A Year with the Classics

A yearlong introduction to the twelve greatest classics of Christian spirituality, making timeless wisdom accessible to today’s seekers. Across two millennia of Christian tradition, certain spiritual writers have shaped the soul of faith - calling believers to humility, contemplation, and love. In A Year with the Classics, award-winning author and scholar Jon M. Sweeney serves as a wise and welcoming guide through twelve of these foundational works, from Augustine and Teresa of Avila to Julian of Norwich and The Cloud of Unknowing. Each chapter offers an approachable “beginner’s class” on a spiritual masterpiece - exploring its origins, the life of its author, its impact over time, and what it can still teach us today. Alongside insightful commentary are simple daily and weekly practices drawn directly from each text, turning reflection into lived experience. Perfect for individual use or small groups, A Year with the Classics invites readers to slow down, read deeply, and discover the enduring beauty and relevance of Christianity’s most beloved spiritual teachers.