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Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today

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Joan Chittister has written a most beguiling and yet practical reflection on the ancient Rule of Benedict. This charming book, though nearly ten years old, is as fresh as the day it was written. "Wisdom Distilled from the Daily" is a timely and welcome guide for all who seek moments of grace and personal spiritual growth in and from their daily lives. Each of the fifteen short chapters is prefaced by a direct citation from the 1500 year old Rule of St. Benedict. Each begins with a description of some physical characteristic of the Mount St. Benedict Monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania, home of her religious community, to whom Chittister dedicates the book. The author uses each of these concrete realities from in daily life in her monastery as a root metaphor which she breaks open in flowing, nearly-musical prose to reveal the timeless wisdom of Benedict on such topics as Listening, Prayer, Work, Humility, and (my personal favorite) "Holy Leisure". But this is not a book about monasticism. St. Benedict was a layman. While his Rule has been adopted and used by monastic brothers and sisters of various religious orders since the sixth century, it was meant to be a spiritual guide for all -- particularly lay persons. More importantly, its purpose is to help us build our spirituality from the bricks and mortar of the lived experiences of our daily lives. The author reminds us that we can find sanctity in the world around us: "If we are not spiritual where we are and as we are, we are not spiritual at all". This book is a gem! It is an easy read. If you think highly enough of someone to want them to read it also, buy them a copy. Don't lend them yours. This one is a "keeper" you will want to refer to frequently. In "Wisdom Distilled from the Daily", Joan Chittister has remade the timeless sixth century Rule of St. Bendict into a much-needed Rule of Living for the twenty-first century.

In "Wisdom Distilled from the Daily", Joan Chittister modernizes the Rule of Saint Benedict and applies it to modern living. Each chapter covers a different aspect of the Rule, including such topics as prayer, work, mindfulness, hospitality, peace, and listening.

Her stories from the desert sages are wonderful and extremely funny, and several of her insights are insightful and very helpful. I found the chapter on obedience in particular to be one of the most pithy, eloquent, and well-written summaries on such a loaded topic that I have ever encountered. One can tell that she is a clinical psychologist from that chapter!

The only criticisms I have are that the content is definitely dated: many of her specific images no longer apply, especially in world politics, her language is occasionally didactic and flat. "Prayer is not magic. Prayer is not..." and so on. Also, a minor linguistic point: she tends to start each chapter with an image, relate the image to the topic, discuss the topic, and then return to the image. This is fine for occasional use, but grates on repetition. Also, those not familiar with Christianity, especially with monastic communities might want to do some background reading first, as some of the images are quite specific. Overall, a very interesting discussion on how to apply the Rule of St. Benedict to today's world.

`Daily life is the stuff of which high sanctity can be made.'

Near the beginning of Joan Chittister's wonderful treatment of the Rule of St. Benedict, she makes this statement, something that is agreed upon by most who are serious about the spiritual life. The old phrase 'little things mean a lot' is very true with regard to spirituality. After all, it is not the big crises that cause the most problems in life -- in fact, it is often a crisis that brings people together and deepens spiritual feeling and commitment. It is in the day-to-day struggle to maintain sanity and security that the spirit can be ignore most easily, unless paying attention to spiritual things is made intentional.

This is part of what Benedict was driving at so many centuries ago. Beyond the specific rules for his community, which are variously applicable and irrelevant toward living in today's world, is the overarching idea that some kind of rule, some kind of daily intentionality, some sort of deliberate pattern that puts us in community with each other and with the divine is very necessary for today's people.

`After years of monastic life I have discovered that unlike spiritual fads, which come and go with the teachers or cultures that spawned them, the Rule of Benedict looks at the world through interior eyes and lasts. Here, regardless of who we are or what we are, life and purpose meet.'

Spirituality of this sort is far more than ritual action. It is far more than churchiness or how often one does any particular thing, including prayer. This spirituality calls upon the individual to incorporate a way of life on top of daily life, a defining context of life that puts all things, prayer, church, family, work, play, study, sleep, indeed all parts of life, in connection and community with God.

