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He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands. —St. Benedict of Nursia

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Focusing and reading

Started by Kephapaulos, October 01, 2017, 08:43:58 PM

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Kephapaulos

What are some good methods for focusing and concentration for laborious reading and study?

Geremia

#1
Even if there is doubt of authenticity of this, St. Thomas's De modo studendi has good advice:
Quote
  • I command you to be slow to speak, and slow to go to the conversation room.
  • Embrace purity of conscience.
  • Do not give up spending time in prayer. [← Probably the most important!]
  • Love spending much time in your cell, if you want to be led into the wine cellar.
  • Show yourself amiable to all.
  • Do not query at all what others are doing.
  • Do not be very familiar with anyone, because familiarity breeds contempt, and provides matter for distracting you from study.
  • Do not get involved at all in the discussions and affairs of lay people.
  • Avoid conversations about all any and every matter.
  • Do not fail to imitate the example of good and holy men.
  • Do not consider who the person is you are listening to, but whatever good he says commit to memory.
  • Whatever you are doing and hearing try to understand. Resolve doubts, and put whatever you can in the storeroom of your mind, like someone wanting to fill a container.
  • Do not spend time on things beyond your grasp.