The bestselling author of The Cloister Walk reflects on the sanctifying possibilities of everyday work and how God is present in worship and liturg...
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Dec 19, 2011
Virginia
rated it: 
It's hard for me to rate such a simple and thought-provoking book. Mostly because my brain just isn't wired (lately, anyway) to absorb as much as possible from Norris's contemplative narrative. It was a simultaneous case of being chock-full truth nuggets and meandering narrative full of images and prose. In short, I think I'm too dense for this book.
Truly, I want to be deep and philosophical enough to understand the nuances of this book and to be able to translate it in a review. How More...
Truly, I want to be deep and philosophical enough to understand the nuances of this book and to be able to translate it in a review. How More...
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 09, 2009
Willa
rated it: 
Quote from the book:
"...when human beings try to "do everything at once and for all and be through with it," we court acedia, self-destruction and death. Such power is reserved for God, who alone can turn what is "already done" into something that is ongoing and ever present. It is a quotidian mystery.
Modern psychology does not always know what to make of mystery, but it is in agreement with the psychology of the ancient desert monastics in recogn More...
"...when human beings try to "do everything at once and for all and be through with it," we court acedia, self-destruction and death. Such power is reserved for God, who alone can turn what is "already done" into something that is ongoing and ever present. It is a quotidian mystery.
Modern psychology does not always know what to make of mystery, but it is in agreement with the psychology of the ancient desert monastics in recogn More...
Jul 29, 2011
I enjoyed this short book even though at times it was a bit slow. I love Kathleen Norris, so I knew I wouldn't be wasting my time, even if it didn't end up being my favorite. I consider myself a feminist, although maybe more of the live-and-let-live mindset that we're all equal but different rather than the all women have got to do what most men do in order to prove our worth mindset... That said, I appreciated Norris' thoughts on the connection between baking bread, laundry, and the spiritual i
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Jun 24, 2010
Melinda
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This is actually the first book I read by Kathleen Norris, because I found the title intriguing. It is the text of a lecture the author gave in 1998 that was sponsored by the Center for Spirituality at Saint Mary's College at Notre Dame.
"Quotidian means occurring every day, belonging to every day; commonplace, ordinary."
The author finds that, like Therese of Lisieux, Christ was most abundantly present to her not "during my hours of prayer... but rather i More...
"Quotidian means occurring every day, belonging to every day; commonplace, ordinary."
The author finds that, like Therese of Lisieux, Christ was most abundantly present to her not "during my hours of prayer... but rather i More...
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Jan 30, 2010
Audra (Unabridged Chick)
rated it:
This slim volume explores Norris' thoughts on everyday life and the inherent spirituality found in it. Most well-known for her book The Cloister Walk, Norris turns her focus to the idea of 'acedia' or spiritual torpor, and the way everyday tasks--doing the dishes, washing the laundry, going to work--can alleviate this ennui. In fact, Norris suggests that it is the everyday, or quotidian, that connects us more deeply to God. I found this book incredibly inspiring, but I was able to separate Norri
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Jan 19, 2010
Susie
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My brother gave me this book a long time ago. I think it incredibly appropriate, as I am now very much consumed in "every day" tasks, that I just now picked it up to read.
Norris writes about the "quotidian," the every day, unending tasks we must all perform (or hire someone to perform for us): laundry, cooking, cleaning. She writes about these tasks as both priestly services we perform, active in the process of our transformation, and exhausting ritual which can More...
Norris writes about the "quotidian," the every day, unending tasks we must all perform (or hire someone to perform for us): laundry, cooking, cleaning. She writes about these tasks as both priestly services we perform, active in the process of our transformation, and exhausting ritual which can More...
Jun 13, 2010
Kristen
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Kathleen Norris' little book about "laundry, liturgy and 'women's work'" is a must read for anyone who struggles to see the value in repetitive tasks. Quotidian is a word from the Latin meaning daily or ordinary, and in our society where we feel measured by our output, these everyday things like laundry, cooking and dishes can be very discouraging to those who do them day in and day out. It might also be a good read for a spouse who has trouble understanding exactly what their partne
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Nov 08, 2011
S.
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I saw this book reviewed on a friend's blog and was intrigued by the title. Although I had not read anything by Kathleen Norris before, I did find this small book to be a very timely read. It was an excellent reminder that those daily tasks are not only essential to maintaining order in our lives in a physical sense, but in a spiritual and even mental sense as well.
Feb 28, 2009
Mystie
rated it:
Own. Kathleen Norris is devoutly Catholic, but her essay is well-grounded in Scripture and Christ; I do not think her Catholicism is a hindrance to her encouraging, earthy message: it is in repetitive, "menial" work that holy contemplation lie, in tedious necessities that we find ourselves and God once our vision is cleared and focused.
Did you notice that was all one sentence? :)
Did you notice that was all one sentence? :)
May 08, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
An intelligent and insightful book-length essay about why we need routine, chores, "women's work" in our lives, and how it's a reflection of the rhythm and devotion God desires in our walk with Him.
Written from a Catholic perspective, there are parts that seem a little foreign to this Protestant girl, but it's poetry nonetheless.
Written from a Catholic perspective, there are parts that seem a little foreign to this Protestant girl, but it's poetry nonetheless.
Jan 02, 2011
Meagan
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I loved this text for so many reasons - a reminder of the beauty of what is ordinary, and of how we can serve God with what we do each day. Aside from sorting through, trying to understand Norris's predilection toward depression and her great fear of having children, this book resonated deeply with so much of what I believe.
