Founts of Wisdom
A kind and very intelligent friend named Veronica gently suggested that I refer to more sources in my articles, rather than simply stick to one. There is a story behind this way of procedure in my case.
When I was in high school, I wanted to do some serious reading for my own personal formation. I was in despair, however, since there were millions of books in print. It was not possible to read them all, so which ones should I choose? I decided to organize my reading and came up with a plan. I would first read spiritual books, followed by the Church documents, theology, philosophy, history, anthropology, psychology, the sciences and literature. The first spiritual book I opened was the Bible. I read it from cover to cover five times in my teen years. The second book I read was the “Imitation of Christ” since it had been recommended by five famous saints and was the most sold in the world after the Scriptures. This work I meditated innumerable times. As far as spirituality was concerned, I limited myself to the classic works of the saints and Doctors of the Church. I read therefore the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis de Sales, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Louis de Montfort, St. Theresa of Lisieux, St. Peter Eymard, etc. during my seminary and novitiate years.
To learn about Church history, the author I considered best for this was Henri Daniel-Rops, whose volumes I devoured completely. No one is better to recount the lives of the saints than Henri Gheon. It was not possible to read all the documents that the Holy See put out, so I limited myself to studying only the encyclicals. I was able to read every encyclical from Leo XIII to Pope Benedict XVI. I managed to read all of the documents of Vatican II and the commentaries on them. Concerning philosophy, I did not bother to read any text of the famous philosophers of history (I considered them to be all crackpots and I did not want to mess up my mind with their nutty sophisms). I selected Jacques Maritain, St. Thomas Aquinas, Etienne Gilson and Dietrich von Hildebrand as my teachers of this lofty science. I read the principal works of St. Thomas Aquinas and about 30% of Maritain´s books (he wrote over ninety works). It is from them that I learned my philosophy.
Even so, I consider the couple Robert and Mary Joyce to be one of the greatest philosophers of all times and their philosophy of being will one day usher in a new era of profound, fresh and original theological and philosophical ideas to the minds of many. It will be a new spring time of intellectual blossoming and thought for the world and the Church. I also read some of the works of John Paul II and all of his Wednesday audiences on the theology of the body. The greatest psychiatrists of the past 60 years were Conrad Baars and Anna Terruwe and their precious findings will make a major breakthrough in this agonizing science. In the area of natural health, I have found no one who is more knowledgeable in these matters than the late Dr. Afonso Balbach and his successor Dr. Daniel Boarim. Both are from Brazil and have made some fantastic discoveries in the area of natural cures and causes. Finally, I consider Dr. Wilk (es) of Australia to be the greatest pharmacist in the world and the book he wrote will not be easily replaced by any other so soon.
As one can see, I have so much to read that there really is not time enough to consult a second or third or more source. Many times, these other sources are simply students of the first source and will only repeat what their masters have said. If they do come up with some original thinking of their own, then they are worthy of consideration, research and citation also.
Anthony Mellace
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