3.5
The Monastic Heart
ByPublisher Description
The activist, nun, and esteemed spiritual voice who has twice appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday sounds the call to create a monastery within ourselves—to cultivate wisdom and resilience so that we may join God in the work of renewal, restoration, and justice right where we are.
“Essential reading for anyone wishing to find the compass of their heart and the wellspring from which to live fully.”—Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries and New York Times bestselling author of Tattoos on the Heart
“In every beating heart is a silent undercurrent that calls each of us to a place unknown, to the vision of a wiser life, to become what I feel I must be—but cannot name.” So begins Sister Joan Chittister’s words on monasticism, offering a way of living and seeing life that brings deep human satisfaction. Amid the astounding disruptions of normalcy that have unfolded in our world, Sister Joan calls all of us to cultivate the spiritual seeker within, however that may look across our diverse journeys: “We can depend only on the depth of the spiritual well in us. The well is the only thing that can save us from the fear of our own frailty.”
This book carries the weight and wisdom of the monastic spiritual tradition into the twenty-first century. Sister Joan leans into Saint Benedict, who, as a young man in the sixth century, sought moral integrity in the face of an empire not by conquering or overpowering the empire but by simply living an ordinary life extraordinarily well. This same monastic mindset can help us grow in wisdom, equanimity, and strength of soul as we seek restoration and renewal both at home and in the world.
At a time when people around the world are bearing witness to human frailty—and, simultaneously, the endurance of the human spirit—The Monastic Heart invites readers of all walks to welcome this end of certainty and embrace a new beginning of our faith. Without stepping foot in a monastery, we can become, like those before us, a deeper, freer self, a richer soul—and, as a result, a true monastic, so “that in all things God may be glorified.”
“Essential reading for anyone wishing to find the compass of their heart and the wellspring from which to live fully.”—Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries and New York Times bestselling author of Tattoos on the Heart
“In every beating heart is a silent undercurrent that calls each of us to a place unknown, to the vision of a wiser life, to become what I feel I must be—but cannot name.” So begins Sister Joan Chittister’s words on monasticism, offering a way of living and seeing life that brings deep human satisfaction. Amid the astounding disruptions of normalcy that have unfolded in our world, Sister Joan calls all of us to cultivate the spiritual seeker within, however that may look across our diverse journeys: “We can depend only on the depth of the spiritual well in us. The well is the only thing that can save us from the fear of our own frailty.”
This book carries the weight and wisdom of the monastic spiritual tradition into the twenty-first century. Sister Joan leans into Saint Benedict, who, as a young man in the sixth century, sought moral integrity in the face of an empire not by conquering or overpowering the empire but by simply living an ordinary life extraordinarily well. This same monastic mindset can help us grow in wisdom, equanimity, and strength of soul as we seek restoration and renewal both at home and in the world.
At a time when people around the world are bearing witness to human frailty—and, simultaneously, the endurance of the human spirit—The Monastic Heart invites readers of all walks to welcome this end of certainty and embrace a new beginning of our faith. Without stepping foot in a monastery, we can become, like those before us, a deeper, freer self, a richer soul—and, as a result, a true monastic, so “that in all things God may be glorified.”
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities4 Reviews
3.5
Mariah Turrisi
Created 6 months agoShare
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Jen
Created 9 months agoShare
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Mara_Jade
Created almost 2 years agoShare
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“This is an extremely difficult book to rate, because it generally was quite good. Many passages I wanted to highlight. However, the religious pluralism utterly ruins it multiple times. I’d be nodding my head to her explanations and then suddenly there’s be an Islamic story or a sentence where she mentioned Hinduism as if they’re all the same “search for God” as Christianity. Nope nope nope.
So for my personal spiritual edification and contemplation, this was probably a four star read, because my faith in Jesus is secure enough and my soul is consistently filled up with proper doctrine.
But I cannot in good conscience actually recommend this to just anyone, because it could be spiritually harmful to their souls. In that, it’s a 1-2 star read.
Granted, it’s more about living a simple life than it is about actual religious practice or the way of salvation, BUT that’s still in there, and the waters were sorely muddied.
I’m glad I read it, but frustrated too, especially that it was one of my Lenten religious reads.”
Ashley Fuhr
Created over 3 years agoShare
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“I enjoyed the perspective of this book. The 50 chapters in the book coincide with that 50 monastic concepts found in Benedict's Rule of Life. Chittister argues that all of us have room in our lives for these traditions, and also that we would greatly benefit from. Some of the concepts/practices really resonated with me, while others fell flat. I think, overall, this could be a helpful too for those looking to connect with God and strengthen their faith. I enjoyed reading it. I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley, but purchased the audiobook for myself. All opinions expressed are my own.”
About Joan Chittister
Joan Chittister, OSB, is an internationally known writer and lecturer and the executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality in Erie, Pennsylvania. A Benedictine Sister of Erie, she served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses, and was prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie for twelve years. Sister Joan received her doctorate from Pennsylvania State University in speech communications theory. She has authored sixty books and received numerous awards for her work on behalf of peace, justice, and women in church and in society.
Other books by Joan Chittister
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