The Benedictine Tradition

The Benedictine Tradition
By:Laura Swan
Published on 2007 by Liturgical Press

When St. Benedict wrote his ?little rule for beginners? in the fifth century, he could not have known it would shape the lives of religious men and women for more than fifteen hundred years. Offering instruction on prayer and community life, Benedict?s Rule espouses the values of humility, prayer, and hospitality that have marked the lives of Benedictines throughout the ages. Benedictines are those persons who commit themselves to the Rule of Benedict, and have been popes and widows, scholars and mystics and lay people from many religious traditions, including Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans. They have lived in monasteries and ashrams, in busy urban centers, and in desert hermitages. Dedicated to God and the practices of the Liturgy of the Hours and monastic life, Benedictines have made significant contributions to chant, theology, and the preservation of spiritual works of literature and scholarship. Represented here is the work of major Benedictine figures throughout the ages, beginning with Pope Gregory?s account of the life of Benedict and arriving at recent statements by the Conference of Benedictine Prioresses on conflict in the world. Along with the Rule, the writing of these Benedictines remains as relevant today as in any age. ?Swan and Zagano?s book is a useful starting point for anyone seeking to explore the Benedictine tradition through selected primary texts with biographical introductions. It is accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and will urge them to launch out into other depths of discovery, where they will come to know more fully the author?s claim that ?Benedictine spirituality is enjoying a renaissance.?? S. Ephrem Hollermann, OSB Associate Professor of Theology College of Saint Benedict/Saint John?s University?Sr. Laura Swan?s The Benedictine Tradition is a lovely resource of Benedictine riches for anyone who desires to go more deeply into the nature of the Benedictine life of the spirit. From a 1500-year tradition, she has lovingly selected fourteen figures or groups, each representing a significant quality of Benedictine life. Each chapter begins with a quotation from Benedict?s Rule giving a clue to the quality for which this Benedictine is chosen. A very useful and helpful introduction to teach figure follows, along with some lovely selections from each one?s writings. I found myself slowing down as I read, to be nourished at leisure by the profound words of these persons committed to the Benedictine way. Sr. Laura closes with a chapter quoting from Benedictine prioresses as they reflect in writing on the monastic tradition in light of the demands of contemporary society. Those reflections offer a mirror for the whole of Sr. Laura?s book, which serves as a meditiation on how to be ?in but not of the world,? as a witness and sign of the love of Christ.? Norvene Vest Spiritual Director and Author ?Laura Swan?s eminently useful and enjoyable anthology fills an important gap in contemporary sources for the study of Benedictine spirituality. It stimulates a taste for the multiple, rich expressions of that fifteen century tradition and could well be a handbook for further study. This small volume includes a succinct historical overview of the tradition along with short biographies of some major teachers and writers as context for what can necessarily be only a few well-chosen, brief but substantial and often inspiring, selections from original text. I recommend it for college students, those beginning or renewing their monastic life, Benedictine oblates, and anyone looking for a sure guide to the basic but varied contour of Benedictine history and spirituality.? Katherine Howard, O.S.B. St. Benedict?s Monastery St. Joseph, Minnesota ?In her new book The Benedictine Tradition, Laura Swan has gathered together a very useful collection of readings. Since these selections are gleaned from her own practice of lectio divina, they will prove fruitful for the lectio of others. She has not contented herself with the usual well-known authors, but has ranged far and wide for her anthology. So we hear not only from Pope Gregory, but also from Raissa Maritain; not only from Venerable Bede, but also from Bede Griffiths. Finally , Sister Laura gives us more than little snippets; she gives us substantial excerpts for our spiritual nourishment.? Terrence Kardong, O.S.B. Assumption Abbey Richardton, North Dakota

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Book which was published by Liturgical Press since 2007 have ISBNs, ISBN 13 Code is 9780814619148 and ISBN 10 Code is 0814619142

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