Rule for a New Brother

by Brakkenstein Community of Blessed Sacrament Fathers, H. van der Looy (Editor)

The Rule is written from the heart to the heart. It does not prescribe but invite, it does not force but guides. It does not threaten but warn, it does not instilll fear but points to love.

Genres: Spirituality

72 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1973

Reviews

[Sarah Randall]

This is a little book I come back to time and again. It's very simple, but useful for prayer and reflection, the sort you take a small piece from to chew on for a while.

A favorite excerpt:

The Lord Jesus Himself will teach you how you should pray. He is the creative Word which you may receive in the silence of your heart and the fruitful soil of your life. Listen attentively to what He will say; be swift to carry out what He will ask of you. You have promised His Spirit who will bear your poor little efforts before the throne of grace and into the intimacy of the living God.

Your prayer therefore is not so much a duty as a privilege; a gift rather than a problem or the result of your own efforts. So don’t tire yourself out looking for beautiful thoughts or words but stay attentive before God in humility and expectation, in desire and purity of heart, full of joy and hope. Your prayer will take countless forms because it is the echo of your life, and a reflection of the inexhaustible light in which God dwells.

Sometimes you will taste and see how good the Lord is. Be glad then, and give God all honor, because God’s goodness to you has no measure. Sometimes you will be dry and joyless like parched land or an empty well. But your thirst and helplessness will be your best prayer if you accept them with patience and embrace them lovingly.

…So set yourself again and again on the way of prayer. Never wait till you feel the need for it. Often enough, if you only make a new start, God will bring it to a good end.

[Catherine]

A little spiritual classic that I've continued to skim through from time to time, even when I've been at my least religious, because there's always a sentence or two that resonates. Recording this on here as I register a duplicate copy on Bookcrossing, I've remembered that the last time I read it was some time ago - must move the original copy over to Mount Toobie.

[Ryan]

Its not often the I finish a book the same day I bought it, but this tiny book only took about 30 minutes reading time. This simple distillation of the heart of the spiritual life (no mechanics) is appropriately set as poetry. It is simple, beautiful, and profound.

[Ivan King]

For such a small book, this has had a major influence upon me. I also have used this a lot in one to one coaching.

[Flora]

i want to read it now.