tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308708719772798112.post8305575032249276025..comments2023-05-18T05:04:53.401-07:00Comments on Sunrise on the Marsh: Linda McCloud+http://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227046370031878noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308708719772798112.post-88429855627628042622007-08-29T15:43:00.000-07:002007-08-29T15:43:00.000-07:00I've always found that reading any text, spiritual...I've always found that reading any text, spiritual or secular, aloud affords me greater concentration, comprehension and depth to what I read. It also aids in remembering more of what was read. Perhaps this is why in many monasteries at the refectory the monastic brothers/sisters eat in silence as one of their appointed members reads from a spiritual text -- nourishing the soul whilst nourishing the body.<BR/><BR/>I seem to recall it mentioned in the life of St Ambrose of Milan that he was considered extremely learned because, 'contrary to custom', he read silently, to himself! That just goes to show how we can so easily presume that things 'have always been that way' just because we do them that way now or never thought twice about it. <BR/><BR/>In the ancient Church did not the bishop or priest sit to preach while the people stood? In many Eastern Orthodox churches today both the bishop/priest =and= the people ALL stand during the sermon. <BR/><BR/>GaryGaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03149140919235404039noreply@blogger.com