'Monastic Spirituality'
1. All books written by or about Thomas Merton (TM)/Patrick Hart, OCSO/Carthusian Publications ~ I began in earnest reading TM while my mother (d. 2000) was taking chemo at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital. I would walk over to the Sister’s convent (CCVI’s) and by invitation, go up to the second floor library and check out TM books; the following week return them and check out more! He was the perfect author for me at that time and a beautiful relationship was born during the dying process. I have thanked the Sisters many times over for their generosity and hospitality! Bro. Patrick Hart is a friend of my friend, Father Donald Pelous when he was a Brother before being ordained! Fr. Donald taught me in elementary and high school and we have talked of going to the Abbey of Gethsemane Monastery in KY where TM lived…made it to ‘Gethsemane’ November 2010! Printed above the arched way, “God Alone”!
2. Ascent to Truth
3. An Introduction Thomas Merton William H. Shannon
4. A Merton Celebration Tributes from friends of the poet-monk edited by Deba Patnaik
5. A Search for Solitude Pursuing the Monks True Life
6. A Seven Day Journey with Thomas Merton Esther de Waal
7. A Thomas Merton Reader Edited by Thomas P. McDonnell
8. An Introduction Thomas Merton William Shannon
9. Contemplative Prayer
10. Dialogues with Silence
11. Echoing Silence
12. Life and Holiness
13. Meditations with Merton Nicki Verploegen Vandergrift
14. Merton A Biography Monica Furlong
15. Merton’s Palace of Nowhere James Finley
16. New Seeds of Contemplation
17. No Man Is An Island
18. Opening the Bible
19. Seasons of Celebration
20. Seeds
21. Seeds of Contemplation
22. Seeds of Destruction
23. Seeking God in All Things Lenten Prayer with Thomas Merton
24. The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton Michael Mott
25. Silent Lamp The Thomas Merton Story William H. Shannon
26. Soul Searching The Journey of Thomas Merton
27. Survival or Prophecy Thomas Merton Jean Leclercq
28. The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton
ed. Naomi Burton, Brother Patrick Hart and James Laughlin
29. The Hidden Ground of Love The Letters of Thomas Merton
30. The Intimate Merton
31. The Last of the Fathers
32. The Literary Essays of Thomas Merton
33. The Man in the Sycamore Tree The good times and hard life of Thomas Merton Photographs by Edward Rice
34. The Seven Story Mountain
35. The Silent Life
36. Thomas Merton M. Basil Pennington
37. Thomas Merton’s Paradise Journey William H. Shannon
38. Thoughts in Solitude
39. The Waters of Siloe
40. The Way of the Dreamcatcher Spirit Lessons with Robert Lax, Poet, Peacemaker, Sage ~ S.T. Georgiou (Lax was one of TM’s closest friends!) My son handed me this jewel!
41. The Wisdom of the Desert
A Guide to Monastic Guest Houses ~ Robert J. Regalbuto!!!!
Mom read this book in my home while resting from chemo treatments. She loved it; would giggle aloud!
Where Strange Volcanic Pinnacles are Honey combed with Hermit Cells and Monasteries. My sister, Constance Victoria, gave this fascinating treasure to me as a Christmas present!
My mom and I journeyed with Sr. Yvonne Lerner, OSB to More Mountain, home of JMTs’ Little Portion Hermitage east of Eureka Springs, AR. Sister was a retreat facilitator one weekend in 1999 in this beautiful part of God’s green earth in the mountains and we were given a wonderful tour of this peaceful place. Mom was fascinated as this was her first visit to a hermitage. She stopped and visited with the nuns who were humming amidst their work in the kitchen! Made sense to me!
I recently returned from a visit with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. A trip to Trinity is never complete without sitting in on an EPS class, Holy Mass at high noon with the day students, Evening Prayer in the Sisters chapel, dinner and wonderful conversation in the refectory ending the visit with a trip to Newman Bookstore across from Catholic University!!! This is D.C. at its best! While there purchased # 48-53 as well as the 2007 Liturgical Desk Calendar and Guide for Christian Prayer/The Liturgy of the Hours!
