Water, Wind, Earth & Fire

by Valters Paintner, Christine

• ISBN13: 9781933495224
• ISBN10: 1933495227
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-01
• Publisher: Sorin Books

Summary

Organized around ¿The Canticle of the Creatures¿ by St. Francis of Assisi, Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire is the first book to consider the ways in which praying with the natural elements can enliven Christian spiritual life. Paintner offers concrete suggestions and guided contemplative exercises; for instance, she suggests that readers take time to ¿watch the sunrise or sunset and breathe in the beauty of the fiery sky. Contemplate what those beginnings and endings have to say in your own life.¿ Readers benefit from Paintner¿s extensive training in theology and Benedictine spirituality, as well as her unique work in bringing the expressive arts to spiritual direction.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Brother Wind	p. 15
Wind and Creation	p. 16
Life Breath	p. 19
Holy Inspiration	p. 23
Carried by the Wind	p. 29
God in the Whirlwind	p. 32
Lectio Divina with Wind	p. 37
More Air and Wind Quotations for Prayer	p. 39
Blessing of Wind	p. 42
Brother Fire	p. 45
Fire and Creation	p. 46
Fire of Illumination	p. 50
Fire of Purification	p. 55
Becoming Fire	p. 59
Living Flame of Love	p. 62
Sun, Moon, and Stars	p. 65
Lectio Divina with Fire	p. 69
More Fire Quotations for Prayer	p. 71
Blessing of Fire	p. 73
Sister Water	p. 75
Water and Creation	p. 76
Rise and Fall of the Tides	p. 79
Living Water	p. 85
Holy Wells, Desert Springs, and Fountains	p. 88
Viriditas	p. 92
Baptism and Blessing	p. 95
Lectio Divina with Water	p. 99
More Water Quotations for Prayer	p. 100
Blessing of Water	p. 101
Sister Earth	p. 103
Earth and Creation	p. 104
Tree of Life	p. 107
Holy Mountain	p. 111
Sacred Garden	p. 116
Feasting and Communion	p. 120
Our Own Earthiness	p. 126
Earth's Creatures	p. 129
Lectio Divina with Earth	p. 133
More Earth Quotations for Prayer	p. 134
Blessing of Earth	p. 136
Conclusion	p. 137
Sources	p. 143
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