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Mother Benedict: Foundress of the Abbey of Regina Laudis

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Its finally here! Just got my copy of the long awaited, highly anticipated story of the amazing Mother Benedict Duss, foundress of that incredible Benedictine monastery in Connecticut, the Abbey of Regina Laudis. Well known as the home of famous, highly accomplished women from various professions in the world before joining Regina Laudis, including scientists, doctors, artists, teachers, and even a Hollywood actress (Dolores Hart), this flourishing, holy abbey was founded by the great Mother Benedict in the early 1950's.

The story is full of high drama as it tells of how she heard the clear call from the Lord at her beloved Jouarre Abbey in France to go to America to start a new abbey just as she saw the American tanks come into her French village to liberate France from the Nazis in WWII, led by Gen. George Patton. The young Bendictine nun had no idea how she would accomplish this overwhelming task, but went with total faith and trust in Providence to fulfill this mysterious call to return to her home country to found the first community of contemplative Benedictine nuns ever in America.

How she was able to accomplish that incredible feat, the daunting challenges she had to overcome, and the story of that amazing Benedictine monastery that now thrives in that lovely corner of Bethlehem(what a name!),CT., is very well told by Antoinette Bosco, a longtime friend of Mother Benedict and the monastery. It is a deeply moving story of faith, courage, trust and love of God and man that will appeal to all modern seekers and believers. No wonder countless people, famous and common folks alike, visit this beautiful spiritual oasis every year. These nuns are the real deal,living the full spirit of their founder, the great Saint Benedict, chanting the office five times a day, chanting the Holy Mass, and working hard at their variety of muti-faceted tasks, including operating a 400 acre farm ("ora et labora").

Their singing of the chant is so beautiful that when an American music producer heard them singing in their chapel during a visit, he convinced the nuns to let him record their glorious Gregorian chants, and the result has been two best-selling CDs from this cloistered community! (Women in Chant-Vol.I and II.)

Complete with numerous photos that give an added bonus to this moving volume, this book is a must for all those who love a great, true story of a heroic, modern woman, as well as being a "spiritual banquet of delight", as Fr. John Catoir has called it.

How does she then make the journey to start a new foundation in another country? This is a fascinating look at how a young American woman, and a young convert to Catholicism, ends up doing both of these things. One of the things I found particularly interesting is that Mother Benedict was born in the United States, spent time in the U.S. and in France, entered a convent in France, but then ended up founding a Benediction foundation of contemplative nuns in the United States. In a sense, she came full circle - and she came home. Another interesting tidbit concerned the story behind the movie "Come to the Stable." I had not realized that the movie was loosely based on Mother Benedict and the founding of Regina Laudis.

I picked up "Mother Benedict" out of interest and collegial support, and planned to skim through a few sections. But at the first page, the book yanked me into this gripping and thoroughly human story. I plopped down on a sofa and read two chapters--despite dinner on the stove and children making requests. Toni Bosco, a friend and role model, has crowned her career with this book. It testifies to her long hours, days and years with the Benedictines at the Abbey of Regina Laudis. It confirms her willingness to truly enter into the life, vision and pilgrimage of a towering figure. "Mother Benedict" combines the joy of a story with the gratification of spiritual depth and insight.

I just finished reading this unforgettable volume. More than a biography, Bosco takes readers inside the mind and work of a great woman. I grew up with traditional habit-Gregorian-chant Benedictine nuns in Brazil, who were beautiful, intelligent, holy, and capable of imparting an excellent education in the school my sisters and I attended. Today they are hard to come around. I knew about Regina Laudis and always wanted to know more... The book fills in all of the dots and more! I didn't expect the glossy pages with photographs in the middle of the book... icing on the cake! Thanks Ignatius Press for a great publication!

What a wonderful story !!!

I just went reading it pages after pages and find it to be very noble , spiritually and life inspiring. a wonderful journey starting at the eve of the second world war to now. lesson of courage ,friendships , believe and faith unfold in the book written by Antoinette Bosco.

It's been delight full for me to read the book and getting to know better the full story of Mother Benedicte, the community of the Abbey of Regina Laudis .and Mother Marie Aline Trilles de Warren, who was was my dear great Ant .

I have been a dear friend in my heart of the Abbey of Regina Laudis for the last 17 th years. it has been a magical place to me, a great retreat while i needed to step back and take a look at life , A sacred place of peaceful meditation , beauty and unconditional love.

Once again through the abbey and their story told in this book it just give me wings to fly , believe even more in myself and shoot for the stars, because somewhere and some how they also brought me faith in my heart......

