Just like prayer, reading of spiritual literature on a daily basis is essential for us. St. Theophan the Recluse tells us, "Without reading, it seems stuffy and the soul feels hungry." Good spiritual books are our best friends, our teachers, instructors, and directors. We should read and re-read them, study them, and take notes. Through such books we have encounters with the saints, with those who bear the Holy Spirit of God. Thus, reading should always be preferable to empty conversation. A good spiritual library is the most precious of treasures on earth, and we should spare neither time nor expense in its acquisition.
Whenever a Christian begins to notice his spirit weakening, his zeal cooling, his prayers becoming less fervent, one of the best ways toward improvement, toward reinvigorating his zeal, is to read a good spiritual book. When we become aware of the saints’ spiritual beauty, their zeal, their loftiness of spirit, and their exalted spiritual experiences we find that a yearning to follow their example in some measure has awakened in us of its own accord.
At the same time, one must remember the wisdom of the saying , "A teaspoon of tar spoils the whole barrel of honey." If, for some reason (such as carelessness) we should find ourselves tasting of spiritual poison, reading literature inappropriate for a Christian, we should remember the words of St. Peter Damascene: "When the Lord, says St. Basil the Great, finds a heart free of all secular matters and teachings, He inscribes His teachings upon it, as on a clean slate. I say this so that no one might read anything not pleasing to God. Should anyone inadvertently read [such things], let him quickly crush their memory by turning to spiritual reading, both of Divine Scriptures and other works consistent with his station, works he is able to comprehend and which are unto the salvation of the soul.
From henceforth let us read nothing other than Divine Scripture. What need have we of receiving an unclean spirit instead of the Holy Spirit? Although we might not see it as a repulsive matter, something others with experience might recognize, we adopt the spirit behind the words in which we indulge." Unfortunately, in our times, only monastics and those few Christians who can lead a life free of distraction follow that last bit of advice. Nonetheless, everyone should remember the following instruction by St. John of Kronstadt: "You follow the events of the external world, reading secular compositions, magazines and newspapers. Do not lose sight of your internal world, your soul; it is both nearer and dearer to you [than is the external world]. From henceforth, read the Holy Gospels and the writings of the Holy Fathers ever more often; it is sinful for a Christian not to read Divinely-inspired works.
Everything earthly will end with the earth: "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof… (I John 2, 17)."
Reading can be likened to a medicine, but one which heals not the body, but the soul. Like the body, the soul can be afflicted with a variety of maladies. For each individual disease there are specific indicated medicines, and for each soul, one must find the spiritual literature appropriate to its illness. Literature appropriate to people of a contemplative nature (the Maria of the Gospel story) is not as fitting for people of an active nature (the Martha of the same story), and vice versa.
Books of the ancient type are not for everyone. Some people, "children in Christ" will find interesting only spiritual stories, etc. As St. Ignatius Brianchaninov writes "It is absolutely necessary that reading correspond to [your] way of life. Otherwise, while you may be filled with ideas of the saints, you will find yourself unable to act upon them, will be aroused to fruitless activity in imagination and desire only, while the acts of piety consistent with your way of life slip through your fingers. Moreover, you will become an empty dreamer. Your thoughts, constantly at odds with what is happening around you, will give rise in your heart to doubt, bringing uncertainty to your behavior, and become burdensome, detrimental both to yourself and to those close to you." For this reason, in choosing reading materials, those who are still spiritually young and unschooled in literature should seek direction from experienced people….
Spiritual reading helps us in the podvig of prayer as well. When our prayers become cold and distracted, spiritual reading helps bring prayer back to life. St. Isaac of Syria says the following on the subject: "Whenever you become absent-minded, choose spiritual reading over prayer, for reading is the source of pure prayer."
If we can place ourselves in a healthy environment, among people who are spiritually alive and who nourish their souls with spiritual literature, our minds will dwell among Divine Truths, in bright thoughts which nourish us with wisdom, faith, hope, love, humility and other virtues. Then our minds and hearts will delve into the contemplation of Truth and the Pre-eternal beauty of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and His Bride, the Universal Church. The Truth will fill our minds, and beauty will take hold of our hearts.
Of its own accord, the Holy Apostle Paul’s admonition will be fulfilled: that we think only on "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise…" (Philippians 4:8).