Half-Hours With The Saints and Servants of God/Preface
PREFACE.
SPIRITUAL reading is now so recognised a practice for all who wish to lead a devout life, that it is hardly necessary here to insist on its importance. It is, however, well to remind persons living in these times, that the present multiplication of periodical literature of every kind, is an additional reason for being faithful to the exercise of daily spiritual reading. The variety of subjects brought before the reader, the absence of deep thought or real principles, concealed by an attractive and brilliant style of writing, dissipate the mind, and gradually destroy, not only the habit, but even the power of serious reflection. We, therefore, who live in times of much reading and little thinking, have the greater need to spend some portion of our day, in reversing this process, in company with some book, which we read slowly, but from which, we can gain matter for much after-meditation.
The demand for spiritual reading for persons varying much in their capacity, tastes, and the amount of leisure at their disposal, justifies the multiplication of such books. And it is thought that the one now offered to the public has special advantages, which will make it prove a boon to many.
In spite of their goodwill, there are persons whose lives are so occupied, that they can give but little time to serious reading, and even those few moments, have to be snatched at uncertain times. For such as these, it is important to have a book which can bear to be so read. The editor of " Half-Hours with the Saints and Servants of God," has effected this, by arranging in short sections, extracts from various writers, all bearing on some one great truth or mystery of our holy religion. It would be well, indeed, to spend a half-hour in such good company, but the sections are so short, that one who has only ten minutes at his disposal would be able to read slowly and " pausingly" as S. Philip tells us such books should be read, words that would go far to sanctify the day.
The extracts are made from writers of every age, from St. Augustine, down to our own Father Faber, and many of the quotations, are from books, quite out of the reach of ordinary readers. Moreover, the editor has wisely added a short account of the life of the Saint, or servant of God, whose work he quotes, and this not only adds much to the interest of the work, but may lead those who have time at their disposal, to cultivate a taste for solid reading. They will learn the beautiful thoughts of men whom they have hitherto known only by name, and they will become anxious to know more of the history of their times, and of the circumstances in which they wrote. Thus, ecclesiastical history and the biographies of the great Christian writers, will acquire a new interest in their minds, and who can say, how great a blessing a taste for such reading may prove? Many, whose lives are now full of activity, may have before them, through ill health or old age, long years of enforced inactivity; and a taste for reading will save them from many temptations, and make these years, a time, not only of tranquil enjoyment, but of much profit to their souls. Those who have been faithful in the practice of daily spiritual reading, know from experience how great is the fruit derived from it Thoughts are suggested, which prove a safeguard against some sudden temptation which comes to them during the day, or they gain a light which enables them to answer some specious but shallow blasphemy uttered in their presence, or some cross which would otherwise have betrayed them into impatience, is welcomed as a gift from God.
These " Half-hours with the Saints and Servants of God," will thus enable many to profit by the few minutes they can give to spiritual reading, while they will suggest to others, who have more time at their disposal, in what books they may seek for treatises suited to their spiritual needs.
The long experience of Mr. Charles Kenny is a guarantee for the literary excellence of the book, — of the spiritual merit of which I have alone been speaking.