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The Benedictine Handbook
The Benedictine Handbook is a lifelong companion for oblates, associates, and friends of the Benedictine communities. Many people who visit communities for retreats and quiet days look for help in integrating into their daily lives some of the things they see and experience. This handbook will help people follow the Rule of Benedict as it explains the essential elements of Benedictine spirituality. It provides information on the spread of the Benedictine movement, its outstanding figures, and the main branches of the Benedictine family today. It also includes a simple version of the Daily Office and a collection of Benedictine devotions. It is a member's handbook" that deepens the sense of belonging among those who seek regular contact with a Benedictine community.
The Benedictine Handbook will appeal to a broad range of readers who may or may not be familiar with Benedictine literature. The contributors to The Benedictine Handbook come from Benedictine backgrounds in the United States and Europe.
Chapters and contributors include in Part One: Tools of Benedictine Spirituality *The Work of God, - by Demetrius Dumm; *Lectio Divina, - by Michal Casey; *Prayer, - by Mary Forman; *Work, - by Lauren McTaggart; *Perseverance, - by Kym Harris; *The Vows, - by Richard Yeo; and *Hospitality, - by Kathleen Norris. Part Two: The Benedictine Experience of God includes *A Simple Daily Office, - by Fr. Oswald; *Benedictine Prayers, - by Fr. Anthony; *A Benedictine Who's Who, - by Robert Atwell; and *Benedictine Holy Places, - by ColmanO'Clabaigh. Part Three: Living the Rule includes *In Community, - by Columba Stewart; *In Solitude, - by Maria Boulding; *As Oblates, - by Patrick Phelan; and *In the World, - by Esther de Wall. Part Four: The Benedictine Family includes *A Short History, - by Joe Rippinger; *Benedictine Orders, - by Dominic Milroy; and *The Cistercian Tradition, - by Nivard Kinsella. The contributors to Part Five: A Glossary of Benedictine Terms are Terrence Kardong and Jill Maria Murdy. A Benedictine Handbook also includes *Preface to the Rule, - by Patrick Barry; and *The Rule (Patrick Barry's Version). -
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The Benedictine Handbook will appeal to a broad range of readers who may or may not be familiar with Benedictine literature. The contributors to The Benedictine Handbook come from Benedictine backgrounds in the United States and Europe.
Chapters and contributors include in Part One: Tools of Benedictine Spirituality *The Work of God, - by Demetrius Dumm; *Lectio Divina, - by Michal Casey; *Prayer, - by Mary Forman; *Work, - by Lauren McTaggart; *Perseverance, - by Kym Harris; *The Vows, - by Richard Yeo; and *Hospitality, - by Kathleen Norris. Part Two: The Benedictine Experience of God includes *A Simple Daily Office, - by Fr. Oswald; *Benedictine Prayers, - by Fr. Anthony; *A Benedictine Who's Who, - by Robert Atwell; and *Benedictine Holy Places, - by ColmanO'Clabaigh. Part Three: Living the Rule includes *In Community, - by Columba Stewart; *In Solitude, - by Maria Boulding; *As Oblates, - by Patrick Phelan; and *In the World, - by Esther de Wall. Part Four: The Benedictine Family includes *A Short History, - by Joe Rippinger; *Benedictine Orders, - by Dominic Milroy; and *The Cistercian Tradition, - by Nivard Kinsella. The contributors to Part Five: A Glossary of Benedictine Terms are Terrence Kardong and Jill Maria Murdy. A Benedictine Handbook also includes *Preface to the Rule, - by Patrick Barry; and *The Rule (Patrick Barry's Version). -
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366 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2003
17 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 27, 2016
To finish out this year I have chosen to review the two best resources I’ve found for becoming a Benedictine Oblate. Both books are beautifully bound with durable hardcovers designed for years of use. They are similar in style and format with topical essays in easy to read chapters written by excellent contributing authors.
The Benedictine Handbook begins with a brief introduction to Saint Benedict and his Rule followed by the tools for Benedictine spirituality and how to practice them in our every day lives whether we live in a community or as a solitary. The Benedictine Handbook is an excellent resource to help you understand the basics of the Benedictine lifestyle and the foundation of this type of spiritual walk.
The Oblate Life though very similar in style and format regarding Benedictine history and spirituality, it focuses mostly on what it means to live as a Benedictine oblate. Whether married with a family or single, in our community or the church, the essays cover all areas and seasons of life. The bibliography in The Oblate Life is an excellent list of resources to help us delve deeper into all things Benedictine.
If you feel called to the Benedictine spiritual walk both of these books are a must have for your library. The Benedictine Handbook and The Oblate Life both serve as a great introductions to many of the best Benedictine authors in the market today. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying both books and will continue to for years to come.
The Benedictine Handbook begins with a brief introduction to Saint Benedict and his Rule followed by the tools for Benedictine spirituality and how to practice them in our every day lives whether we live in a community or as a solitary. The Benedictine Handbook is an excellent resource to help you understand the basics of the Benedictine lifestyle and the foundation of this type of spiritual walk.
The Oblate Life though very similar in style and format regarding Benedictine history and spirituality, it focuses mostly on what it means to live as a Benedictine oblate. Whether married with a family or single, in our community or the church, the essays cover all areas and seasons of life. The bibliography in The Oblate Life is an excellent list of resources to help us delve deeper into all things Benedictine.