v Learning the Language of Benedictine Monasticism Thomas Rillo, Author/Oblate
v The Ecological Trend according to St. Benedict Fr. Harold Camacho, OSB
v Ancient Monks Speak to Oblates Thomas Rillo, Author/Oblate
v The Oblate Home: That in All Things God May be Glorified Rev Denis Robinson, OSB/Monk
v St. Scholastica: Finding Meaning in Her Story…Ruth Clifford Engs, PhD/Oblate
v Sacraments and Sacramentals Living in Benedictine SpiritualitymmmFr. Raymond Studzinski, OSB
v ‘Tis a Gift to be Simple…Rev. Noel Mueller, OSB/Monk
v Blessed Marmion: A 21st Century Appreciation Rev. Bernard
Head/Oblate
v St. Benedict: Hidden Meanings in His Story Ruth Clifford Engs, PhD/Oblate
v Listening Rev. Noah Casey, OSB/Monk
v Sharing the Mind of St. Benedict Archabbot Justin DeVall, OSB/Monk
v A Point to Ponder From The Rule Thomas J. Rillo, Oblate and Editor
v Hearts Burning with the Presence of God Spiritual Direction and The Discernment of the Spirits Rev. Adrian Burke, OSB/Monk
www.osb.org for all things Benedictine! Resources Galore! Wonderful!
Gregorian Chant is definitely my music of choice for every day is spent in imagining, focusing and tracking ministries! Favorite CD ~ Saint Benedict Gregorian Chant Monastic Choir of the Abbey of Notre Dame de Fontgombault
www.cistercianpublications.org for Texts and Studies in the Monastic Tradition. Cistercian Studies Quarterly is an international review of the Christian monastic and contemplative spiritual tradition.
Further Reading: Monastic Spirituality
The resources for this list are the bibliographies found in Abbot Francis Kline’s book, Lovers of the Place, and in Michael Downey’s Trappist: Living in the Land of Desire.
Ancient Authors:
Apophthegmata Patrum
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection. Trans. Benedicta Ward, SLG. London: Mowbrays, 1975.
The Desert Fathers.Trans. Helen Waddell. New York: Sheed and Ward, 1936.
Athanasius
The Life of Anthony and the Letter to Marcellinus.Trans. Robert C. Gregg. Classics of Western Spirituality (CWS). New York: Paulist Press, 1980
Ascetical Works.Trans. M. Monica Wagner. Fathers of the Church 9. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America (CUA) Press, 1950.
Benedict of Nursia
RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict. Ed. Timothy Fry, OSB. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1981.
Cassian
The Institutes and Conferences. Trans. Edgar C.S.Gibson. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol. 11. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964.
Conferences. Trans. Colm Luibheid. Classics of Western Spirituality (CWS). New York: Paulist
Press, 1985.
· Evagrius Ponticus
o Evagrius Ponticus: The Praktikos: Chapters on Prayer. Trans. John Eudes Bamberger. Cistercian Studies 4. Spencer, MA: Cistercian Publications, 1972.
o The "Ad Monachos" of Evagrius Ponticus: Its Structure and a Select Commentary. Driscoll, Jeremy, OSB. Rome: Studia Anselmiana 104 (1991).
o The Mind’s Long Journey to the Holy Trinity: The Ad Monachos of Evagrius Ponticus. Trans. and intro. Jeremy Driscoll, OSB. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1993.
· Gregory the Great
o Dialogues. Trans. Odo J. Zimmerman. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of American (CUA) Press, 1959.
o The Life and Miracles of St. Benedict: Book Two of the Dialogues. Trans. Odo J. Zimmerman and Benedict Avery. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1949.
o The Life of Saint Benedict. Trans. Hilary Costello and Eoin de Bhaldraithe. Commentary by Adalbert de Vogüé. Petersham, MA: St. Bede Publications, 1993.
o Pastoral Care. Trans. and annotated Henry Davis, SJ. Ancient Christian Writers (ACW)
· John Climacus
o The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Trans. Colm Luibheid and Norman Russell. Classics of Western Spirituality (CWS). New York: Paulist Press, 1957.
· Origen
o The Song of Songs: Commentary and Homilies. Trans. and annotated R.P.Lawson. Ancient Christian Writers (ACW) 26. Westminster, MD: Newman Press, 1957.
· Pachomius
o Pachomian Koinonia. Vol. I: The Life of St. Pachomius and His Disciples. Trans. Armand Veilleux, OCSO. Cistercian Studies 45. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1980.
o Pachomian Koinonia. Vol. II: Pachomian Chronicles and Rules. Trans. Armand Veilleux, OCSO. Cistercian Studies 46. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1981.
o Pachomian Koinonia. Vol. III: Instructions, Letters, and Other Writings of St. Pachomius and His Disciples. Trans. Armand Veilleux, OCSO. Cistercian Studies 47. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1982.