Patrick Trilles de Warren.

Patrick de Warren

Photographer

New york

I have heard of Regina Laudis and know priests and nuns who are among the friends of those in that monastery. While their view of the Benedictines there and Mother Benedictine Duss in particular was overwhelmingly positive, I'd heard of their "troubles," and wondered what the story was. Well, now I know, and I encourage all who have questions to read this book. You'll not only find out what a wonderful group of women these nuns are, but you'll find an amazing story as full of adventure as many novels. Mother Benedict and the holy women with her are a treasure. And even better, you can add to your enjoyment of this book by listening to their voices on two CDs of Gregorian Chant, also available through Amazon.com ("Women In Chant" and "Women In Chant: Recordare"). Don't miss this book!!!

This is the story of a bright, psychologically healthy and strong woman who became a medical doctor, a nun and, ultimately, an Abbess. Antoinette Bosco does an excellent job of portraying Mother Benedict in a realistic light, something which appears to be encouraged by Mother Benedict's own honest and unblinking appraisals of herself and her community. Mother Benedict established a new foundation for a religious order in America based on sheer gratitude and a call from God after she and her convent were liberated from the Nazis by the U.S. Army under General Patton. This is the story of her journey from the seed of an idea to full fruition and beyond, and it is a riveting tale of how one person can change the world with faith, guts, determination, love and friends. It is a book you will want to read if you enjoy history, books pertaining to faith/religion and/or biography. Mother Benedict's story is inspirational on many levels, and it is one of those books that make you feel good to live in a world that was inhabited by such a wonderful human being. My only regret in reading this book is that Mother Benedict is no longer alive. She is someone I would have been honored to have known.

"Mother Benedict," by noted Catholic writer Antoinette Bosco, is the inspiring story of Mother Benedict Duss,O.S.B. & her efforts to establish a Benedictine abbey in the U.S. after World War II. Mother's efforts produced one of the most sought after places of prayerful contemplation in all of America,the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem,Ct.

The book follows Mother Benedict's courageous journey from war torn France,where she had been a nun at the famous Benedictine Abbey of Jouarre, to the establishment of Regina Laudis, and all the struggles encountered along the way. Antoinette Bosco paints an unforgettable portrait of Mother Benedict, and her single-minded conviction that it was her mission to build a place of true prayer and peace, dedicated to the ancient Rule of St. Benedict, for women in the U.S.A. Along the way, you will find yourself totally taken in by Mother and her nuns, as they face one obstacle after another, always trusting that God will provide when all else seems to be going awry.

"Mother Benedict," released by Ignatius Press, the premier Catholic publisher in America, is one of the most touching pieces of biography that you will ever read. It is a book to be cherished, and then to be shared. Don't miss the chance to be inspired by this wonderful and compelling story!

I chose this book, because I had planned to make a small retreat to Regina Laudis, the Abbey that Mother Benedict founded, and I wanted to get a bit of background information before I left. Somehow, I had low expectations of the book, thinking to myself, "How interesting could this be, really? A nun startng an abbey...?" But I was wrong, completely wrong. Antoinette Bosco, the author, did a fabulous job at not only capturing the history of this first Benedictine Foundation in the States for women, but also the wise and pithy sayings of Mother Benedict that gave the reader a clear introduction to her, her perservereance, wisdom and humor. I was taken aback at Mother Benedict's approach to build a contemporary Monastery, completely enclosed, yet totally open to the world, while maintaining deep spiritual practices which have endured the test of time. As is tradition for Benedictines, financially they are own their own and receive no monies from Rome. So the undertaking of such a place was astronical, especially with resistance from her own superiors at points. I felt for her when she underwent trials from Rome for her convictions to stick to the traditional, while welcoming the modern. This book truly showed the blood, sweat and tears that went into the forming of this unique place which continues to draw visitors from all over the world. I will call myself fortunate to be able to visit it one day. Give this one a read. It is fascinating.

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This is a book many of us have been awaiting for a long time. Regina Laudis is undoubtedly one of the most inspiring spiritual places in the U.S., and it definitely bears Mother Benedict's imprint. What a fascinating life Mother Benedict led, and the book documents her incredible faith and determination. Mother Benedict is among the last of that generation of spiritual giants, that included Thomas Merton, and Thomas Verner Moore (a key player in the founding of the only U.S. Charterhouse). It is only a shame that the book was not polished more. It takes quite a bit of determination to work your way through it, just to get the story. There are lots of repetitions, broken off threads and typos that could easily have been smoothed out. Also, a bit less obvious partisanship might have helped. All that being said, you will be glad you picked the book up.