Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: Some recent purchases

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Some recent purchases

These arrived in the mail today, and I can say I am very happy indeed 🙏🏻😇

Michael Horton is a very good Reforned (Calvinist) theologian, I have read his other books on covenant theology and Christless Christianity (an attack on therapeutic deism which neglects the Glory of God) which I found very useful in my spiritual journey.

John Piper is a Baptist pastor who is also a Calvinist, he is a very passionate preacher who has developed the concept of "Hedonistic Christianity" which basically means it is easier to reject sin if we take delight from following God's commandments instead of falling for the false promises of sin.

I am sure many of you are already familiar with Cardinal Sarah and Scott Hahn - if you are not, then I highly highly recommend you check them out as soon as possible!! Wonderful authors.

I have been waiting for ages to be able to afford the book by Ralph Martin. It analyses the spiritual life using the writings of some of the most influential spiritual writers of the Church who are also Doctors of the Church : St Augustine, St Bernard, St Catherine of Siena, St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, St Frances de Sales and St Therese of Lisieux.

What a wonderful compendium of spiritual writing!! The book is divided into the traditional 3 paths of the spiritual life - purgative, illuminative, unitive/transforming union.

Time to get into some deep spiritual reading.

I buy all my books through bookdepository.com they have most books in stock, are cheap and have free delivery. I live in Australia so the free delivery makes this a much cheaper option for me than Amazon. Plus the books only take 2-3 business days to be dispatched and then 5-8 business days to arrive.

No comments:

Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.