The Abbey of Gethsemani: Place of Peace and Paradox (150 Years in the Life of America's Oldest Trappist Monastery) [Hardcover]

Dianne Aprile (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0964280213 | ISBN-13: 978-0964280212

150th Anniversary history of the oldest Trappist Monastery in America.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dianne Aprile is a writer for the Louisville Courier-Journal. She was the winner of The National Society of Newspaper Columnists' top award in 1994, and her newspaper and magazine reporting has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists, American Bar Association and National Women's History Project. She is the recipient of a Kentucky Arts Council fellowship and a writer's grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women. She lives in Louisville with her husband and son.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Trout Lily Pr (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964280213
• ISBN-13: 978-0964280212
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #409,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Majestic,peaceful and holy, January 25, 2001

By 

A. Hogan (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Abbey of Gethsemani: Place of Peace and Paradox (150 Years in the Life of America's Oldest Trappist Monastery) (Hardcover)

The Abbey of Gethsamani was the first Trappist monastery in the USA,brought over by French monks in the mid 1800's. It was, of course most famous as the home of the late thomas merton[fr. Louis, o.c.s.o},author of the 7 storey Mountain and over 70 other books, diaries etc. it is through Merton that most of us heard first of this place located in the hills of Kentucky.Ms. Aprile has, along with the abbey's collection of photographs and articles, put together a simply beautiful book. there is so much more here tehn the late great Fr. Merton. The periods are divided into the various abbots tenures,leading up to the near present and Abbot Timothy Kelly{who resinged as abbot last winter} The history of not only the monastery and its environs is told, but more, the history of American Catholicism is here. Every major catholic figure,ecclisiastic or secular made their way through Gethsemaniat one point,and much of it is chronicled here. the photos are wonderful and evocative, the care taken with this book is evident throughout.the book itself is handsome to hold, the pages of fine quality,heavy bonded paper,the photos crisp and clear. A very well done book, highest quality highly, hugely recommended.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific! The Abbey of Gethsemani - A Holy Place!, January 6, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Abbey of Gethsemani: Place of Peace and Paradox (150 Years in the Life of America's Oldest Trappist Monastery) (Hardcover)

As editor of the Thomas Merton Site, I receive many books about Merton. The Abbey of Gethsemani tops them all. Its description of monastic life is unequalled! Using the theme of Abbots that have led the Abbey since 1848, one senses the spectacular holiness of the place. On December 21, 1998, I went to the 150th anniversary of the Abbey. Since I had just completed Dianne Aprile's book it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. A Holy Book to be Treasured!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Official Story of Gethsemani, June 20, 2005

By 

Timothy Kearney (Haverhill, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Abbey of Gethsemani: Place of Peace and Paradox (150 Years in the Life of America's Oldest Trappist Monastery) (Hardcover)

About a month ago, I visited The Abbey of Gethsemani for what I officially said was a retreat, but like so many people who have visited the abbey, I loved THE SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN and wanted to see where Thomas Merton lived and wrote. The tourist in me wanted to see Merton's hermitage, which I did not see. It was in use at the time-the nerve of those monks for actually using it for the intended purpose. Well, I didn't have to see the hermitage to experience the special qualities that make Gethsemani a place like no other. History, tradition, beauty, simplicity and complexity all combine to create the spiritual life at Gethsemani where God's presence is found.

Dianne Aprile's book is a coffee table sized book that tells the story of Gethsemani, the good as well as the not so good. We see a monastery that survived against the odds, hit its peak during the years of Thomas Merton, and still has a mission and purpose today. The book is somewhat sanitized in comparison with other works available, but unlike many of the other works which tell of visits to Gethsemani, the author was writing an official history of the Abbey for its one hundred and fiftieth had unprecedented access to photographs and documents which makes this book indispensable for anyone interested in Trappist life in general and especially to people interested in the Abbey itself. The book begins with a general introduction to the Trappist life and then tells the history of Gethsemani during each abbot's governance of the abbey. We see how the life in the abbey in many ways reflects life in the United Stets and the fabric of Catholicism in America.

I read most of the book while I was at Gethsemani so I could ask questions and discover the behind the scenes story. I finished it when I got back home and since that time I've reread passages as a means of revisiting the monastery, if not in person, at least vicariously. I'm sure I'll treasure this book in years to come and encourage anyone with even a remote interest in Trappist life to consider this book.