Inside the School of Charity
Lessons from the Monastery
Inside the School of Charity
Lessons from the Monastery
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Publisher: Liturgical Press
ISBN: 9780879070205
Number of Pages: 262
Published: 01/01/2010
Width: 14 cm
Height: 21.6 cm
In 2003 Trisha Day spent three months living inside the enclosure of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, a community of twenty Cistercian nuns. Although she had long been monastic associate, she was startled by the unexpected challenges and insights that emerged as the weeks went by, and began a process of profound reflection on her experience. Now, drawing on her journals and reflections, and on her own experience as a professional woman, wife, daughter, and mother, she delves into the questions of how the centuries-old wisdom of monastic life can challenge, inspire, and guide those living outside the monastery.
Organized around topics such as prayer, community, and the vows, each of Day's reflections begins with memories of her monastic experience, and then presents a perceptive and often humorous critique of the contrasting values of our present culture. For each topic she chronicles with honesty and humility her subsequent struggles to apply back home the alternative approaches learned from the sisters she lived with, and offers a wealth of practical suggestions. Filled with stories from her own life and fascinating details of daily life in the monastery, her book is sure to strike a spark with all those seeking to live in a fully human and Christ-centered way.
Contents
Foreword ix
Introduction xv
Part One:
Learning to Live in Community 1
Silence as a Communal Effort 1
Silence at Home 7
Monastic Decorum 11
Domestic Decorum 15
The Sacredness of Others 17
The Sacredness of Others at Home 25
Times of Celebration and Times of Solitude 31
Times of Celebration at Home 45
Times of Solitude at Home 49
Part Two:
Learning to Pray 55
The Liturgy of the Hours 55
The Liturgy of the Hours at Home 66
Praying from the Heart 70
Praying from the Heart at Home 78
The Wisdom Books: Scripture, Nature, Experience 91
The Book of Scripture 92
The Book of Nature 98
The Book of Experience 108
Part Three:
Aspects of the Life 117
Enclosure 117
Enclosure at Home 122
Work 136
Work at Home 144
Formation 151
Formation at Home 158
Humility 163
Humility at Home 170
Part Four:
The Vowed Life 177
From This Day Forward 177
Stability 181
Stability at Home 183
Obedience 190
Obedience at Home 198
Conversatio Morum 202
Conversatio Morum at Home 205
A Few Words about Poverty and Chastity 212
Conclusion 225
Leaving the Monastery and Living the Life 225
A Sense of Vocation 235
Bibliography 239
Foreword ix
Introduction xv
Part One:
Learning to Live in Community 1
Silence as a Communal Effort 1
Silence at Home 7
Monastic Decorum 11
Domestic Decorum 15
The Sacredness of Others 17
The Sacredness of Others at Home 25
Times of Celebration and Times of Solitude 31
Times of Celebration at Home 45
Times of Solitude at Home 49
Part Two:
Learning to Pray 55
The Liturgy of the Hours 55
The Liturgy of the Hours at Home 66
Praying from the Heart 70
Praying from the Heart at Home 78
The Wisdom Books: Scripture, Nature, Experience 91
The Book of Scripture 92
The Book of Nature 98
The Book of Experience 108
Part Three:
Aspects of the Life 117
Enclosure 117
Enclosure at Home 122
Work 136
Work at Home 144
Formation 151
Formation at Home 158
Humility 163
Humility at Home 170
Part Four:
The Vowed Life 177
From This Day Forward 177
Stability 181
Stability at Home 183
Obedience 190
Obedience at Home 198
Conversatio Morum 202
Conversatio Morum at Home 205
A Few Words about Poverty and Chastity 212
Conclusion 225
Leaving the Monastery and Living the Life 225
A Sense of Vocation 235
Bibliography 239
Altogether, it is a fascinating book.PAX Because of the fresh insights into the familiar day-to-day monastic customs and spirituality, I would recommend this book for monastic libraries. As I read through it, I found some valuable passages for my own lectio divina. I would also offer the book to oblates and other laity who are looking for something deeper than a coffee table introduction to the Rule of Benedict.American Benedictine Review
