The Commonplace Book
An introduction to the art of keeping a commonplace book.
I learned the art of keeping a commonplace book when I was in seminary.
A commonplace book is a depository for quotes, inspiration, and observations recorded from one’s reading, learning, and experience.
“Commonplacing” or keeping a commonplace book is an old practice that has largely faded, or at least this way of talking about it has. We all take notes, record favorite quotes with our iPhones, and maybe even try and capture inspiration on Instagram or Pintrest. However, the art of keeping a commonplace book, though taught at places like Oxford and Cambridge and practice by men like Emmerson and Lewis has largely become a thing of the past.
When I was in seminary at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, my spiritual director introduced me to the practice. He had been keeping a commonplace book for years and always has current commonplace book (essentially a small Moleskin type journal
) in a pocket, burried beneight his cassock. Then my Ascetical Theology professor, the late Fr. Rick Hartley, assigned the practice to his students, and so it began. I’ve continued commonplacing throughout the years, not with the sort of regularity or organization that would make it useful but just enough to keep it going and helpful from time to time.
Fr. Hartley encouraged us in this practice because he had found it useful in the cultivation of his life of prayer and formation, as well as in his teaching, preaching, and writing. I have found, occasionally looking back on my commonplace book has been a spiritually edifying practice for me as well. Fr. Hartley told us to include “anything that occasions compunctio cordis, or the “pricking of the heart;” that is, quotations that catch your attention either because they cause a pang of conscience or they make your heart thrill.” Capturing those moments of illumination has been meaningful for me, both in that moment and in moments when I need reminded of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and beauty.
Now with many years of this practice under my belt, I thought I would start sharing some of this captured illumination here. We’ll see how it goes!
I will share my commonplace collection here on Substack and will share most of the quotes over on my Twitter / X as well.
Make sure to click the commonplace tab to follow along.
And follow me on these platforms, it’s really helpful to the work I’m trying to do!
