Spiritual Cultivation
In an exhortation to grammar students, Bl. Humbert of Romans, a former Master of the Dominican order, wrote:
“…liberal learning without a good life does not save. Whence St. Augustine in Book 8 of The Confessions chapter 8: ‘The unlearned rise, and seize heaven, and we with our liberal studies descend to hell.’ Likewise they are the occasion of many evils. Acts 26: ‘…much learning doth make thee mad…’ This can be fulfilled in many ways, yet these injure others through their liberal learning, and they are proud, and similar things. Likewise, they will be on the day of judgment in testimony of damnation for many. Whence in 2 Samuel 11 is read, that Uriah carried with himself the letters of his own death. And therefore well it is said in Jeremiah 35: ‘Make good your ways, and your studies.’ First he says ‘ways’: Second ‘studies’, since unless their ways may be good, the predicted evils follow from study.”
With the above in mind, we think it important to offer our students resources to cultivate their individual spiritual lives as they pursue their study of the classical liberal arts. Below is a brief description of what we offer.
Sacra Biblia I – Bible Memory Course
Bible Reading Schedule
St. Jerome wrote “Ignorance of the Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” While many resources may aid children to learn about Christ, an organized daily reading of the Bible is irreplaceable. We offer students a daily reading schedule that will take them through the entire Bible in a year, including two readings of the Gospels.
In addition to our Bible Reading Schedule, we offer students a course to memorize an overview of the entire Bible. This course is an original translation of a Latin text designed for this purpose.
Sacra Biblia I – Bible Memory Course
In addition to our Bible Reading Schedule, we offer students a course to memorize an overview of the entire Bible. This course is an original translation of a Latin text designed for this purpose.
Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Many Catholic families have a desire to pray the Divine Office of the Church because of the special opportunity it offers to pray with the whole Church. Yet, in the bustle of lay life, that can be difficult to manage over a long period of time.
We offer students worksheets for Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary so that they may learn to chant these in Latin. Although smaller in scope and including less Psalms, this beautiful devotion offers an accessible means of participating in the daily prayer of the Church.
Little Pictorial Lives of Saints
The CCC states “The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today” (2683).
It is important for students to develop a familiarity with the lives of the saints. We offer daily readings from the old Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints based on Butler’s Lives of the Saints. Most days include a picture along with an overview of the saint’s life with a reflection.
For more information, contact: info@septemartesliberales.org.