Singers of the New Song

Details: Fr. Maloney, a priest of the Russian Byzantine Rite, is the founder of the John XXIII Institute for eastern Christian Studies at Fordham University and Contemplative Ministries in California. Six pages of footnotes at the back. Father Maloney was a Jesuit priest, and more recently a priest in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He earned a doctorate in Oriental Theology and founded the John XXIII Institute for Eastern Christian Studies at Fordham University, where he taught Oriental theology and spirituality. He was fluent in seven languages, including Russian and Greek and travelled extensively throughout Europe, in Russia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Turkey, as well as spending two summers on Mt. Athos (The Holy Mountain). Fr. Maloney was an internationally known Director of Contemplative Ministries and had established himself as a noted retreat director. A passionate and renowned author, he had published over 80 books, journals and articles, translated into numerous languages, on theology, true prayer, and Eastern Christian Spirituality for Western Christians. Categories: ["Religion / General"]

Summary: The title of this book may be derived from Saint Augustine. He was speaking of the new commandment which Jesus gave and of which Saint John wrote about (1 John 2:7-8), the commandment to love one's neighbor as ourselves! Actually, this is really an old commandment. It was handed on some time ago; but now, according to the Spirit it is new. In Christ--in the love of Christ--we have the strength to practice it. Saint Augustine says, "And this love renews us, rendering us new persons, heirs of the New Testament, singers of a new song." This book is a commentary on the Song of Songs. More than a commentary on the text of Sacred Scripture, St. Bernard tells us that "It is the holy love behind the words that has to be considered, more than the words themselves. For love speaks in it everywhere." This is the love that renews. It also transforms. I first encountered this on a retreat that was supposed to be a silent Ignatian retreat. The retreat master never showed. Disappointed and frustrated, I went to spend time in the library. Somehow, this book seemed to stand out among all the others. From the reading of its first paragraphs and pages, this became the source of my retreat for the next five days. After all, shouldn't a retreat be centered on "the holy love" God has communicated to us in words or otherwise? I believe it turned out better than if the retreat master had come. I have recommended this book to others to use on the same way.