Customer Reviews

Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love

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What a delight to read "Radical Hospitality", written by a monk and a mom. Both worlds, that of the monastery and the family home, are primary places of hospitality. Lonni & Daniel weave their lives, stories and faith together into a durable and beautiful welcome rug, inviting all who dare step this way into a life of "radical hospitality". The title word "radical" may turn some away from this book due to connotations of rebellion and anarchy. Don't let it. "Radical" simply means "having to do with the root, the radix". Benedictine hospitality is truly radical, returning us to our roots, our true heart home in God the God who welcomes us as we are, where we are, who we are. Hospitality begins at home with God, and at home where we live, eat, sleep and love on a daily basis with others. Radical hospitality is the true balm to heal the wounds of nations, and bring peace. But will we live this way? For another book that explores Benedictine hospitality in the home, look into THE BUSY FAMILY'S GUIDE TO SPIRITUALITY (Crossroad, 2009). The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality: Practical Lessons for Modern Living From the Monastic Tradition

There's a danger in thinking this book is about being nice or anxious to entertain guests. There is no normal sense of the word hospitality by which one can identify the message of Radical Hospitality. It is clear-headed, wildly fun to read with unexpected sorts of stories about real people. Personally, I mistrust rave reviews. Can any book be so worthwhile that it merits no criticism? I found nothing to dislike in this vision of a kinder world. A monk who writes with a pretty woman can't be all bad.

I picked up Radical Hospiality because of a sermon I heard in Boston awhile ago while visiting a friend from college. I did not catch the name of the author, authors as it turns out, but I was sure the minister, a woman, was quoting from a book. When I did a internet search it turned out that the phrase Radical Hospitality is used by religious and social groups from churches to conventions, all around the world. What I amazed by is that so few of the people, like the minister, name where they got their quotes or who they are quoting. This is a very fine book. It borders on brilliant actually and I am not the sort to use such a word casually. Why would anyone not want to give these authors the credit they deserve? The book, Radical Hospitality is challenging in a gentle way. I never once felt like the writers were shoving some agenda down my throat. There is just this level of telling their own experience and stories that any half-brain dead person could tell is from their hearts. Don't get me wrong. It is not a personal experience kind of book and it is not a book for anyone who like fluff instead of substance. But, if you are looking for a book about what has gone wrong in how we relate to one another, this is it. And if you love it too, be sure you tell people who you're quoting!

Just like Benedict himself, always challenging the individual to come to the heart of Christ, in the stranger. I used this book for lectio and the encounter with God and myself was an unbelievable experience. It challenged and reaffirmed my own identity as a lay person, who seeks to live the Benedictine way, to be more hospitable. In many cases this book will either root you more deeply in the heart of Jesus and open your life or uproot one from the rocky soil and plant them in the fertile soil. Either way this book causes the individual to seriously challenge and examine they way we all live our lives as hospitable people. It's not a flighty warm fuzzy book, but you don't get lost in monstastic terminology either. It is really practical in dealing with the lay person and reflecting on how we can live radical hospitality reflected by a monastic. Lonni and Fr. Dan does a great job!! Dominus vobiscum!

"Radical Hospitality" was given to me by a friend who thought very highly of it, and she was right. This is one of those rare books that is really for almost anyone--highly readable, charming and soothing, deep and practical, and full of wisdom and love. It is not particularly theological--it is about lived Christianity. It would be an excellent choice to give as a gift, and it is certainly also a book one would buy for oneself for one's own growth.

As we awaken to the need to live our beliefs about love, to live generously, graciously, welcomingly, we are confronted by our own frightened hesitancy to be present to the needs of others. This book explores how we can reach out while necessarily preserving our own boundaries. "Radical Hospitality" teaches (with wonderful examples) how and why we should become more open and generous, and concludes very credibly that the essence is "listening," perhaps the most basic Benedictine value, used here in the sense of a kind of loving contemplative social presence. Everyone wants and needs to be truly listened to, the authors say, and especially at the times when it can be hardest to want to listen, when the one being listened to is in pain, angry, afraid. To feel heard is to feel real and loved and a little bit healed.

I found "Radical Hospitality" itself to be a beautiful experience of the authors' hospitality toward the reader. Even the design of the book itself is quite inviting.

I gave away several copies of Benedict's Way, the last book from Homan and Pratt. I was very excited about this book and I'm not disappointed in the authors at all. It can't be an easy thing for two people, obviously such different people, to write in a single voice but they do and there is something about their single voice that is stronger than the dual voices they had in Benedicts Way. This is not exactly a "practical" book, it is about becoming rather than how to do something. The authors are upfront about that so if you are looking for a how-to guide you'll be disappointed. I liked their redefining of hospitality, taking it beyond our narrow understanding of the word. The 9/11 link is present in the book but it isn't something dripping from every line, it is really not a 9/11 book even though it was mentioned somewhere as one of the best books written on 9/11. I hope we hear a lot more from this writing pair. A couple observations. I had a difficult time getting used to the combined voice of a monk and a woman. Not sure why it bothered me at first but it did. By the second chapter I realized that my discomfort was gone. I expected something along the lines of Benedicts Way, and this is a different book. I also had to get past my expectation. However, it is a great read, very moving and profound. The authors do things with words that I've never read before. I like it very much and hope there are more coming.

A week ago, I heard a speaker quote from this week. She incorporated much from the book into her presentation. It was an excellent presentation. I told someone about the book and they ordered it for me. Now, I can't get enough of reading it. It has spoken directly to me somehow, like the authors were writing just for me. Eventually I will stop reading the book and try to live it in my real life everyday. That will be challenging. Few people seem interested in living a more accepting life of hospitality. One of the great things about this book is that the authors make it clear that ANYONE can accomplish that goal. It is all about becoming a more open person. Maybe that should be clear with hospitality but it was not clear to me. Hospitality was shrouded for me in all sorts of guilt and shoulds. I should be nicer, should be more open, should be more trusting. I appreciate that this book scrimps on the shoulds and tries to practice the hospitality it preaches. Great book. You gotta get it.

Radical Hospitality burns itself into your mind line after line. It is, as another reviewer has said, not a particularly comfortable book. This is an example of extraordinary spiritual writing that is simple and direct. Not only are the authors some of the best spiritual writers to come along since Henri Nouwen, they take you on a slow tumble into your own fears and bigotries, but they do this with so much of their own stories and an awareness of how they, as people, have failed, that you welcome them into places you have never even welcomed yourself. This is a first-rate book that you will be glad to tell others about.

Several years ago Lonni was my instructor at a writer's conference. She was in the process of working on Benedict's Way with Father Homan. We asked her to read some of what they had written to us and she graciously agreed. You could have heard a pin drop in the room when she finished. This is the same sense I have from reading Radical Hospitality. The message is a simple one, make room for another person in your life and try to believe that doing it will make a cosmic difference. As I get older I'm learning that simple concepts are usually the most profound. The word is overused but this is a profound book. I have long enjoyed Mrs. Pratt's writing. Teamed with Father Homan she had gone from excellent to superb. It will be a shame if this book does not get the attention it merits from both readers and those who make books happen. My singular gripe is that the authors do little to focus on the basics of Christian hospitality as opposed to monastic hospitality. Considering their backgrounds though it is not surprising, nor, does it take away from the book.

This is a must read for Lay Contemplatives who want a way to integrate their spiritual practices with "living ordinary life with extra-ordinary love."