Benedict Books

This book goes from whimsical to hillarity page by page, one of my favorite is:
Mr Billings

There was a mad science teacher
by the name of Mr Billings
who blew up the laboratory
an put scorch marks on the ceilings
how did you lose your fingers Sir
did I have to ask
too much combustion my dear boy
I nearly lost my ass.

This is a beautiful collection of Pope Benedict XVI's "own words" from the beginning of his papacy. Whether speaking with other clergy such as before the Conclave, meeting with various heads of state, talking with people at his general audiences or with the Youth in Cologne, Germany, Benedict always speaks clearly and simply. Through his words, you can see his passion and love for God, the Church, and Truth. A shy, warm, and loving man, he teaches us through his words. When Pope Benedict XVI speaks, people listen because he is able to phrase ideas and concepts into a language that everyone can understand and it appears that he is speaking directly to you as an individual. He gives concrete examples . . who could ever forget the homily at the funeral of Pope John Paul the Great when he mentioned about Pope John Paul II looking down from his apartment window? Or the examples of the saints' lives? And, there are dimensions to his words that simple folk can understand, yet the learned philosopher and theologian marvel at. Reading this little book gives one a huge lift in everyday life.

Father Kwatera, Benedictine of Saint John's in Collegeville, authored several excellent and thoughtful collections of prayers and standard texts on our liturgical ministry, including El Ministerio De Los Monaguillos (Preparing for Liturgy (Spanish)), Prayers at Meals, Prayers On Wheels, The Liturgical Ministry of Deacons: Second Edition, etc.

Here in this gratefully received collection we find prayers authored by numerous Catholic theologians and mystics and writers collected under a number of themes, including Ask and It Shall Be Given to You. This generous and varied collection therefore serves as an entry to Father Kwatrera's prolific work on prayer and liturgy, as portal to Catholic prayer and as an excellent supplement to the latest comprehensive gift edition of the Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers.

A worthy gift for all present, practicing and aspiring Catholics and for all searching souls in need of a prayer for all occasions.

This is a fun book and it makes a great gift!

When I read it, it took my back several years to when I was expecting and prompted fun memories.

I have been giving this as a present when a good friend or family member tells me they are expecting. I always hear back that the recipient read it right away, and enjoyed it.

This book is a great way to deepen one's spirituality. As usual Fr. Groeschel writing in a clear and understandable style as he answers questions about a person's seeking for God. The question and answer format is a wonderful idea and depending on the topic one chooses, that specific chapter will answer what inquiries the reader seeks.

Fr Groeschel skillfully intermixes very short thoughts and examples which cause you to meditate about what he is saying. His writing style does not allow this to be a quick read -- you can't help reflecting on the writings. Then, after you've digested his words for a while he interspaces his beautiful prayers, which always seem to be just what you would want to say to God at that time. After reading a few pages of this book, I always come away feeling a bit closer to God, and understanding what He wants of me -- unfortunately this is sometimes scary, considering how little I give Him. You can't buy a better book for improving your relations with God, and it makes an excellent gift for people of any faith.

Associate Professor Tracey Rowland, Dean of the Melbourne John Paul II Institute, is described by Cardinal Pell in the foreword to this book as making progress towards "becoming Australia's leading theologian." Anyone who has read her 'Culture and the Thomist Tradition: After Vatican II' will understand that she is a theologian of substance. Those who read 'The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI' will see why she is indeed becoming a leading theologian, not just in Australia but in the English-speaking world.

For her present work demonstrates a profound grasp of the wide-ranging theological work of Pope Benedict XVI and of the theological and philosophical schools within which and in contradistinction to which he has written. No one book can hope to encompass his theological achievement, but certainly one finds here a reliable and sympathetic introduction to it. For serious students of Catholic theology and indeed for those seeking an insight into Pope Benedict's vision of the Church's role in the modern world, this book is a must.

Truly this is the centerpiece, with the Gospels and Cassian and Origen, etc., for any Catholic monastic library, and yet other translations can be found, in particular the clear and faithful reading version of The Rule of Saint Benedict. I shall give a few reasons for this determination in a moment.

This review refers of course to the 627 page reference work published by Collegeville's Liturgical Press, with Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat, which still bear some small significance for some of us, upon the occassion of the 1500th anniversary of Saint Benedict's birth. Surprisingly the product detail page here on amazon gives us few details of this irreplaceable and comprehensive and monumental and historic work. Permit me this disclaimer that my poor summary here in no way can replace a careful personal examination of this necessary book, and space prevents neither such a presentation nor a careful theological examination.

