The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home [Paperback]

David Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

This book is a collection of meditations on family life drawn from the ancient book, The Rule of St. Benedict.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Robinson lives in Cannon Beach, Oregon with his wife, three sons and black lab. He serves as pastor of Community Presbyterian Church, Cannon Beach, and has worked as a pastor for the past 15 years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: The Crossroad Publishing Company (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824518276
• ISBN-13: 978-0824518271
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Robinson is author of four books on Benedictine spirituality including:
1) Ancient Paths: Discover Christian Formation the Benedictine Way (Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2010);
2) The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality: Practical Lessons for Modern Living from the Monastic Tradition (New York, NY: Crossroad Publishing, 2009);
3) The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home (Crossroad, 2000); winner of Catholic Press Association for "Best Family Life" book, 2001;
4) The Christian Family Toolbox: 52 Benedictine Activities for the Home (Crossroad, 2001).

David serves as Pastor of Community Presbyterian Church, Cannon Beach, Oregon. He is married with three grown sons. David is a Benedictine Oblate with Mount Angel Abbey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Home Run for the Family, March 18, 2000

By 

Steen Z. Hudson (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home (Paperback)

What a fresh perspective on family life. Having read a number of books about family life and raising children in a messed up world, this book has given my wife and I a new look at being a family.

Combining the tradition of the Benedictine order and his own experience, David Robinson's first book challenges the hectic lifestyle which so many families are caught up in today. It suggests a framework within which to truly be a family.

Habits shape our lives. And this great book, suggests we create wonderful habits to shape our family life. I'd like to say more, but as this fine work encouraged me, I am off to spend time with my family

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BUSY FAMILY'S GUIDE TO SPIRITUALITY, January 10, 2006

By 

David G. Robinson "David Robinson" (Cannon Beach, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home (Paperback)

This book has been re-released in a revised and completely updated edition, (September 2009), under the title, THE BUSY FAMILY'S GUIDE TO SPIRITUALITY. The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality: Practical Lessons for Modern Living From the Monastic TraditionThe revised edition includes 49 practical exercises for families in growing together in faith, hope and love. Enjoy!

For anyone seeking a copy of THE FAMILY CLOISTER please consider The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality as your best buy. Thanks!

Vincent Van Gogh painted a family scene titled "First Steps", a portrait of a father working in the family garden having just laid down his hoe to kneel down with open arms to receive his daughter. The mother has just stepped through a little white garden gate with a one year old baby girl dressed in a pink dress, has set the little girl down to take her "first steps" into Daddy's arms. Behind the family, an apple tree is in full springtime blossom with the humble cottage in the background.

This painting captures the essence of "Family Spirituality", busy parents and children taking first steps together in the family garden where the fruitful and adventurous love labor of raising kids takes place all across the planet.

As a Benedictine Oblate I believe "The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality" will be an encouragement to any other Oblate parents who are wrestling with ways to implement the practical-spiritual vision of St. Benedict within the cloister of daily parenting.

12 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't quite pull it off, September 28, 2002

By 

Bryan W. Rice (Pontiac, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home (Paperback)

The theory sounds like it would work: take the basics of how a monasatery is run and apply it to raising a family. I don't think the author pulls if off well. I was especially affronted at his ideas about using separation as a means of discipline for children. His use of the concept is not like, the same thing as a time out for a three year old. It's not an awful book or anything, he just didn't convince me that the monastic life is transferrable to a family situation.