Book Reviews2 The Benedictine Handbook

Oct 10, 2008

Book edited by: Fr. Anthony Marett-Crosby.

This is a wonderful resource for Benedictine Oblates and those interested in Benedictine life or spirituality. There are six parts to the book edited by Fr. Anthony Marett-Crosby, O.S.B., of Ampleforth Abbey in England. It covers spirituality, history and other related topics. There are several short essays by various international authors, many of whom many are Benedictines, Cistercians, Oblates or scholars. The general-level reader will be interested in this book and the academic scholar can use it as an introduction to the study of Benedictinism.

Fr. Anthony wrote the introduction which is followed by Ampleforth Abbot Patrick Barry’s translation of the Rule of St. Benedict. The Rule makes up part one of this book. Part two is a collection of essays on Benedictine spirituality covering the subjects: the Divine Office or the Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, work, vows and hospitality.

Part three of the book is entitled "The Benedictine Experience of God." This section includes a very short Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in a two week cycle. This was created by Fr. Oswald McBride, O.S.B. of Ampleforth Abbey who also collected some Benedictine prayers. Rev. Robert Atwell, an Anglican priest, provides a list of some of the famous Benedictines and other famous monastic fathers and mothers and provides a short biography on them. The Irish monk Colman O Clabaigh, O.S.B. of Glenstal Abbey presents a list and description of Benedictine holy places.

The next section contains essays explaining how one can live the Benedictine life by focusing on community, solitude, the life of an Oblate, and the Rule of St. Benedict in the world. The book goes on to give the historical background of the Benedictines and the Cistercians. There are three essays by Fr. Joel Rippinger, O.S.B., a monk of Marmion Abbey in Illinois, Fr. Dominic Milroy, O.S.B., a monk of Ampleforth Abbey, and Fr. Nivard Kinsella, O.C.S.O, a monk in Ireland.

This is a very handy book for Oblates and those interested in Benedictine spirituality. Those who are Oblate novices will enjoy this book as an introduction to their new way of life and those already Oblates will enjoy it as a refresher course. The short two week cycle of Morning and Evening Prayers will be helpful to those very much on the go or if they are traveling and cannot take the larger breviaries with them this can be a good option.

Color illustrations would have really enlivened the book, but they were not necessary.

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