Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today
- Downloads：5863
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-08-20 06:54:38
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Joan D. Chittister
- ISBN：0060613998
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Reviews
Rose Kovacs
，
Some problematic chapters in this one for me （overly simplistic critiques of modern culture， encouraging blind submission to authority）， but also deeply insightful sections drawing on Benedictine spirituality that made it worth the read。
Aryeh
，
Although written from a Catholic/Christian and specifically Benedictine perspective， this book has quite a lot of wisdom that spans religions。 It might have also been called The Rule of St。 Benedict as an exmple of just how to be a good person。 But， that's too long， and I digress。 Anyway， the perspective I'm writing from is one of a Jewish graduate level student （in spite of the light nature of this review， this is actually true）， and we have someting called Mussar。 Mussar is a spiritual practic Although written from a Catholic/Christian and specifically Benedictine perspective， this book has quite a lot of wisdom that spans religions。 It might have also been called The Rule of St。 Benedict as an exmple of just how to be a good person。 But， that's too long， and I digress。 Anyway， the perspective I'm writing from is one of a Jewish graduate level student （in spite of the light nature of this review， this is actually true）， and we have someting called Mussar。 Mussar is a spiritual practice that gives guidelines on how to live a meaningful and ethical life。 If I were categorizing this book （and the Rule） in terms of my own religion， it'd fall under Mussar。I genuinely liked both the writing and the perspectives offered in this book。 I've read the Rule and I think this is a meaningful and accessible commentary on it。 It is a little dated in terms of examples given， but the overall effect is exactly as powerful as when it was first released。 I recommend this book， for sure for Christians， and also for outliers like me who have interest in Christian writings even though we don't believe the same things。 It's good to get a different perspective。 。。。more
Riley
，
Although it has been over 30 years since its publication， this book is still relevant today。 I enjoyed Sister Joan's application of the Rule of St。 Benedict to the daily life and the laity。 Although it has been over 30 years since its publication， this book is still relevant today。 I enjoyed Sister Joan's application of the Rule of St。 Benedict to the daily life and the laity。 。。。more
Martha
，
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。
Steven Roberts
，
Great book on Benedictine spirituality and its relevance for today’s world。 Chittister shows how the Christian tradition can still have something to offer the Modern world。 She is a gifted writer and has many great things to say。 I found myself underlining whole paragraphs and saying “yes！ This is excellent！” The only downside is that she can be a bit overly concerned with "social justice"。 Great book on Benedictine spirituality and its relevance for today’s world。 Chittister shows how the Christian tradition can still have something to offer the Modern world。 She is a gifted writer and has many great things to say。 I found myself underlining whole paragraphs and saying “yes！ This is excellent！” The only downside is that she can be a bit overly concerned with "social justice"。 。。。more
Jennie Denney
，
One of the best books I've read on the importance community has on our spiritual formation。 One of the best books I've read on the importance community has on our spiritual formation。 。。。more
Robin Wright Gunn
，
I am slowly reading this in the mornings as part of my devotional time。 It is so sense， in a good way。 A few pages at a time， then journaling and reflection。 Today （1-3-2021） I read the chapter on "Work: Participation in Creation。" Inspiring and thought provoking。 ❤️ I am slowly reading this in the mornings as part of my devotional time。 It is so sense， in a good way。 A few pages at a time， then journaling and reflection。 Today （1-3-2021） I read the chapter on "Work: Participation in Creation。" Inspiring and thought provoking。 ❤️ 。。。more
Kristin
，
Amazing book read while I was in a training program for Spiritual Direction。 An entirely ancient， committed， and trusting way of life rooted in Christ。 Chittister offers an excellent exploration of the 6th century Rule of St。 Benedict， an order that continues strong today。
Siv
，
So much wisdom！ I first read this book more than a decade ago for a spiritual disciplines seminary class that I audited。 I picked it up again since the pandemic erased my daily routines and I thought it could offer a much-needed perspective。 Amazing that Benedict's rule， written in sixth-century Italy to establish order among monastics， still has so much to say to life in 2020 （another 30 years after Sister Joan wrote this book）。 So much wisdom！ I first read this book more than a decade ago for a spiritual disciplines seminary class that I audited。 I picked it up again since the pandemic erased my daily routines and I thought it could offer a much-needed perspective。 Amazing that Benedict's rule， written in sixth-century Italy to establish order among monastics， still has so much to say to life in 2020 （another 30 years after Sister Joan wrote this book）。 。。。more
Allison Arsenault
，
I suggest if you ever feel the the world is falling apart and you find yourself in deep crisis， read this book and channel the Benedictines in your life。 It has kept me deeply grounded amid the chaos of 2020。
Brady Sabolik
，
Read in THEO 331 - BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY
Eileen Gebbie， Reverential
，
The culminating assignment for the two year program of spiritual development that I am in is the creation of my own "rule，" a la Benedict。 This book， then， was assigned to help us understand what that rule is （a guidepost） and what it can look like in 21st century life。 I have long been an admirer of Sr。 Joan， often using her for my devotionals listserv。 This particular book encouraged me in creation care， silence， stability， and the absolute necessity of bringing action and contemplation togeth The culminating assignment for the two year program of spiritual development that I am in is the creation of my own "rule，" a la Benedict。 This book， then， was assigned to help us understand what that rule is （a guidepost） and what it can look like in 21st century life。 I have long been an admirer of Sr。 Joan， often using her for my devotionals listserv。 This particular book encouraged me in creation care， silence， stability， and the absolute necessity of bringing action and contemplation together。 。。。more
Laura
，
Very impressive writing and thinking。 As a protestant， I found nothing to draw back from and much to emulate。 It seems Benedict drew his rules for communal living directly from Paul's exhortations to the young churches。 Very impressive writing and thinking。 As a protestant， I found nothing to draw back from and much to emulate。 It seems Benedict drew his rules for communal living directly from Paul's exhortations to the young churches。 。。。more
Brittany Janz
，
Ive read it again and again
Lisa
，
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。
Susan
，
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。 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。 。。。more
Eric
，
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 exc 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。 。。。more
Thomas Christianson
，
Some good thoughts to ponder from a long-time Benedictine nun。
Ryan Motter
，
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 m 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。 。。。more
Mike Morris
，
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， 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。 。。。more
Laurie
，
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。
Melinda
，
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！
Steven Ellison
，
Amazing Book Marred By Technical ErrorsI 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。U Amazing Book Marred By Technical ErrorsI 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。 。。。more
Jessica Birch
，
Loved this book。 A very calming read that helps you focus on the here and the now
Stephanie
，
This book has great inspiration for taking Benedict's Rule out of the monastery and applying it to every day life。 It really opens your eyes to the spiritually you could unlock inside of you。 Definitely recommend。 This book has great inspiration for taking Benedict's Rule out of the monastery and applying it to every day life。 It really opens your eyes to the spiritually you could unlock inside of you。 Definitely recommend。 。。。more
Debra Weathers
，
Absolutely MarvelousThis book is a wonderful tool to live life。 If only everybody lived this way。 I would recommend to anyone。
M。j。 Radosevich
，
To be read with intention and reflection。 I read the book over 15 years ago and found it of value for spiritual growth because as the cover indicates the personal and community insights from the Rule of St Benedict in the 5th century are still relevant today。
Courtney McIndoe
，
I'll read this again I'll read this again 。。。more
Daniel Stewart
，
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。
Tim
，