A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict [Paperback]

Esther de Waal (Author), Esther de Waal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995

Is it surprising that a sixth-century monastic text, the Rule of St. Benedict, should be a guide for lay Christians living in today's world? In fact, the questions which St. Benedict had to face are still questions which face us today: how do I live with others? With the world? With myself? With God? How do I bring balance into my life? St. Benedict speaks to the heart, and this commentary approaches the Rule in a prayerful and reflective way. It will help many people who today are seeking a contemplative centre in a busy life. St. Benedict's writing is steeped in scripture. In the Middle Ages, his Rule was seen as a digest of the Bible. It therefore crosses the divides of the church and speaks to Christians of all denominations.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Esther de Waal is a well-known author whose interests lie particularly in monastic and Celtic spirituality. Author of numerous books, her first, Seeking God: The Way of St Benedict, continues to be a bestseller and has been translated world-wide. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814623581
• ISBN-13: 978-0814623589
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Monasticism
  • #81 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Congregations & Orders

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars personal commentary on the Rule by a lay Benedictine, May 13, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict (Paperback)

De Waal has made a name for herself by adapting Benedict for the laity. This latest of her works is perhaps the least accessible, and it by no means a place to start in getting to know the saint of Monte Cassino. Christians who already order their lives by drawing from the centuries-old "Rule," however, will want to read it cover to cover. She goes through each chapter and gives, not a scholarly but a personal commentary on its meaning. Many references to other works of Benedictine scholarship. Don't have a copy of the "Rule" handy? (You must have one to get anything out of this work at all.) Liturgical Press will send you one free if you return the postpaid card that comes with de Waal's book. What a deal!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant reading of Benedict's Rule for everyday life., May 13, 1999

By 

Geoff Paxton ([e-mail]) (Johannesburg, South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict (Paperback)

Esther de Waal has managed to bring the Rule of Benedict to life by insightfully applying it to life lived in the world, not just for an enclosed Benedictine community.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Benedictine Wisdom for the Home, July 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict (Paperback)

De Waal's commentary brings the 6th century "Rule of Benedict" into my 21st century life and home, revealing how relevantly Benedict's wisdom speaks to our modern age. Another recently published book, a modern commentary on the Rule, written for parents, is titled THE FAMILY CLOISTER: BENEDICTINE WISDOM FOR THE HOME, by David Robinson (New York, NY: Crossroad, 2000).