Oct
Cloister Talks
Some of my favorite places to visit in the United States are the monasteries and abbeys that often line the most remote areas of the countryside. There’s something warm and inviting about a place dedicated to the perpetual seeking of Jesus and God’s presence in every occurrence and aspect of life.
In Cloister Talks: Learning from My Friends the Monks, author Jon M. Sweeney gives us a glimpse of what we can glean from looking at the lives of those who are totally devoted to seeking God at all hours of the day. With topics ranging from conversion to prayer, working to relaxing, Sweeney helps us see the importance of a balanced life.
Unlike other books in this vein, I appreciate that the author is not a resident of a monastery. Somehow, it seems “easier” for those who take religious vows to live a life of balanced holiness, if for no other reason than because they aren’t as likely to face the distractions of a spouse, children, or the surrounding world. Sweeney, a convert to Catholicism, offers us a glimpse into the world of balanced living by sharing what he has learned from monastics, though it is an “outsider’s” perspective.
This short book, like every other book I’ve picked up by Sweeney, is incredibly readible. Enjoyable from the outset, it is part personal memoir, part instruction, and fully spiritual.
If you like the idea of this book, but wonder about perspectives from the monastery on the world outside the walls, consider reading the two books written by Abbot Christopher Jamison, a Benedictine monk from England. In Finding Sanctuary, Jamison provides readers with the most common traits of monastic life that transfer readily into the greater world. In Finding Happiness, Jamison approaches the subject of happiness by conquering our vices.