Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today

by Joan D. Chittister

Wise and enduring spiritual guidelines for everyday living –– as relevant today as when The Rule was originally conceived by St. Benedict in fifth century Rome.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Faith, Theology

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Joan Daugherty Chittister, O.S.B., is an American Benedictine nun, theologian, author, and speaker. She has served as Benedictine prioress and Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like rain on parched earth for me, and made me want to learn more about Benedictine spirituality. It’s a very hopeful book for these dark times.

[Steven Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing Book Marred By Technical Errors

I am discerning whether to become an Oblate of St. Benedict. This book was recommended to me by a Benedictine sister in charge of Oblate Formation at a nearby monastery.

And it is magnificent. Very informative. Easy to read (or, in my case, listen to; actual reading, because of health reasons, is very difficult for me). Each sentence is pregnant with meaning. This book merits re-reading and re-reading; I expect each reading will yield even greater insights.

Unfortunately, the Kindle version is replete with technical errors; missing punctuation and typographical errors chief among them. I expect and readily excuse a few; no one is perfect, including editors and proofreaders. But this manuscript contains so, so many errors that it is distracting and detracts from the reading experience.

It saddens me that I could only grant this book four stars. The contents merit more. In any case, I will read this book again. And I have already purchased Kindle editions of other books by this same author that have been recommended to me. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Benedictine Spirituality.

[Jim Lavis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering the Rule of St. Benedict was written around 435 B.C.. I'm always amazed how insightful these documents are and, how even today, they are so relevant to our challenges in life. This particular book is an interpretation of the original 100 page document, and I think the author did an o.k. job with her explanation. They only reason I'm saying O.K., is because some chapters are a bit too winded and just go on and on without adding too much.

It's clear that the Rule of St. Benedict support the new finding of the Gospel of Thomas, and for me personally, that eastern influence supports my way of thinking. St. Benedict's ideology and practical approach makes sense even today. I'm glad I took the time to read this. I always learn something from reading, although it can takes some patience at times.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me yearn for the life of a monastic. I knew that I had the right book on Benedict when i saw the title of Chapter 2, "LIstening: The Key to Spiritual Grown." Ah, that we might all learn something about listening. Then I found this comment on prayer in Chapter 3. "Benedictine prayer is not designed to take people out of the world to find God. Benedictine prayer is designed to enable people to realize the God is n the world around them."

I highly recommend Chittister's book! If is full of excellent spiritual guidance.

[Daniel Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple and accessible application of the Rule of St. Benedict to our present day that I would recommend for almost anyone. Chittister addresses several modern themes with precise and refreshing truths. Everything from seeing God in the daily life, to the virtue of stability, to re-defining peace in our world. There were times I craved a little more meat and a little less accessibility, but this book serves well as a stepping stone to other books on the subject of St. Benedict.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic well-written book (though intense, so one needs the time and tranquility to digest it), on how Benedictine spirituality is simply the spirituality of the Gospels themselves, and thus helpful for every Christian. Sometimes, it made me want to become a Benedictine and live in a convent of peace and quiet!

[Maureen]

i love me the benedicts

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I probably should be a Benedictine. This is a fabulous book that I can pick up and re-read every few years and rediscover wisdom.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice commentary on St Benedict's Rule by a contemporary (yes, that's code for "progressive"!) OSB Roman Catholic nun. Really brought the Rule alive for me when I read it just after it was published.

[Gay Cochran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read with lots of wisdom, some interesting and challenging thoughts on "what is community?"

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great application of St. Benedicts rule to our society. It was very easy to read and helped me understand the rule on a deeper level than I had before.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in college and remember liking it. In the years since I felt like it would be good for me to reread it. Finally took the plunge and so glad I did. It will be on regularly on my re-read list.

[Jennie Denney · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read on the importance community has on our spiritual formation.

[Juliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learnt a lot reading this book. it's not the first I've read on Benedictine spirituality but is is the first in a long time. It's an easy read with most chapters following the same format of a sanpshot of some part of life in the monastery followed by n extended commentary on some part of Benedict's Rule both os which are then explicitly connected at the end. Each chapter also contains a short story taken from the tales of the Desert Fathers, some of which really spoke to me.

Benedict's approach was one of gentle moderation but do not be decieved by that phrase. Anyone who has veered between over and under eating knows full well how hard consistent moderation can be. It is a way which insists we look for and find the divine within our own selves and our own daily lives. Furthermore we are expected to seek the divine through serious reading of Scripture and reflect on what it means for the way we live. This will affect our attitude to the other when we reflect on the command to be hospitable to all. It will affect our attitude to posessions and creation itself when we reflect on the need to treat all things with gentleness.

It is a book that will repay close reading and rereading and one I think everyone could enjoy and benefit from.

[Erika · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tend to dislike Joan Chittister, and only started reading this book because it was recommended to my by my spiritual director. I couldn't take it. Lots of long, vague lists of ideas that seem to have simply popped into Sr. Chittister's head with no editing and no accompanying practical suggestions. Things like, we need to stop being so selfish and stop trying to get ahead of the Joneses and climbing the corporate ladder. Lots of blatant, inarticulate disdain for business, technology, American culture, and even monasticism, the scriptures, and the Church (of course, I expected the latter from this author). I was shocked to find crass judgment of generic Americans living "plastic" lives in a book that contained a chapter on humility! Hah. I decided to just read the Rule of St. Benedict again and "distill" my own daily wisdom from it instead of forcing myself to trudge through the rest of this book.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had Joan Chittister on my list of autnors to read because, as any look at my reading list will reveal, I'm a bit of a sucker for a book on Benedictine spirituality. That, to my mind, is a good thing, but, then, the tonality of my spirituality tends to be Benedictine with its empahasis on stability, community, hospitality and conversion of one's habits. If you too share that tonality, this is a must read book.

