The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work" (Madeleva Lecture in Spirituality) [Paperback]

Kathleen Norris (Author)

Book Description

Series: Madeleva Lecture in Spirituality | Publication Date: May 1, 1998

The bestselling author of The Cloister Walk reflects on the sanctifying possibilities of everyday work and how God is present in worship and liturgy as well as in ordinary life. Definitely not "for women only."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Laundry may seem an odd element in the realm of religious worship, but poet and author, Norris (Dakota: A Spiritual Geography, LJ 12/92) has a talent for weaving seemingly disparate fragments of life together to see them as naturally connected. She points out that "women's work" such as laundry, cooking, and cleaning, done repeatedly on a daily basis and seemingly never to completion, can be approached in the same manner as liturgy. If seen as endless and dreary repetition, these domestic rituals become mindless activities to be gotten out of the way. When considered in terms of their enormous life-giving importance, the feeding and clothing of a family and maintaining of a household can be undertaken in the contemplative spirit. They become, like prayer and worship, acts of love that transform us and, in turn, the larger world around us. An uplifting book of inspiration, this is filled with humorous insights that will be enjoyed by readers unfamiliar with Norris's other work.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

An important contribution to the field of spirituality. -- Consensus, A Canadian Lutheran Journal of Theology

An uplifting book of inspiration. -- Library Journal

Norris does her washing with remarkable grace and splashes us with cleansing tubfuls of wisdom. -- Emilie Griffin, America

The author has the ability to open the reader's eyes to the presence of God. -- Catholic Library World

This extended meditation is filled with insights and practical wisdom. --Liguorian

Product Details

• Paperback: 89 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809138018
• ISBN-13: 978-0809138012
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Worship & Devotion > Hymnals
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Women
  • #34 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Women's Studies > General

More About the Author

Kathleen Norris is the award-winning poet, writer, and author of the New York Times bestsellers The Cloister Walk, Amazing Grace, and Dakota: A Spiritual Geography. An oblate of Assumption Abbey, Norris divides her time between Hawaii and South Dakota.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dont' miss this one!, January 7, 2000

By 

Deb O (Kansas City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work" (Madeleva Lecture in Spirituality) (Paperback)

Any book that can make laundry into a spiritual experience has to be worth more than the pittance that is asked for owning it! It's small, only 88 pages, but it's powerful.

Perfect reading for a time when our world is so chaotic and we are searching for moments of peace and tranquility amidst our crazy schedules. To be reminded how important ritual is to our souls is a gift! Thank you, Kathleen!

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expand the audience, March 3, 2000

By 

J. Williams (South Dakota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work" (Madeleva Lecture in Spirituality) (Paperback)

We should all be most grateful that St. Mary's shares this lecture with a wider audience than the students and faculty who were fortunate enough to hear Norris present these beautiful thoughts. The author shares her personal faith journey with practical metaphor and simile. I have reread the book several times, picking up new inspiration with each reading. Take your time and enjoy this little gem of a book. Good selection for a book club.

72 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's Get Down to the Basics, April 9, 2000

By 

Joseph J. Pausner (San Mateo, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work" (Madeleva Lecture in Spirituality) (Paperback)

Life is not glorious all the time. You still have to brush your teeth, go to the bathroom, take your shower. Does this have a spiritual value? Kathleen Norris has a way, the way only a poet can, of zeroing into the basic heart of the matter. As she has done in her previous works, I believe she is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit to communicate to us that there can be a heavenly value to all the mundane things we have to do in this mortal life, which applied with love, can lead us to be the person we'd like to be so eternity will be our reward. I would love to have her insight. This book has to read, again and again. We shall be so much better for doing so. The "best we can do" is only a destination. We should really "strive to be better." Thank you, Kathleen, for your inspiration.