Monday, May 5, 2008

Two books: "Elmore Oblates Handbook" ---- "Prayer and Community"



Here is a recommendation for two books on oblates and Benedictine spirituality. This recommendation comes from Lucie Johnson who wrote the following in 2003 in St. John's Abbey "The Oblate" newsletter:

"When I look on my bookshelf for what might complement the "Benedictine Handbook" in the areas of spirituality and living the Rule as Oblates, two small volumes stand out. One is Columba Stewart's "Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition" (Orbis Books, 1998) a very readable and excellent presentation of Benedictine spirituality. The other is "Oblates: Life with St. Benedict" (Elmore Abbey, 1992) by Dom Augustine Morris, who wrote this little book for the oblates of Elmore Abbey. I found it very useful when I was trying to figure out what it means to be an Oblate and how to take into my life a Rule that was composed for medieval monks. I return to it now and again, because I never quite "get" it.

I can use all the help I can find and thus I am grateful to now have the "Handbook" on my shelf of essentials as well."

The above quote from "The Oblate," Vol. 47, No. 5a, Nov. - Dec. 2003, published by oblates of Saint John's Abbey Collegeville, Minn.

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for sharing the Elmore Abbey book. Checking on-line there appears to be used one available on Amazon.com for $35.

    I, too, have Columba Stewart's book and recommend it as well.

    As I'm new to this blog, you may have shared this before, but I also recommend the following books:

    Finding Sanctuary by Abbot Christopher Jamison of Worth Abbey

    The Path of Life by Cyprian Smith, OSB of Ampleforth Abbey

    Unfolding the Mystery - Monastic Conferences on the Liturgical Year by Dom Hugh Gilbert, OSB of Pluscarden Abbey

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