“Let your speech be patient and your silence thoughtful, for the wise man speaks so as to teach, not to wound.” —Isidore of Seville (c. 560–636) Source: Isidore of Seville, Sententiae, trans. Thomas L. Knoebel, in Isidore of Seville: Sententiae, vol. 3 of Ancient Christian Writers: The Works of the Fathers in Translation, ed. Thomas C. Oden (New York: Newman …
Coming Soon from Integratio Press, Devotionals on the Teaching Life, by John Dunaway
Minding Our Hearts: Devotionals on the Teaching Life for Christian Professors Available 2026 Editor: John Marson Dunaway Total pages: 240 [View book on Integratio Press website] Description This collection of 52 devotionals is designed for college or university professors, so all entries are connected to some aspect of faculty life: the classroom experience, research, or participation in the …
Quote of the Week, Fittingness in Communication, Thomas Aquinas
“Words should be fitting, neither excessive nor lacking, so that speech may edify and not offend.” — Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225 – 1274) Source: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II–II, q. 72, a. 1, trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province (New York: Benziger Brothers, 1947), 2:72. Reflection: In my daily conversations, how can I discern when to speak with restraint …
A Prayer for Gentle and True Words, Peter Abelard, 12th Century
“O Lord, grant that my words may be gentle and true, seasoned with wisdom, so that in speaking I may not wound but heal, not confuse but clarify, and in all things give glory to You, who are the Word made flesh.” —Peter Abelard (1079 – 1142) Source: Peter Abelard, Prayer for Pure Speech, in A Collection of Prayers from …
Coming Soon from Integratio Press, Relationships on the Run, by Stephanie Bennett
Relationships On the Run: How to Grow Authentic Connections and Lasting Intimacy in a Hurried Culture Stephanie Bennett Total pages: 200 [View book on Integratio Press website] Description Stressful. Overwhelming. Too much. If these words describe the tone of your everyday life, it’s time for a change. In the midst of a fast-paced world we need strong friends and family …
Quote of the Week, Faithful Communication, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“The first service one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) Source: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, trans. John W. Doberstein (New York: Harper & Row, 1954), 97. Reflective Question: In what ways might deep listening serve as a form of spiritual leadership in your community or vocation?
A Prayer for Speaking in Love, Listening in Grace, by Johannes Tauler (14th Century)
“Lord, teach me to listen with the ears of the heart, that I may hear not only words but the spirit behind them. Let my speech be rooted in love, and my silence be filled with understanding.” —Johannes Tauler (1300-1361) Source: Johannes Tauler, Sermons, trans. Maria Shrady (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1985), 112. Reflective Question: How might “listening with the …
Coming Soon from Integratio Press, Minding Our Hearts: Devotionals on the Teaching Life for Christian Professors
Minding Our Hearts: Devotionals on the Teaching Life for Christian Professors Available 2026 Editor: John Marson Dunaway Total pages: 240 [View book on Integratio Press website] Description This collection of 52 devotionals is designed for college or university professors, so all entries are connected to some aspect of faculty life: the classroom experience, research, or participation in the …
Quote of the Week, Wise Speech, by St. Augustine, 5th Century
“The wise man speaks because he has something to say; the fool because he wants to say something.” –St. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430 AD) Source: Augustine of Hippo, On Christian Doctrine, trans. D. W. Robertson Jr. (New York: Macmillan, 1958), 4.5.10. Reflective Question: How does Augustine’s distinction between wise and foolish speech invite us to examine our motivations …
A Prayer for the Right Words, by Alcuin of York, 8th Century
“O Lord, grant me right words to speak, that I may proclaim what is true, and wisdom to know when to be silent, that I may not speak what is false. Let my tongue be a servant of your truth, and my lips instruments of peace.” —attributed to Alcuin of York (c. 735–804), 8th Century Source: Alcuin of York, Prayer …
