Customer Reviews

A Guide to Living in the Truth: Saint Benedict's Teaching on Humility

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In recent years a spate of popular books about monasticism has appeared, some tending to trivialize this relatively rare vocation, others subtly romanticizing it. In contrast, A Guide to Living in the Truth is one of the more realistic books in the genre.

Monk and scholar Michael Casey focuses on the foundational virtue of humility, the subject of the seventh chapter of St. Benedict's Rule. After briefly considering what humility is not (passivity, self-hatred, or mere resignation), Casey provides a meditative, line-by-line commentary, drawing from sources as diverse as St. Bernard of Clairvaux and Albert Camus to clarify the sixth-century text.

The reader may feel some resistance to the message of this book. St. Benedict's view of human nature is unflinching, and his emphasis on the effort required to purge our selfishness is not for the faint-hearted. But Casey does an admirable job of framing Benedictine spirituality in the contexts of common sense, psychological insight, and the mercy of God.

Rather humbly, Casey largely leaves the reader to apply this ancient wisdom to less cloistered lifestyles. But be advised. You may find that this thoughtful introduction to the heart of the Church's original twelve-step program changes your spiritual life more than you expected.

This book was very convicting right from the get go. It helped me to see how prideful I really was and then proceeded to help me to see how I can move toward greater humility and, consequently, closer to Christ. Reading this book produced much fruit in my spiritual life. While the book is written from the perspective of a monk for people living in monastic communities, it really can apply to anyone who reads it and looks at what it says in the context of everyday life. I highly recommend this book.

WOW. Talk about hitting the nail on the head. Casey has an uncanny knack for getting to the point with laser like precision. You want to know what true humility is ? Read this book. To say it has had a profound positive affect on my life is a vast understatement. I simply could not put it down and have continued to refer to it over and over again. Casey talks my language and speaks to the contemporary looking for quidance and direction. Simply a great book.

Michael Casey is a wonderful man - full of wisdom and his writing is very easy to read.
I have enjoyed and gotten alot out of any book of his that I have ever read.