Briefly therefore this work opens with a contextual and historical forward by Martin Burne, OSB, of Saint Mary's in Morristown. Wht follows is a Preface by the main translator, Rev. Timothy Fry, OSB, of Atchison, who explains the process of translation by committee as well as explaining the lay-out and the production and producers of this monumental Benedictine work, and assorted acknowledgements. As Father Timothy explains, Part I is the Introduction with a history of monasticism in order to set the Rule of Saint Benedict in its historical and cultural context, including an understanding of the references to other authors made by Saint Benedict. Part II presents the amazing core of this work: a side by side publication of the original Latin text of Saint Benedict alongside (on the facing page) the new English translation, including for the first time in English the Anselmo Lentini 1947 versification. Extensive explanatory notes also grace these pages. Part III contains long expository essays in a way not available in the explanatory notes, with cross references. These essays include long examinations and definitions of terms such as Monk, Cenobite, Nun, Abbot, as well as the Liturgical Code of Saint Benedict. They also consider his Disciplinary Measures, and methods of formation and profession. They examine how Saint Benedict interprets Holy Scripture, and compares him to another early Monastic Rule.

Part Four is an excellent Thematic Index, with Patristic, Scriptural and a General Index. The Thematic Index features a useful explanation of Latin terminology, and especially vaulable is the Selected Latin COncordance which precedes it. This very extensive Concordance indicates Saint Benedict's usage of nearly every term in the Rule, using Lentini's versification, most often within a brief context, and is most useful to students not only of the Rule but of Latin. The Indexing is really very complete and varied in methodologies, and quickly lost among them all is the wonderful few pages indicating Benedicitne Houses in North America, including Regina Laudis, etc.

Now a small note about the translation by committee, which I find a bit academic in style and complex in syntax. Perhaps I have simply grown to love the Doyle translation of the The Rule of Saint Benedict, but comparing it to the original Latin as avaiable here, I find it even more faithful. For example let us look at a few lines before I use up my space alloted here upon the broad amazon.

Latin as you may know arranges its sentences in order of importance, with the verb finally bringin up the rear and breaking that suspense. Thusly we ordinarily read the most important or stressed elements first and less emphasized items later, with the big bang of the verb closing the sentence.

Therefore let us look at Chapter 53 On the Reception of Guests, at line 6 (following Lentini) and seven and part of eight:

In ipsa autem salutatione omnis exhibeatur humilitas omnibus venientibus sive discedentibus hospitibus: inclinato capite vel prostrato omni corpore in terra, Christus in eis adoretur qui et suscipitur. Suscepti autem hospites ducantur ad orationem ( . . .)

This Fry committee translation reads: "All humility should be shown in addressing a guest on arrival or departure. By a bow of the head or by a complete prostration on the body, Christ is to be adored because he is indeed welcomed in them. After the guests have been received, they should be invited to pray ( . . .)"

The Doyle reads the same in the reading for April 4, August 4, December 4: "In the salutation of all guests, whether arriving or departing, let all humility be shown. Let the head be bowed or the whole body prostrated on the ground in the adoration of Christ, who indeed is received in their persons. After the guests have been received and taken to prayer ( . . .)"

I prefer therefore the more substantial reading by Doyle, who speaks of the earth mentioned by Benedict, and who stresses receiving Christ in the guests, as the phrase runs: Christ in them is adored, who is also received. Notice "in eis" immediately follows "Christus," stressing the unity and importance, unlike Fry who moves "in them" to the end of the sentence, leaving the adoration of Christ rather distant and vague. Benedict "autem" here stresses the Eucharistic dimension of receiving guests at a monastery as receiving Christ, in adoration, and elsewhere stresses the greater worshipful loving care with which the poor and homeless are received. Therefore, in this case, I find the Doyle not only more readable but also more closely reflective of the meaning of Saint Benedict. Of course, I would prefer by far to have performed long ago my own "invisibly" faithful translation!

ANother interesting line of course is found at Chapter 55, verse 18 by Lentini: "Et ut hoc vitium peculiaris radicitus amputetur, dentur ab abbate omnia quae sunt necessaria ( . . .)" which Fry reports as "In order that this vice of private ownership may be completely uprooted, the abbot is to provide all things necessary ( . . .)." This line of course is soon followed by reference to the Acts of the Apostles: "Distribution was made to each according as anyone had need." And Doyle reads it as: "And in order that this vice of private ownership may be cut out by the roots, the Abbot should provide all the necessary articles ( . . .)" which are basically clothing, shoes, a handkerchief and writing instruments. The Latin reads strongly on this point And so that this vice of private ownership can be amputated (or ripped out) by the roots, it falls to the abbot to provide all that is necessary.

Not much variation here, but read the line preceding this one: Quae tamen lecta frequentur ab abbate scrutinanda sunt propter opus peculiare, ne inveniatur; et si cui inventum fuerit quod ab abbate non accepit, gravissima disciplinae subiaceat.

What does this say to our individualist consumer society? We need to study this good book closely today, and put her into practice in our lives, build our communities, and, as Saint Benedict so kindly and gently and correctly writes, pray we all come together unto eternal life.

I purchased 15 copies of this book, as soon as I finished reading it, so that I could pass it on to my family and friends with the understanding that they would pass it on. As Catholics we sometimes forget what transpires at mass and how blessed we are to have Christ's presence in the Eucharist. This book is a great reminder.

I found this book to be very helpful as a victim of rape and torture. It also helped my husband understand what I was going through. It has practical suggestions to handle the aftermath of sexual assault