Anyone Read the "Matters" Series by Mary Margaret Funk? Feedback?

[TimothyH]

Has anyone read any of the “Matters” series by Sister Mary Margaret Funk, OSB?

litpress.org/Search.aspx?q=Mary+Margaret+Funk&q3.x=19&q3.y=15

The sameple pages on Google Books look promising but I’m wondering specifically if anyone found any of them particularly helpful in a specific area, how applicable the teaching for the lay person is as opposed to monastics, etc.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

-Tim-

 

[christofirst]

I’ve just started Sr. Meg’s book, Lectio Matters, after attending a lecture by a fellow Benedictine, who is a friend of the author, and based his talk on this book. Although I’m just a few chapters in, I can say that this book is by no means only relevant for monastics (or wanna-be monastics like myself). My understanding is that the author reallizes her books have a broad appeal, and so are directed to people in all walks of life. That said, there are also many references to the Rule of St. Benedict, as one might expect based on her experience.

This particular book on Lectio Divina provides a very thorough and systematic overview on the subject, as well as the author’s personal reflection based on her own practice, in this case using the Book of Jonah.

What I am finding so far is a wealth of ideas for getting started in the practice, or for when thoughts start to run dry. Although the Bible is often a primary source for Lectio, the author does not limit herself to Sacred Scripture, but shows how other texts and even nature and our own life experience can be be used for reflection to foster a Divine encounter, or awareness.

But as I said, I’ve only just gotten started, so hopefully someone else might have something to add.

 

[TimothyH]

I’ve just started Sr. Meg’s book, Lectio Matters, after attending a lecture by a fellow Benedictine, who is a friend of the author, and based his talk on this book. Although I’m just a few chapters in, I can say that this book is by no means only relevant for monastics (or wanna-be monastics like myself). My understanding is that the author reallizes her books have a broad appeal, and so are directed to people in all walks of life. That said, there are also many references to the Rule of St. Benedict, as one might expect based on her experience.

This particular book on Lectio Divina provides a very thorough and systematic overview on the subject, as well as the author’s personal reflection based on her own practice, in this case using the Book of Jonah.

What I am finding so far is a wealth of ideas for getting started in the practice, or for when thoughts start to run dry. Although the Bible is often a primary source for Lectio, the author does not limit herself to Sacred Scripture, but shows how other texts and even nature and our own life experience can be be used for reflection to foster a Divine encounter, or awareness.

But as I said, I’ve only just gotten started, so hopefully someone else might have something to add.

I hope that others will add more. Your (name removed by moderator)ut means more to me than you know.

I am very “Benedictine” in spirituality myself and will probably order Humility Matters this evening as an early Christmas present to myself. References to the rule will be welcome.

How pragmatic do you find the book to be? Is it more theoretical or practical?

-Tim-

 

[christofirst]

In the case of Lectio Matters, what I’ve read so far is quite concrete, a good balance of theory and practical advice. The author invites you to follow along with her as she considers four different aspects of the text (she chose the Book of Jonah, but the concept could apply to any sacred text): the literal meaning, the symbolic meaning, the moral dimension (what the text means for us today), and the mystical dimension (what God might be saying to me personally through this particular text).

I’ve also read parts of Tools Matter and Thoughts Matter. I haven’t got around to Humility Matters yet. Is that the latest in the series? I understand there is a new one about to be released, and the older titles are soon to be re-issued by a new publisher (some of them went out of print). A good portion of both Tools and Thoughts Matter deal with the eight thoughts which can hinder our life of faith, as expressed by Evagrius of Pontus and later John Cassian (food, sex, things, anger, dejection, vainglory, and pride - the basis for the seven deadly sins), and more importantly, the eight corresponding virtues which counteract the vices.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy Humility Matters (I’m guessing this book will most likely touch on chapter seven of the Holy Rule, among other things).

Chris

 

[TimothyH]

Thanks for the feedback. I’m going to order Discernment and Humility.

-Tim-

 

[planciotti]

I have read Sr. Meg’s book in this series, Discernment Matters: Listening With the Ear of the Heart. While the audience and language of the book seem directed primarily to monastics, I believe that most lay readers will find the essence of her teachings accessible and useful. The book presents an integrated, “meaty” approach to discernment: the wisdom and teachings of the Desert Fathers, especially Cassian, serve as the framework.

While I do recommend this book - especially for Chapters 2 and 3 - I offer one caveat. A section within Chapter 1, “Second Affliction of the Body: Thoughts of Sex” (pp. 16-27) contains two discussions I find problematic. The first has to do with the Church’s teaching on masturbation as interpreted by Sr. Funk. She is careful to make a reference to the Catechism of the Catholic Church*, but her entire discussion on this subject leaves me unclear about the intent of her message. I detect a subtle dismissal of the potential gravity of this sin, as she implies that it is always venial and therefore not mandatory material for sacramental confession. Sr. Funk interprets the Catechism as explaining that this is a “major sexual disorder”. However, the Catechism’s wording (CCC 2352) is thus: “masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.” The change in wording is subtle, and therefore, so is the meaning. Words do matter.

The second issue in this section pertains to her views on working toward inclusive language, i.e., “the whole debate of sexist language in worship (p. 25).” I won’t elaborate further in this forum, but my overall feeling about this particular section of the book was that it felt somewhat out of place with the remainder of the book. Otherwise, this book is an invaluable tool for helping the serious seeker of God cultivate the discipline of discernment.*