Exploring Top Books of Shelfari

A reverent study of the monastic world assesses the meaning of the cloistered life in modern times, journeying through a liturgical year to capture the relevance and spiritual significance of the religious life. Reprint. Tour. NYT. PW.

The Humming of Numbers

by Joni Sensel

Aidan is poised to take his monastic vows—until a girl enters the abbey, one who hums of the number eleven. Aidan has the ability to hear the humming of numbers, a buzzing energy given off by living things. He is captivated and tormented by the mysterious girl, Lana, who has some unusual abilities of her own. How can he become a monk when his mind is filled with impure thoughts? Before he can begin to sort his... (more)

Cave in the Snow: Tenzin Palmo's Quest for Enlightenment

Cave in the Snow: Tenzin Palmo's Quest for Enlightenment

by Vicki Mackenzie

This is the incredible story of Tenzin Palmo, a remarkable woman who spent 12 years alone in a cave 13,000 feet up in the Himalayas. At the age of 20, Diane Perry, looking to fill a void in her life, entered a monastery in India--the only woman amongst hundreds of monks---and began her battle against the prejudice that had excluded women from enlightenment for thousands of years. Thirteen years later, Diane Perry... (more)

Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander

by Thomas Merton

A series of monastic notes, opinions, experiences, and reflections considers such issues as the ""death of God,"" politics, modern life and values, and racial strife. Reissue.

Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way Of Love

Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way Of Love

by Daniel Homan

In an age of terror, it is difficult to look into the eyes of a stranger without cringing. We carefully peruse our fellow passengers before we board a plane. We bolt our doors and feel safest when we are with our close friends and family. It may seem natural, given the devastating recent attacks on our country, but isn't there a better way to live? From the authors who delighted thousands of readers with... (more)

The Scent of God: A Memoir

by Beryl Singleton Bissell

When Beryl Bissell entered a cloistered convent in New Jersey, she believed that God had called her to this way of life. At first blissfully happy, within a year she became prey to obsessive compulsions. Her vocation at risk, she overcame these disorders, and persevered for another ten years until returning home to Puerto Rico to care for her ailing father. Thrust into this sensual environment, she was... (more)

Benedict's Way: An Ancient Monk's Insights for a Balanced Life

Benedict's Way: An Ancient Monk's Insights for a Balanced Life

by Lonnie Collins Pratt

In the sixth century, a monk named Benedict devised a code of practical principles by which he and his fellow monks could live together and grow in Christian spirit. Centuries later, the Rule of St. Benedict continues to guide and nurture men and women--both inside and outside monasteries--who seek to live a balanced spirituality. This contemplative guide is for individuals of all faiths in search of... (more)

Discovering the Hidden Ground of Love (Bridges to Contemplative Living With Thomas Merton Series)

Discovering the Hidden Ground of Love (Bridges to Contemplative Living With Thomas Merton Series)

by Thomas Merton

Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton gently leads participants on a journey toward spiritual transformation and a more contemplative and peace-filled life. Each eight-session booklet offers an introduction to Merton and contemplative living through prayers, readings from Merton and other spiritual masters, and questions for small group dialogue. The fourth book, Discovering the... (more)

Living Your Deepest Desires (Bridges to Contemplative Living With Thomas Merton Series)

Living Your Deepest Desires (Bridges to Contemplative Living With Thomas Merton Series)

by Thomas Merton

Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton gently leads participants on a journey toward spiritual transformation and a more contemplative and peace-filled life. Each eight-session booklet offers an introduction to Merton and contemplative living through prayers, readings from Merton and other spiritual masters, and questions for small group dialogue. Book Three: Living Your Deepest... (more)

The Benedictines of PetershamPhilip Zaleski

The Benedictines of Petersham

by Philip Zaleski

Essential Monastic Wisdom: Writings on the Contemplative Life

Essential Monastic Wisdom: Writings on the Contemplative Life

by Hugh Feiss

For everyone seeking to experience some of the deep tranquility of contemplative life, this artfully crafted guide brings together concise selections from the great writings of the tradition, from Saint Benedict to Thomas Merton. It explores all the essential ingredients of monastic life in brief chapters on such themes as speech, humility, discernment, patience, longing, and love. By providing a brief account of... (more)

A Retreat With Benedict and Bernard: Seeking God Alone-- Together (Retreat With-- Series)

A Retreat With Benedict and Bernard: Seeking God Alone-- Together (Retreat With-- Series)

by Linus Mundy

Benedict of Nursia hungered for a "better way" to God and lived that example with his Rule. Six hundred years later, Bernard of Clairvaux appeared on the scene to return Western monasticism to its roots. Both Benedict and Bernard challenge seekers to reduce the God-and-us relationship to its essence, just as Christ's gospel dictates, by way of love, pure and simple.

To Love Fasting: The Monastic ExperienceAdalbert De Vogue

To Love Fasting: The Monastic Experience

by Adalbert de Vogu?e?

Text: English (translation) Original Language: French

Centered on Christ: An Introduction to Monastic ProfessionAugustine Roberts

Centered on Christ: An Introduction to Monastic Profession

by Augustine Roberts

The Monastic Way

From its beginnings in the deserts of Egypt and surrounding countries in the third century, monastic life has drawn men and women away from society to seek God in simplicity and purity of heart. Given our often frenetic lives today, that sort of peace and solitude is deeply, mysteriously appealing. As this book of daily readings shows, however, monastic life is hardly an escape from the world.... (more)

Benedictine TapestryFelicitas Corrigan

Benedictine Tapestry

by Felicitas Corrigan

Tales of a Magic MonasteryTheophane the Monk

Tales of a Magic Monastery

by Theophane the Monk

The Father and the Son: My Father's Journey into the Monastic LifeMatt; Murray, Matthew J. Murray

The Father and the Son: My Father's Journey into the Monastic Life

by Matt; Murray, Matthew J. Murray

Regula. (English)

by Benedict

This study on the ancient Rule of St. Benedict contains an invaluable, in-depth Introduction that explores the development and spread of Christian monasticism, a biographical sketch of St. Benedict, and the structure and implementation of his rule.

Shelfari Book Activity

Tags: monastic life

by Kathleen Norris

by Joni Sensel

by Vicki Mackenzie

by Thomas Merton

by Daniel Homan

by Beryl Singleton Bissell

by Lonnie Collins Pratt

by Thomas Merton

by Thomas Merton

by Philip Zaleski

by Hugh Feiss

by Linus Mundy

by Adalbert de Vogu?e?

by Augustine Roberts

by Felicitas Corrigan

by Theophane the Monk

by Matt; Murray, Matthew J. Murray

by Benedict

by Benedict