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Benedict's disciples
A fascinating presentation of the great monastic figures, monks and nuns, who have contributed so much to British history, written by a range of the foremost Benedictine scholars of out time.
Spanning the period from the sixth century to the twentieth, these lives show the followers of the Rule of St Benedict to have been one of the most important influences in the making of Europe.
Edited by the noted scholar and mediaevalist Hugh David Farmer.
Spanning the period from the sixth century to the twentieth, these lives show the followers of the Rule of St Benedict to have been one of the most important influences in the making of Europe.
Edited by the noted scholar and mediaevalist Hugh David Farmer.
354 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 27, 2009
I had always heard the history of the monasteries in England as "There were some, and then there weren't, and now there are."
This book fills that in, mostly through a series of chapters focusing on individuals. The final chapters focus on topics in the present era. Each chapter is written by a different monk or nun, providing slightly different perspectives on the history from people who are a part of the same continuing thread.
I think a lot of history of the monasteries focuses on the secular community and the point at which the monastery interacts with the secular world. This books looks at monastacism from the inside out. Very good book.
This book fills that in, mostly through a series of chapters focusing on individuals. The final chapters focus on topics in the present era. Each chapter is written by a different monk or nun, providing slightly different perspectives on the history from people who are a part of the same continuing thread.
I think a lot of history of the monasteries focuses on the secular community and the point at which the monastery interacts with the secular world. This books looks at monastacism from the inside out. Very good book.
April 26, 2019
“Considering the antiquity of Benedictine monasticism, it is surprising that the number of monks who have been canonized is relatively small. Benedictine saints fall mainly into three classes: abbots (or bishops), martyrs or missionaries, with the occasional great scholar like the Venerable Bede forming an exception.” (p. 249)
Very useful for any in-depth consideration of the Benedictine tradition, this book devotes pages to a number of individual male and a few female Benedictines. But Wait, There’s More! a la infomercial. There’s a fine chapter on the rise and fall of Cluny, pillaged during the French Revolution. (“Passing that way years later, Napoleon refused to visit the town that perpetrated such vandalism.” (pp. 137-138)) Other chapters include: Benedictines of Today and The Benedictine Revival of the Nineteen Century.
(This is a review of the 1980 Fowler Wright edition.)
Very useful for any in-depth consideration of the Benedictine tradition, this book devotes pages to a number of individual male and a few female Benedictines. But Wait, There’s More! a la infomercial. There’s a fine chapter on the rise and fall of Cluny, pillaged during the French Revolution. (“Passing that way years later, Napoleon refused to visit the town that perpetrated such vandalism.” (pp. 137-138)) Other chapters include: Benedictines of Today and The Benedictine Revival of the Nineteen Century.
(This is a review of the 1980 Fowler Wright edition.)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews