Hear the Ancient Wisdom
Overview
There is a hunger in the modern world for spirituality. One vast resource of spiritual wisdom, too often overlooked, comes out of the pre-Reformation church—from the martyrs of the first centuries of Christianity, through the long tradition of monasticism, to the medieval Christian mystics. Now, assembled and digested for daily intake, the spiritual insights of over seventy men and women of pre-Reformation Christianity resound through the pages of Charles Ringma’s new meditational reader, Hear the Ancient Wisdom. Ringma’s work reminds us that there are deep wells of Christian reflection to draw from in the work of early Christian writers such as John Chrysostom, Augustine, Benedict, Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure, Bernard of Clairvaux, Meister Eckhart, Hildegard of Bingen, and Julian of Norwich.
From these figures we can learn more about the practices of prayer and contemplation, the relevance of community, the challenge of asceticism, the love of God for God’s own sake, living the Gospel, the longing for union with God, the practices of justice, and much more. Hear the Ancient Wisdom is formatted to give you a meaningful thought for each day, equipping you to explore the wisdom of these brothers and sisters of the past on specific biblical topics throughout the year. And in the Logos Bible Software edition, you can further expand your study of these figures with just a few clicks. Quickly perform powerful topical and word based searches across this text and your entire library, and compare Scripture translations for the references given each day. The amazing functionality of Logos Bible Software will allow you to delve deeper into this treasury of wisdom as you are guided by Charles Ringma’s warmth and insight.
- Offers a short reading for each day of the year
- Includes a one line thought to meditate on for the day
- Focuses on a specific passage of Scipture in each reading
- Preface
- Introduction
- Daily Readings
- Endnotes
- A Brief History on Authors and Writings Cited
Top Highlights
“The challenge, therefore, for us, is not to try to become the heroic, caring individual, but to create communities of care and friendship in the midst of which great friendships can emerge and grow. Nothing great comes from isolation. Only in relationship do we become who we can be, and from common nurturing much goodness can emerge.” (Page 64)
“But the call of God is never without the grace of God and the uplifting sweep of the Holy Spirit. And those whom we are called to serve, surprisingly, also bless us. Providing, of course, that we have the humility to receive.” (Page 343)
“The movement of Christian spirituality is not to use God, but to grow in communion and union with God. It is all about a love relationship.” (Page 299)
“The task and gift of reflective solitude is far more productive than much of our frenetic activity” (Page 334)
“With our whole heart, our whole soul, our whole mind, with our whole strength and fortitude, with our whole understanding, with all our powers, with every effort, every affection, every feeling, every desire and wish, let us love the Lord God.’” (Page 204)
In Hear the Ancient Wisdom these early voices are not antiquated echoes; instead, their voices resonate through the centuries. Empowered by this great cloud of witnesses that surround us through history, Charles takes us on a discipleship journey that is both beautiful and deeply challenging.
—Justin Duckworth, Anglican bishop of Wellington
Charles Ringma has crafted a unique genre of inspirational literature. . . . Many of these meditations are riveting—stopping us in our tracks and pointing us to God and life. Far from being otherworldly and cloistered, Ringma takes us deeper into this life and, at the same time, the life to come. Walking with these godly men and women then and today . . . is a rich and not-to-be missed experience.
—R. Paul Stevens, Professor Emeritus, Regent College
Hear the Ancient Wisdom is a book worthy of our time, commitment, and investment, as you will (like me) be sustained and nourished by the astonishing breadth of understanding and depth of spiritual insight contained in these meditations and reflections. Here is lived wisdom given a voice for the twenty-first century, enabling us to find a way to engage with the paradox and complexities of real life as it is today. Highly recommended!
—Reverend Trevor Miller, abbot, Northumbria Community
Students and colleagues of Charles Ringma . . . know him to be a trustworthy guide in matters of the Spirit. In this book, as in his life, he unites a rich, intellectual grasp of the broad tradition of Christian spirituality with a rigorous ethic of service, leading the reader beyond the rhetoric of faith into a life of worship and service. This is a book I will gladly make my companion for a year—or more.
—Maxine Hancock, professor emerita, Regent College
- Title: Hear the Ancient Wisdom: A Meditational Reader for the Whole Year from the Early Church Fathers up to the Pre-Reformation
- Author: Charles R. Ringma
- Publisher: Wipf & Stock
- Publication Date: 2013
- Pages: 422
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
12/31/2020
Whilst I did enjoy this book as part of my daily devotional, it took me a while to “get into it”. I was expecting more content from the Early Church Fathers et al, whereas this is more a small quote with the Author’s development / understanding of the topic as seen be the person being quoted, and applying that to our present day. Don’t get me wrong, there are many phenomenally good devotions in here :) A good book to add to your daily devotional time.