Gabriele di Santa Maria Maddalena (1893–1953)

This is an excellent book for daily spiritual reading and growth. I have had it for several years, and made a habit of noting the date when I read that particular chapter. What I have ended up with is a record of where I started and, unfortunately, stopped reading this book as part of my spiritual growth. I hope that one day I will fill each page with dates indicating that each page is complete.

The book is set up for an older liturgical calendar than the one we presently use (the book was completed in the 1960's), so the Mass readings do not always correspond to ours. Nevertheless, it is still worth it. Each day's readings start with a prayer to put ourselves in the presence of God. The next section consists of a meditation in two parts. The final section is a colloquy, or prayer, which includes a resolution to improve one’s spiritual life in some manner.

Here is part of one of the resolutions, which I find to be a good passage to meditate upon, especially when I find my attempts at prayer or meditation to be interrupted by some task that needs my attention:

"O Jesus, grant that like You I may live in continued union with God and at the same time give myself to my neighbor. May I lead a life of continual recollection, prayer, and contemplation, yet a life wholly devoted to service of others."… (mais)