If you feel called to the Benedictine spiritual walk both of these books are a must have for your library. The Benedictine Handbook and The Oblate Life both serve as a great introductions to many of the best Benedictine authors in the market today. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying both books and will continue to for years to come.
July 11, 2018
It is an extensive primarium into everything Benedictine not just for Benedictines and Oblates but for anyone with an interest in the Benedictine Rule and how it is to be lived. The book is divided into Six parts:
i. ST. BENEDICTS RULE
a. Short Introduction
b. A new Translation for today
ii. TOOLS OF BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY
a. The work of God
b. The art of Lectio Divina
c. Prayer
d. Work
e. Perseverance
f. The Vows
g. Hospitality
iii. THE BENEDICTINE EXPERIENCE OF GOD
a. A simple Daily Office - Morning and Evening Prayer
b. Little Hours
c. Benedictine Prayers
d. A Benedictine Who’s Who
e. Benedictine Holy Places
iv. LIVING THE RULE
a. In Community
b. In Solitude
c. As an Oblate
d. In the World
v. THE BENEDICTINE FAMILY
a. A Short History
b. Benedictines Worldwide
c. The Cistercian Tradition
vi. A GLOSSARY OF BENEDICTINE TERMS
Giving a history of the Benedictine Order and their reforms occurring since its foundation 1489 years ago, which include the history of the Cistercian Order and their reforms, the Rule of St. Benedict, tools for Benedictine Spirituality, the Benedictine experience of God, how to adopt this charism and spirituality within a community, as a solitude or oblate, and in the world; the brief biographies of Benedictine Saints and Blesseds, religious and lay men and women who adhered themselves to the Orders spirituality and Charism; and morning and evening prayers for those who have no ordered prayer regime.
The book is a peerless exemplar for the inquisitive, admirers, religious, oblates and lay persons. I think every person who should have a copy of this book as it will guide you toward being a better person. My only regret is that it was missing Br. Jerome Leo’s commentary on the Rule and perhaps some Benedictine approved website links such as Sr. Aquinata Böckmann OSB’s Bibliography for Students of the Rule http://www.osb.org/rb/rbbib/toc.html and General Information and Topics of the Order http://www.osb.org/gen/index.html and perhaps a Benedictine Bibliography.
i. ST. BENEDICTS RULE
a. Short Introduction
b. A new Translation for today
ii. TOOLS OF BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY
a. The work of God
b. The art of Lectio Divina
c. Prayer
d. Work
e. Perseverance
f. The Vows
g. Hospitality
iii. THE BENEDICTINE EXPERIENCE OF GOD
a. A simple Daily Office - Morning and Evening Prayer
b. Little Hours
c. Benedictine Prayers
d. A Benedictine Who’s Who
e. Benedictine Holy Places
iv. LIVING THE RULE
a. In Community
b. In Solitude
c. As an Oblate
d. In the World
v. THE BENEDICTINE FAMILY
a. A Short History
b. Benedictines Worldwide
c. The Cistercian Tradition
vi. A GLOSSARY OF BENEDICTINE TERMS
Giving a history of the Benedictine Order and their reforms occurring since its foundation 1489 years ago, which include the history of the Cistercian Order and their reforms, the Rule of St. Benedict, tools for Benedictine Spirituality, the Benedictine experience of God, how to adopt this charism and spirituality within a community, as a solitude or oblate, and in the world; the brief biographies of Benedictine Saints and Blesseds, religious and lay men and women who adhered themselves to the Orders spirituality and Charism; and morning and evening prayers for those who have no ordered prayer regime.
The book is a peerless exemplar for the inquisitive, admirers, religious, oblates and lay persons. I think every person who should have a copy of this book as it will guide you toward being a better person. My only regret is that it was missing Br. Jerome Leo’s commentary on the Rule and perhaps some Benedictine approved website links such as Sr. Aquinata Böckmann OSB’s Bibliography for Students of the Rule http://www.osb.org/rb/rbbib/toc.html and General Information and Topics of the Order http://www.osb.org/gen/index.html and perhaps a Benedictine Bibliography.
December 16, 2024
I just love Benedict’s dynamic writing which really captivated the reader and leaves them yearning for more. The climax was very well-written—I just couldn’t put it down! And the characters seem to jump off the page, they’re so vivid in my mind. Especially when the kids who do something mildly incongruous with the Rule have to be beaten with a rod. Benedict is such a talented author; I look forward to never reading this again.
December 10, 2015
This was read as part of an oblate training program. It is the best book I have read for the program. It gave me what I spent the first year looking for. It has organized prayers, a long list of Benedictines, a short history, and a useful glossary. If you are interested in associating with a Benedictine house, I would strongly recommend this text.
January 20, 2010
Warning! Religious! Good essay about lectio divina...which I think is similar to what Sherman Alexie wrote about in "Absolutely True Diary" about reading something 3 times. I dunno...just thought provoking on making the spiritual an actual daily aspect.
May 4, 2013
Excellent overview of Benedictine spirituality for people new to the Benedictine tradition.
September 6, 2021
An excellent introduction for me to Benedictine monasticism.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews