The Clergy Speaks – Auxiliary Bishop David P. Talley

The Clergy Speaks – Auxiliary Bishop David P. Talley April 27, 2015

Auxiliary Bishop David TalleyWelcome back to “The Clergy Speaks”, a recurring feature here at The Catholic Book Blogger. “The Clergy Speaks” is a column focusing on one question I have asked various members of the clergy. That question is: What five books would you recommend as must-reads for Catholics today? I left the responses open to current or classic books with the only restriction being that the Bible and the Catechism could not be used as they are a given. This week we welcome Auxiliary BishopDavid P. Talley of Atlanta.

David Prescott Talley was born in Columbus, Georgia, and attended Hardaway High School in Columbus where he graduated with a high school diploma. He attended Auburn University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and went on to Sacred Heart School of Theology and the University of Georgia earning a Master’s degree in Social Work. He also attended St. Meinrad School of Theology earning a Master of Divinity degree. He then earned a degree in Canonical Graduate Studies at the Pontificia Universita Gregorian in Rome, Italy earning J.C.L. and J.C.D. degrees. He continued his studies in Spiritual Direction and Spirituality at Spring Hill College.

Fr. David P. Talley was ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Atlanta on June 3, 1989 at the Cathedral of Christ the King. His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar and Administrator of St. Jude the Apostle Parish. He served as the Assistant Director of Vocations, as Director of Vocations, Tribunal Judge, Judicial Vicar, and Chancellor.

He was named Prelate of Honor of His Holiness with the title of Monsignor on May 10, 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Msgr. David P. Talley served as Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Parochial Vicar at St. Anne Parish (Columbus, GA. Diocese of Savannah), Pastor of St. John Neumann Parish, and Pastor of St. Brigid Parish.

Msgr. David P. Talley also served on the Advisory Board for the Archdiocese representing Priests, Archdiocesan Hispanic Ministry Board, Hispanic Apostolate, Permanent Diaconate Program, in the Ministry to the Disabled, Director of the Nazareth House, and the Ad Hoc Priest Personnel Board.

He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta (Episcopal Vicar Region II) on April 02, 2013.

Here are his five must-read books for Catholics today:

1)      The Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents of Vatican II:  The documents of this 20th century Ecumenical Council continue to shine forth the Spirit’s invitation to renewal, in and through the essential kerygma of the Lord and the life of His Church and of His mercy…that all may be one.

2)      Poverty of Spirit by Johannes Baptist Metz: the essential stance of the disciple is that of the Lord Jesus in the desert….to be poor and needy before the love of the Father, trusting that God will give us what we need (not what we might want).

3)      New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton: how interiority centers and fuels the active life of discipleship.

4)      The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel: the beauty of creation and the hallowing of the gifts given, especially time.

5)      The trilogy of books by Taylor Branch:

  1. Parting the Waters : America in the King Years 1954-63
  2. Pillar of Fire : America in the King Years 1963-65
  3. At Canaan’s Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68

 

Any disciple of the Lord Jesus working in and through the ambit of the “American cultures “experienced here and now in these United States would benefit from these three books, as Taylor Branch uses Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the whole community of the civil rights movement as a lens…and a door…to an invitation…to live the promises given to us.


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