- In: Everyday Life | Faith | Parenting
- 2 Comments
I’ve said before that I’m an avid reader. Reading is probably my favourite leisure activity, and I’ve generally got a book, newspaper or magazine on the go (sometimes all three, and sometimes more than one book).
I love wandering my local bookstore, the more so since I downloaded an app that lets me scan bar codes of books and add the titles to my wish list. And I have a long wish list of books to read on my library account.
Today being Family Literacy Day, we’re encouraged to spend 15 minutes a day reading. True, some of us may already have to spend a lot of time reading for work or school. And sometimes, given the books promoted by the media, it may seem there aren’t many choices for Christian readers. But why not take those 15 minutes to improve our spiritual literacy? Why not set a great example for our children by choosing some Christian reading materials on our next library or bookstore visit? And if the selection of Christian works in libraries and bricks-and-mortar bookstores proves to be limited, we can find a wide range of Christian books online.
In just 15 minutes, we could read one of the following:
- the daily Scripture or Catechism readings in the Coming Home Network International Daily Scripture & Catechism Devotional;
- the brief biography of a saint (or two) in Voices of the Saints: A 365-Day Journey With Our Spiritual Companions;
- a couple of articles in Catholic Digest or a newsletter or blog for our parish or diocese (such as The Journey of A Bishop – Archbishop Prendergast’s blog);
- several sections of an encyclical or a letter through the Vatican website or the latest Vatican news through the Missio app; or
- a few pages of a saint’s autobiography, such as The Story of a Soul by St. Thérèse of Lisieux or The Confessions of St. Augustine.
But why limit our reading to non-fiction? Christian fiction ranges from mystery to science fiction to graphic novels and so on. Not sure where to start? Goodreads.com allows readers to search for books by genre, and a quick glance at the results for the Christian genre shows new releases, the most popular books, and reader lists of recommended works. And finding books similar to ones we’ve enjoyed is as simple as entering a title or an author at WhatShouldIReadNext.com.
I pray that we can find 15 minutes—or even just 10—on a regular basis to invest in reading materials that build us up spiritually.
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2 Responses to "Spiritual Literacy"
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A Catholic Convert in Ottawa 
January 27, 2014 at 12:10 pm
A very true point. I read my Bible every day but I’ve noticed that when I’m reading a good Christian book, I’m thinking about God more often. I get really hooked on good stories; they tend to stick to me and let me think of little else. That’s why I love fiction but also Christian biographies. The edification and encouragement I get from fellow Christians if invaluable and most definitely worth 15mins of my day!
January 28, 2014 at 5:29 pm
Thanks for your feedback. We can all use encouragement as we try to live out our faith, and it can definitely help to read how others have grown in their faith. If anyone would like to recommend some Christian fiction or non-fiction, whether print or digital, please do!