In this regard then, whenever I am asked about my own recommendations for books and practices that should form the foundation of the Catholic spiritual life, I always point to the Missal, the Breviary (in which is also included the Roman Martyrology by extension) and the Bible. The Mass and the Divine Office, of course, are liturgical prayer, and the Sacred Scripture is Divine Revelation. Now this may strike some as controversial after all the question may arise 'but what about the Rosary?' and what about other devotions? My response is that these devotions are worthwhile and worthy in their own right, but the primacy of the Catholic life is founded upon the sacred liturgy (the Mass and the Divine Office) and Sacred Scripture. I want to draw on this concept to promote an idea that I have now promoted for many years, beginning in my NLM days back in 2005 that idea is the primacy of scripture and liturgical prayer as that which forms the basis of all Catholic spirituality. The idea which I wish to bring forward to our LAJ readership is related to the concept of the three-footed stool (or 'three kings' if you prefer a more traditional religious imagery) - remove any one of the three 'pegs' and the stability of the stool is compromised. The spring and summer by contrast - with the pilgrimages that take place, vacations and so forth - can actually be a better, more practical time to bring up ideas such as this. Originally I had thought about it for the Christmas season - being a gift-giving season - but in my experience times like those are already over-saturated with gift ideas and very little time exists for possible implementation of those ideas as such they tend to get set aside and forgotten. This is a combined book notice and commentary that I've been meaning to write for some time.

Roman breviary baronius press