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37th out of 90 books
—
26 voters
The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and Woman's "Work"
In this insightful and deeply personal work, Kathleen Norris, an award-winning poet and author of both Dakota: A Spiritual Geography and The Cloister Walk, draws on her life experiences, her poetry and her love of the Benedictine tradition to discuss the mysterious way that the daily or "quotidian" can open us to the transforming presence of God. This volume is the text of...more
Paperback, 104 pages
Published
January 1st 1998
by Paulist Press
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This book is basically an expanded, poetic expression of the more concise thought we find in the epistles: “Whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not as unto men.” Now I’ve long been familiar with that Bible verse. I’ve thought about it, and I’ve tried to apply it, but I’ve never succeeded. Yet thinking of work – particularly the repetitive work that is never finished because it must be done anew every day – as a kind of liturgy has been quite helpful to me. Before reading this...more
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. However, that f...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. However, that f...more
2 likes · like · see review
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 recognizing that depression is often the flip side of a...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 recognizing that depression is often the flip side of a...more
2 likes · like · see review
Jul 25, 2011
Lacey
added it
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...more
Indeed, bearing children who will one day die, as we ourselves must die, that's some heavy stuff. It was a great plane read -- the everyday things that give our lives structure include the titular subjects which are often denigrated and dismissed. Laundry should be hung to dry outside if possible. Priests, washing communion dishes, are some absurb and lovely version of housewifery. Taking care of your family keeps you sane and gives life meaning. That is what I learned from this lovely book. I t...more
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 in the midst of my daily occupations" (quo...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 in the midst of my daily occupations" (quo...more
I got this wise little (88 pages) book used on Amazon. What a find! Kathleen Norris writes about the spiritual fruit of doing everyday, repetitive tasks. The title might make it seem like a sort of anti-feminist tract, but it's actually a book for anyone who struggles with the notion of doing mundane tasks when they'd rather be out writing novels and saving the world. Washing dishes, doing laundry, and generally "showing up" can be spiritual food, our daily bread--the things that sustain us in t...more
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...more
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 lead us to acedia (ennui, malais...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 lead us to acedia (ennui, malais...more
A "trail-mix" smakeral of a book -- lots of tasty tid-bits, plenty of stuff that is nothing but a chewing exercise, and some down-right mouth-watering morsels. Admit it--the title "made you look", didn't it? Or perhaps it was the author's name that would put this on your "to read" list. At only 88 pages, it's a fairly quick read. In fact, it's a transcript of a lecture given in 1998 and, in it's field, is quite an honor to be invited to do so.
I rather wish I owned my own copy to mark up and refe...more
I rather wish I owned my own copy to mark up and refe...more
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 partner does day i...more
Such a rich (and short) exploration of the spiritual value of ordinary things. Like Brother Lawrence's work, but taken from a different vantage point, Norris' 1998 Madeleva lecture points the way to how we can have the wonder of children and the blessing of sages while putting another load in the wash.
A special thanks to Drew Norris whose love of this book led to my reading of it.
A special thanks to Drew Norris whose love of this book led to my reading of it.
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.
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? :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
This is a very short little book, but I had a hard time keeping my attention on the flow of thought. The author doesn't say anything wrong really... actually, she makes some good points. But I'm not much for poetic ramblings and I found myself skimming through whole pages of that stuff. I think it came down to not appreciating the writing style much.
Jul 11, 2008
Keith
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
lovely people
Recommended to Keith by:
no one. Found it on Kathleen's web site.
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. It is a collection from some lectures she gave....more
This was a beautiful and encouraging little book, a blessed reminder of the holiness of our daily tasks. It's one of those lovely and thought-provoking books best read slowly and repeatedly.
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.
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 strong.
3. Norris asserts that...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 strong.
3. Norris asserts that...more
Norris never disappoints me. In this tiny but powerful book, she explores the paradox of being transformed through the quotidian, and how our dreaded mundane tasks can "free us, mind and heart, for the workings of the Holy Spirit".
Written in Norris's normal straightforward, honest and witty prose, this gets to the heart of domestic work and helps us to see it as more than drudgery.
Norris breathes life into that which is dusty to us--and if not dusty, then dusted by someone paid by us. The things that so many wouldn't think to mention when asked, "What are you doing these days," are brought into the spotlight and become the means of God's grace. They always have been; Norris is drawing upon ancient wisdom. After all, "Christian faith is a way of life, not an impregnable fortress made up of ideas; not a philosophy; not a grocery list of beliefs" (77, Paulist Press edition)....more
Loved this concept of the common events of our daily lives being richly profound! We are transformed by what we do. Deep, yet simple.
Rec. by Ann Voskamp. Short but dense, worth a re-reading or two! Might be a good recommend for deep-thinker moms.
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Kathleen Norris was born on July 27, 1947 in Washington, D.C. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as on her maternal grandparents’ farm in Lemmon, South Dakota.
Her sheltered upbringing left her unprepared for the world she encountered when she began attending Bennington College in Vermont. At first shocked by the unconventionality surrounding her, Norris took refuge in poetry.
After she grad...more
More about Kathleen Norris...
Her sheltered upbringing left her unprepared for the world she encountered when she began attending Bennington College in Vermont. At first shocked by the unconventionality surrounding her, Norris took refuge in poetry.
After she grad...more
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“Laundry, liturgy and women's work all serve to ground us in the world, and they need not grind us down. Our daily tasks, whether we perceive them as drudgery or essential, life-supporting work, do not define who we are as women or as human beings.”
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13 people liked it
“The Bible is full of evidence that God's attention is indeed fixed on the little things. But this is not because God is a great cosmic cop, eager to catch us in minor transgressions, but simply because God loves us--loves us so much that we the divine presence is revealed even in the meaningless workings of daily life. It is in the ordinary, the here-and-now, that God asks us to recognize that the creation is indeed refreshed like dew-laden grass that is "renewed in the morning" or to put it in more personal and also theological terms, "our inner nature is being renewed everyday". Seen in this light, what strikes many modern readers as the ludicrous details in Leviticus involving God in the minuitae of daily life might be revisioned as the very love of God. ”
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8 people liked it
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Jul 26, 2012 10:17pm