Aug 15, 2011
Becky
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There is that moment while reading anything that is touching me that I start to think about flipping back to the beginning and starting over. I have to content myself with a promise to reread it some day. That happened several times while I read this little book. I can imagine I'll return to it over and over.
Aug 19, 2010
Eileen
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Norris is a convert to Catholicism and as such is prejudiced in its favor, but aside from the “liturgy” parts, she has a lot to say about the holiness of the everyday. A more modern take on Bro. Lawrence's Practice of the Presence of God during things like sweeping, picking up, doing the dishes. She sees this everyday work (that can seem so tedious) as an opportunity to practice a spiritual discipline, and in doing so, finds profound meaning in the ordinary.
Mar 03, 2009
Mary
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If I had three more stars to give this book, I would. As a stay-at-home mom, sometimes I need to know that what I'm doing has value. This connected it with my faith, in a way that I didn't expect. I need to give it away more often, but it's hard to find!
Jan 09, 2009
Anne
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A nice little book (88 pages) contrasting the at-times dull dailinesss of life and and repetetive nature of liturgical worship, and how both promote and interfere with spiritual development. The author sticks to relatively few theological points, which I found helpful. Plus I will now feel that folding the kitchen towels has a higher purpose.
Jul 11, 2008
Keith
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At first I was a little put off by the title of this book. I had heard Kathleen throwing the word "quotidian" around in a few intellectual circles. I had never heard the word, and thought it a bit "pretentious". Then I read the book. It is a magnificent little work. "Quotidian" is a Latin, I think, word for "dailiness", the common things people need to do to live day in and day out. This book has profound gravity. And it is not pretentious at all.
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Sep 29, 2011
Amy
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I liked this book though it took me forever to read for some reason. God has been speaking to me alot lately about seeing the sacred in the mundane and this book speaks directly to that. Very good.
Mar 22, 2009
Erin
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I like this little book (88 pages) for a number of reasons:
1. I enjoyed Norris' look at the dailiness of life and how this connects us with God, who loves and saves daily.
2. Norris introduced me to the term acedia (spiritual torpor) at the perfect time in my life! She talks in depth about how acedia tricks us into feeling that life needs to constantly be exciting and activity driven. She talks about how liturgy, housework and marriage all need daily upkeep to remain s More...
1. I enjoyed Norris' look at the dailiness of life and how this connects us with God, who loves and saves daily.
2. Norris introduced me to the term acedia (spiritual torpor) at the perfect time in my life! She talks in depth about how acedia tricks us into feeling that life needs to constantly be exciting and activity driven. She talks about how liturgy, housework and marriage all need daily upkeep to remain s More...
Dec 27, 2010
Michelle
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Rec. by Ann Voskamp. Short but dense, worth a re-reading or two! Might be a good recommend for deep-thinker moms.
Dec 09, 2011
Lisa
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I struggled to get into this at the beginning, but I was devouring it by the time I reached the end.
Apr 19, 2009
Melissa
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Some great thoughts on ritual, religion, and housework and how they all tie together.
Oct 22, 2009
Amy
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A short must-read, especially for women. I think it would have been even more profound at a different time in life- I could see how stay-at-home mothers would really connect with her words. One day when I am a stay-at-home poet, I know I will return to this book to gain some perspective.
Jun 26, 2009
Marti
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An essay about the importance of the daily mundane tasks of life and their spiritual value. Vintage Norris.
Jun 29, 2011
Bethany
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It had some interesting thoughts to ponder that I enjoyed, but it was really just a woman's ramblings. I may just have not been in the mood for her philosophical thinking. I found this book from a blog article that was sent to me by a friend. http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/... I think I enjoyed the blog article because it took the book and summed up the main ideas in one concise article. You might enjoy it more than I did, but it was ok.
Sep 23, 2008
Emily
rated it:
My second or third reading...
A breath of fresh air ....
A good reminder that doing the 'everyday' is an invitation to so much more than the drudgery than we think it is.
An honest look at acedia, anger, and seasons in life.
An introduction to the contemporary contribution that the saint and desert mother and fathers have for us today.
A delightful introduction to the author and her poetry and writing.
A breath of fresh air ....
A good reminder that doing the 'everyday' is an invitation to so much more than the drudgery than we think it is.
An honest look at acedia, anger, and seasons in life.
An introduction to the contemporary contribution that the saint and desert mother and fathers have for us today.
A delightful introduction to the author and her poetry and writing.
Nov 29, 2011
Jen
rated it:
I love Kathleen Norris to begin with, and I loved this short book (lecture text, actually) about the connection between our everyday tasks and the spiritual. As someone who has found herself more and more consumed with daily tasks over the past four years of being a stay-at-home mom, it was uplifting to be reminded that laundry and housework are acts of love.
Mar 30, 2009
Nancy Graham
rated it:
More spiritual insights and mastery of the language from Kathleen Norris.
Jan 06, 2008
Shiloh
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This book was recommended by Rachel Timson. It was a quick read, and sometimes seemed to go off on a couple of interesting tangents, but the main thing I got from this book was how God is in the little things. We tend to think of God in the major accomplishments, but you often find Him in the little things, if we are faithful and thankful in them.
Nov 05, 2010
Elaine
rated it:
Kate and Marylynn this book is for us!
This book was so insightful. It calmed my soul, made me laugh and helped me as I am going through a rough time. It made all the mundane tasks of my past and all that faces me become full of grace. I shall keep it near to read some passages over and over.
This book was so insightful. It calmed my soul, made me laugh and helped me as I am going through a rough time. It made all the mundane tasks of my past and all that faces me become full of grace. I shall keep it near to read some passages over and over.