Cistercian Authors
· Aelred of Rievaulx
o Mirror of Charity. Trans. Elizabeth Connor, OCSO. Cistercian Fathers Series 17. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1990.
o Spiritual Friendship. Trans. Mary Eugenia Laker, SSND. Cistercian Fathers Series 5. Washington, DC: Cistercian Publications, 1974.
· Bernard of Clairvaux
o On Loving God. Trans. Robert Walton, OSB. Cistercian Fathers Series 13B. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1994.
o On Precept and Dispensation.(Treatises I) Trans. Conrad Greenia, OCSO. Cistercian Fathers Series 1. Spencer, MA: Cistercian Publications, 1970.
o On the Song of Songs I. (Sermons 1-20) Trans. Kilian Walsh, OCSO. Cistercian Fathers Series 4. Spencer, MA: Cistercian Publications, 1971.
o On the Song of Songs II. (Sermons 21-46) Trans. Kilian Walsh, OCSO. Cistercian Fathers Series 7. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1976.
o On the Song of Songs III. (Sermons 47-66) Trans. Kilian Walsh, OCSO, and Irene M. Edmonds. Cistercian Fathers Series 31. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1979.
o On the Song of Songs IV. (Sermons 67-86) Trans. Irene M. Edmonds. Cistercian Fathers Series 40. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1980.
o The Steps of Humility and Pride. Trans. M. Ambrose Conway, OCSO. Cistercian Fathers Series 13A. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1989.
· Guerric of Igny
o The Liturgical Sermons: Vol. I. Trans. Hilary Costello, OCSO, and John Morson, OCSO. Cistercian Fathers Series 8. Spencer, MA: Cistercian Publications, 1971.
o The Liturgical Sermons: Vol. II. Trans. Hilary Costello, OCSO, and John Morson, OCSO. Cistercian Fathers Series 32. Spencer, MA: Cistercian Publications, 1971.
· William of St. Thierry
o The Golden Epistle: A Letter to the Brethren at Mont Dieu. Trans. Theodore Berkeley, OCSO. Cistercian Fathers Series 12. Spencer, MA: Cistercian Publications, 1971.
Contemporary Authors
· Bouyer, Louis.
o The Cistercian Heritage. Westminster, MD: Newman Press, 1958.
Desert a City: Introduction to Egyptian and Palestinian Monasticism. Oxford: Blackwell, 1966.
· De Vogüé, Aldalbert, OSB.
o The Rule of Saint Benedict: A Doctrinal and Spiritual Commentary. Cistercian Studies 54. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1983.
o Reading Saint Benedict. Cistercian Studies 151. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1994.
· Downey, Michael.
o Trappist: Living in the Land of Desire. Photographs by Michael Mauney. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1997.
· Gilson, Etienne.
o The Mystical Theology of St. Bernard. Cistercian Studies 120. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1990.
· Hausherr, Iréneé, SJ.
o Penthos: The Doctrine of Compunction in the Christian East. Trans. Anselm Hufstader, OSB. Cistercian Studies Series 53. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1982.
· Kelty, Matthew, OCSO.
o Aspects of the Monastic Calling. Abbey of Gethsemani, 1975.
· Kline, Francis, OCSO.
o Lovers of the Place: Monasticism Loose in the Church. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1997.
· Knowles, David.
o Christian Monasticism. World University Library. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1969.
· Leclercq, Jean, OSB.
o Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercian Spirit. Cistercian Studies 16. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1976.
o The Love of Learning and the Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture. Trans. Catharine Misrahi. New York: Fordham University Press, 1961.
· Lekai, Louis.
o The Cistercians: Ideals and Reality. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1977.
· Louf, André, OCSO.
o Teach Us to Pray: Learning a Little about God. Trans. Hubert Hoskins. Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1975.
o The Cistercian Way. Trans. Nivard Kinsella, OCSO. Cistercian Studies 76. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1989.
· Marmion, Columba, OSB.
o Christ, the Ideal of the Monk. St Louis: Herder, 1929.
o Christ, the Ideal of the Priest. St. Louis: Herder, 1952.
o Christ, the Life of the Soul. St. Louis: Herder, 1925.
o The English Letters. Baltimore, MD: Helicon, 1962.
· McGinn, Bernard.
o The Growth of Mysticism: Gregory the Great through the 12th Century. New York: Crossroad, 1994.
· Merton, Thomas.
o The Monastic Journey. Ed. Patrick Hart. Cistercian Studies 133. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1992. [Much of Merton’s vast output is still in print and readily available. All of it is recommended.]
o SEE ABOVE...!