Chittister offers one of the earlier attempt to translate a Benedictine spirituality of the everyday outside the walls of a monastery. Written in the 80s, this book occasionally shows its age, but, really, Chittister is so astute that it is rare that her wisdom is out of date completely. The sensitivity she has for those of us living outside of monastery is real and it gives this book its ability to leap the gap into the lives of most people who would read it.

Well worth reading and, as I know I will, re-reading.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. In fact, it is one I have gone back to, and plan to continue to return to in the future.

Chitiser, a catholic nun is reinterprating the Rule of St. Benedict for mardern readers. She doesn't fall into the trap of a lot of Catholic writers of speaking only to Catholics. Instead I would arguee that she not only writes for all Christians, but for people of all faiths.

She presents the Rule as a guideline for one living a balanced life. She talks about the struggle to live out in the world with people, dealing with human issues, and yet still keeping the Divine in the center of it all.

[Mike Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a clear and "unadorned" precision to the writing in this work, much as Cicero said of Caesar's writings. Organized by topic, for those who might want to ignore some parts while focusing yet on others; however, such a technique is not recommended by this reviewer because the wisdom is diffuse, scattered about the text, such that one is best suited to read the entire work to catch all that beautiful wisdom that Chittier has put to paper for our edification.

Contains practical mentionings, as of the author's decades of monastic experience, plus copious references to the classical sources.

[Aine Waldron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back in 1990 when it first came out. I was deeply involved in Benedictine spirituality at the time and have remained so all these years retreading Sr. Joan's book and all her subsequent ones as well. It is a great primer on Benedictine spirituality and I have underlined, starred and hilighted so many thoughts and passages. It simply tells us how to live simpy "living an ordinary life extraordinarily well". I have a letter from Sr. Joan and was privileged to meet her many years ago.

[Ryan Motter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really delightful and full read. Sister Chittister follows a straightforward pattern through out the book, introducing a Benedictine value, offering wisdom from the Desert Monasrics, sharing some additional and in-depth reflection on their wisdom and rounding each chapter out by revisiting the modern day relevance of a value. Best and most helpful chapters focus on Humility, Stability, Work, Holy Play and Peace (which is the second to last chapter and definitely worth reading). The book helped me to embrace Benedictine values without romanticizing the life religious.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably the best book that I've ever read about how to incorporate the Rule of St. Benedict into 21st Century life. It really distills the principles and specific guidelines written in the 5th century, and applies them to living today. So balanced and reasonable. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a specific means of developing a deeper, more integrated, sacramental spiritual and secular life.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find a great deal of wisdom in Sister Joan's writings because she has the ability to make esoteric texts relevant to the everyday life of most of us. I love nuggets like this: "Why not have all the things I can have? Because I don't need them, and they clutter the soul and tie me down to the lesser things in life." (p.61) Each chapter has something like this for thinking deeper about how we live our lives.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different perspective on christian spirituality, based on the model of Benedictine monasteries. But the author goes to great lengths to show how it is applicable to other christians because of the way it addresses issues that everyone meets in their lives. Very wise, deeply profound, encouraging and challenging. Highly recommend it

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We used this book during my year of oblate formation and I found it very helpful. Joan Chittister is one of my favorite authors and a vibrant, fascinating live speaker. She makes the Rule accessible to modern people, and gives those of us who follow the Rule a way to move deeper into Benedictine spirituality.

[Renee Newell-Boucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone's spiritual library. One to go back to every now and then as spiritual motivation. Her principals are based on the rules of St. Benedict, which are really so standard to living a christian life. The principals are presented in a way that encourages you to live the principals, not just have them hover in the back of your brain.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice addition to the author's Rule of St. Benedict. Sr. Chittister shares some her feelings and thoughts about her vocation and her years in her Benedictine convent. She does this while including thoughts on the rule of St. Benedict. Sr. Chittister is always an easy and meditative read. She embraces life and problems of all of us, not just those who are dedicated to the monastery.

[Katie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich life lessons

The rules of Benedict are a set of monastic rules we (lay folk) could all benefit from learning and living by. I am sure this will be a book I refer back to again. Large concepts that need to be considered thoughtfully in order to execute in day to day but in today's frantic world, necessary for a spiritual life.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A contemporary reflection on 1500 year old principles of Benedictine monastic life. It's basic emphasis is on experiencing God in day to day life through prayer, humility, communal life, and a commitment to ongoing growth.
These ancient words bring fresh insight and perspective to anyone dissatisfied with cultural norms and pressures today.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading a chapter / month with a group interested in living the Benedictine Way today. It's an excellent book. My Benedictine group just finished the last chapter this past Sunday. I have highlighted several passages and will refer back to over and over.

[Lorraine Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to ground a person in sacredness of living in the day. It calls to each of us to really live with an attentive heart and a willingness to participate peaceful wholesome life. Don't just seek peace pursue it.