ONLINE BOOK GROUP The Fire of Love by Richard Rolle (c.1300-1349) - Week Nine

Week Nine – 15 July: Chapters 38 – 42: The Longing Desire

Session reading: https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/...

Questions to ponder:
• What do you make of these final chapters?
• Is Rolle describing an ecstatic moment or a continuous intense mystical experience?
• What do you value about friendship and in what ways does it express the soul’s relationship with God?
• Why is poetry so powerful in expressing our longing for the divine?
• How do you feel about Rolle at the end of the book, is it different to what you felt at the beginning?
• What do you admire about Richard Rolle and what annoys you?
• Looking back on this book group: what have you enjoyed about it? What will live with you? How has it helped or hindered in your own spiritual life? What has surprised you?
• What has it been like reading a fourteenth century text, do the words of yesterday still relate to today?

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ONLINE BOOK GROUP
The Fire of Love by Richard Rolle (c.1300-1349)
Nine sessions over 11 weeks (between 6 May - 15 July)

Tuesday evenings, 20:00 - 21:00 GMT via Zoom

The Fire of Love presents the thoughts and feelings of the 14th-century hermit Richard Rolle, as he confronts the divine mystery.

His treatise is partly autobiographical and partly a practical guide to the devout life. Alone in the unutterable knowledge of his Creator, Rolle examines the path of spiritual progress with enthusiasm, faith and above all, warmth.

Rolle’s personal love of God and the sweetness and melody of his writings assure his place among the foremost pre-Reformation English mystics.

Join Canon Emma online via Zoom to reflect and discuss this profound exploration of the love of God.

Together, over nine sessions, we shall read and discuss the complete text - focussing on specific chapters each week.

We will be reading the Penguin Classic version, translated by Clifton Wolters. This book is out of print so we will upload the relevant chapters onto our website so you can read them ahead of the group meeting.

Each week the session will be recorded so if you miss a week you can catch up along with the ‘Questions to Ponder’.

Whether you can join us for just a few or all of the gatherings, you are most welcome to read together this celebration of Richard Rolle’s profound religious experiences and the insights he gained from them to take into your own spiritual life.

The group is free, but any donation you may wish to make to the mission and ministry of the Cathedral will be warmly received.

Booking essential - Book your space to be sent a Zoom link. It will be the same zoom link for each week.

Book your free place: https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/...

Each week Canon Emma will begin with a brief introduction followed by discussion and then concluding with prayer.

Week One – 6 May: Prologue and Chapters 1 – 3: On Fire with Love

Week Two – 13 May: Chapters 4 – 8: God’s lovers

Week Three – 20 May: Chapters 9 – 12: The Holy Life

NO SESSION - 27 May (Half Term)

Week Four – 3 June: Chapters 13- 17: The Solitary Life

Week Five – 10 June: Chapters 18 – 25: The Penitential Life

Week Six – 17 June: Chapters 26 – 28: The True and Perfect Lover

Week Seven – 24 June: Chapters 29 – 32: Instructions for Beginners

Week Eight – 1 July: Chapters 33 – 37: Spiritual Song and Rapture

NO SESSION – 8 July

Week Nine – 15 July: Chapters 38 – 42: The Longing Desire