Log on

Foreword

In 1968, when I was working for the Consilium (later the Congregation for Divine Worship) for the implementation of the Constitution on the Liturgy, Father Bugnini (later Archbishop), then the secretary of the post-Vatican II commission for the liturgy, walked into my office, announced that I was now in charge of the coetus who selects the readings for the new divine office, and placed a stack of proposals of readings on my desk. This was my introduction to the Fathers of the Church.

From that time until now I have been involved in one way or another with Church writers, ranging from the selection and translation of patristic texts for the Liturgy of the Hours to the publication of Christian Readings, a six-volume edition of readings for the divine office, to a collaboration with the Benedictines on their monastic lectionaries, A Word in Season and Christ Our Light.

In working with the writings of the Fathers of the Church over these twenty-five years, perhaps the most amazing and attracting factor is how very apropos their reflections are to our own day and age. A selection by Gregory of Nazianzen on the poor and the homeless, for example, fits right into our, perhaps every, era. A writing by Augustine about the beauty of creation, one by Ambrose about the love we should have for ourselves, another by Gregory the Great about the bishop as a shepherd -- all these themes are not just particular to their times but are significant with other centuries.

Thus after completing Augustine Day by Day in 1985, I began collecting passages for Tradition Day by Day, culled from the numerous texts I had at my disposal from the work mentioned above, and from my own reading over the years.

Lectio Divina

When we hear the word "reading," we immediately think of taking up a newspaper, magazine, or book and reading through it for information or for enjoyment. This is one type of reading. However, there is another type of reading in the Church's tradition, in which one reads not for information, although this may come with the reading, nor for enjoyment, although this can be present, but for the enrichment of the inner spirit. It is a type of reading that is a prayer in itself; you are (or seem to be) reading, but actually you are praying. The patristic texts in particular lend themselves to this type of reading because they are filled with quotes from scripture or with scriptural allusions. Thus, in reading these texts, you are feeding the inner spirit and you are praying. In addition, the texts prompt many beautiful thoughts, ideas, and prayers. One cannot just read the text and put it aside; the text stays with you and leads you to greater depths of thought and prayer. This is lectio divina -- literally, divine or sacred reading.

Thus, although my endeavors with the writings of the Fathers of the Church have involved much work, since at times I would read an entire work and perhaps find only one suitable reading, it has been an enriching experience to select texts which inspire this kind of prayerful reading. I hope these texts help you in your lectio divina as they have me in mine.

The Passages

Each passage has been selected to convey some kind of message. I have tried to respect the integrity of each text by presenting full passages. A few texts, however, were cut in the middle of a passage in order for them to fit on one page, while others, too beautiful to cut, were allowed to run over to the next page.

The Church writers selected range from the third century to the nineteenth century, with emphasis on the patristic era (third to eighth centuries). Some medieval writers are included to show the dynamic flow of tradition from century to century. Very few modern writers and no contemporary ones are included; the emphasis is on the early tradition.

Being a liturgist by profession, I was careful to respect the liturgical year. Thus, the Advent theme is highlighted in December going up to Christmas Eve. Jesus' coming as a human being is emphasized from Christmas Day to mid-January. From mid-February to the end of March the texts focus on the Lenten period and its messages of conversion, renewal, and sacrifice. From the beginning of April to the end of May the resurrection and the coming of the Spirit are examined. In June there are some texts on the body of Christ, while in October and November texts relating to the eschatalogical aspect of the Church are included.

The major solemnities and feasts, especially the feasts of the apostles, were also taken into consideration. For feasts of the more famous Church writers who appear on the Church calendar, for example, Cyprian, Ambrose, Augustine, Catherine of Siena, and the like, I tried to select appropriate passages from their writings to illustrate their contribution to tradition.

It is my hope that this florilegium of texts will help you to appreciate day by day the living tradition of the Church, and provide you with moments of prayerful reading and revelation.

I have given the source for each selection and, where possible, the place where to find the quote. However, I only gave references to the major works like Migne. For Augustine's sermons and his work on the Trinity and other works in English, see the series "The Works of Saint Augustine" as published by New City Press.