Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life

by Christopher Jamison

Overview

In Finding Sanctuary Abbot Christopher Jamison, host of the BBC television series The Monastery, suggests the teachings of St. Benedict are a tool for everyday life for those who are religious and for those simply searching for spiritual guidance.

The Monastery involved five non-monks living the monastic life for forty days while TV cameras tracked their progress. The sight of monks responding thoughtfully and helpfully to ordinary people's struggles was a surprise to millions of viewers who had presumed that monks were out of touch."

St. Benedict wrote his Rule for monastic living 500 years ago when he was abbot of Monte Cassino, the monastery that sits atop an inspiring Mountain to the East of Rome. The name, "The Rule of St. Benedict," often misleads people into thinking that Benedict wrote "a book of rules." In fact, he wrote insights for Christian living with practical suggestions for daily practice. The insights still guide people today and many of the rules have been adapted to local conditions as Benedict requested.

In every generation monastics integrate modern realities and the wisdom of the Rule in a new fusion. That fusion is the spiritual energy enabling monasteries to be places of sanctuary today as they have been for centuries. And that sanctuary can be recreated in the hearts of people of God's will. This book explains how St. Benedict's wisdom can be applied to busy modern lives, and how sanctuary, peace, and insi' can be achieved by people living inside and outside of monasteries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814639085
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	11/01/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Christopher Jamison is former abbot of Worth Abbey, a Benedictine monastery near London. He is also president of the International Commission on Benedictine Education and sits on the Council of the Alliance for International Monasticism, a body that promotes links between monasteries across the North/South divide. He is author of Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life and was the host of the popular BBC documentary series The Monastery.

Table of Contents

Pt. 1

Everyday life : how did I get this busy?

13

Pt. 2

Monastic steps

Step 1

Silence

33

Step 2

Contemplation

51

Step 3

Obedience

71

Step 4

Humility

91

Step 5

Community

111

Step 6

Spirituality

137

Step 7

Hope

157

Lectio Divina : the prodigal son

175

Editorial Reviews

This book helped me to make daily time alone with God a continued priority in my life.
Christianity Magazine

There is much to be appreciated at this buffet. What’s most appealing is that it is written for a significant and growing audience: the unchurched spiritual seeker. . . . There’s much to recommend this book to that unchurched seeker who’s looking to learn more, or simply someone who may be interested in contemporary applications of monasticism. It all depends, I guess, on what you’re hungry for.
American Benedictine Review

. . . readers will be surprised at how important ancient monastic practices are for our modern lives. The book is well worth reading.
Liguorian

Abbot Christopher outlines the wisdom of St. Benedict and suggests how it can be applied to people outside the monastery. His voice is tuned especially for those who are not sure what they believe but are looking for ways to find spiritual space and peace in the busy and often confusing modern world.
Crux

There is much food for thought and prayer as Jamison details counter-cultural chapters on silence, contemplation, obedience, humility, community, spirituality and hope. In his explanation of each of these qualities of a Benedictine-informed life, he assists us to assess our own spiritual awkwardness, states of denial and compromise, lack of religious depth and avoidance of conversion. Whatever might be our failings or foibles, Jamison supports us in creating a meaningful and theologically grounded sanctuary for everyday living.
Catholic Studies

At one time, spirituality and religion were the same; not today. One can experience spirituality without being a member of a religion, and many have turned away from Christianity or other religions looking for some kind of spirituality that will make them feel good or give them whatever they need in life. Abbot Christopher talks about those who shop for spirituality and shows that religion and spirituality should not be separated. Abbot Christopher’s last chapter us on hope; the Rule of St. Benedict encourages all followers not to lose hope in life and, especially, in life everlasting. . . . Finding Sanctuary is highly recommended to those looking for more in life than the rat race.
Curled Up With A Good Book

Few will be able to simply read this book, but instead will find themselves absorbing it.
Writing Works

EBOOK COMMENTARY

This book helped me to make daily time alone with God a continued priority in my life.
Christianity Magazine


There is much to be appreciated at this buffet. What’s most appealing is that it is written for a significant and growing audience: the unchurched spiritual seeker. . . . There’s much to recommend this book to that unchurched seeker who’s looking to learn more, or simply someone who may be interested in contemporary applications of monasticism. It all depends, I guess, on what you’re hungry for.
American Benedictine Review


. . . readers will be surprised at how important ancient monastic practices are for our modern lives. The book is well worth reading.
Liguorian

From the Publisher