There are interior practices and exterior reflections of these practices. Listening is described as the key virtue toward spiritual growth. Listening has to be more than a passive hearing of what is being said, but an active incorporation into life.

Prayer is a central practice, but care must be taken that this not become routine in the sense of being done mindlessly, by rote, but an active listening for the will of God should always be part of this. Also connected to prayer is the practice of lectio, a reading that inspires and feeds the soul, a reading that is different from academic study or informational and entertaining reading.

Chittister highlights many monastic practices and shows ways in which these can be incorporated into daily life for anyone. Monastic mindfulness -- the blending of the day together in harmony and balance -- can be a principle applied as easily outside the monastery as within the cloister. Certainly the ideas of obedience (to the will of God, if nothing else), stability (which means more than living in the same place), hospitality, humility, and community all are applicable beyond the monastery walls, and in many ways antithetical to prevailing Western cultural ideas. These have the potential of feeding the soul and enriching the lives of those who practice even without the support of a monastic community. Many have been surprised that their conversion of life, to use Benedictine language, can lead to subtle, and often not-so-subtle, changes in those around them.

The seeker asked, 'How does one seek union with God?'

The Wise One said, 'The harder you seek, the more distance you create between God and you.'

'So what does one do about the distance?' the seeker asked.

The elder replied simply, 'Just understand that it isn't there.'

The Rule of Benedict is not a mystical text. It is not a spiritual catalogue or occult-ic manual. It was intended, and continues to serve, as a simple guide to help make people more conscious of their already present relationship with God. It is realistic, and makes no promises of spiritual gifts accruing to those who follow it. Yet the riches that do become present can be very great to those open to receiving them. And in receiving these gifts, they become a gift themselves to the world.

Perhaps this is the meaning of the strange biblical dictum (which often seems unfair upon straight reading)

For to those who have, more will be given,
and they will have an abundance;
but from those who have nothing,
even what they have will be taken away.
- Matthew 13:12

This is a book that definitely fills a need for those seeking a more wholistic way of life.

I. Synopsis

Chittister believes that the everyday life of every person contains wisdom, truth, beauty, potential, and perhaps even God. But it's not her idea, at least originally. The Rule of St. Benedict, penned by a humble 4th century monk, has for centuries served as the corner-stone text and instruction manual for the Benedictine religious order, and now reemerges as the basis of Chittester's "Wisdom."

In short, the Rule is a guide to Christian spirituality that at its roots emphasizes balance, community and a lifetime of personal conversion. It is simple in that it is for everyone, regardless of education and status. It is comprehensive in that it proposes a complete way of life. Finally, the Rule is realistic: it advances balance between work and leisure, promising only peace at the end of a life of trying yet not necessarily accomplishing.

Chittester's frames the highlights of the Rule in an effort to guide 20th century Christians in the ways of ancient monastics. She begins simply with the core skills of Benedictine living: listening, and prayer or lectio. Listening means living with ears attuned to the call of Christ (to Benedictines, this is represented in a Monastery bell), thus creating a spirituality sentient of the presence of God in our lives and also the presence of others. Prayer and lectio, the act of prayerful meditation on scripture, for the listening Christian then becomes the center of life. It is regular, universal, reflective, communal and converting (p. 29) thus cracking open the door and letting God enter daily life. In both disciplines, Chittester begins the introduction of the reader to two fundamental yet often counterintuitive concepts of Benedictine spirituality 1) individual growth out of community investment and 2) the tension of change through pause (the opposite of what U2 might call "running to stand still").

From the here the discussion moves to the characteristics or virtues of Benedictine monasticism. These include humility, community, hospitality, wholeness, work, and holy leisure, and in each, Chittister suggests creative and often radically new definitions. Community is synonymous with love and personal development. Here love (i.e. the community) costs and it demands but without it, man is only half alive. She states profoundly, "Alone I am what I am, but in community, I am what I can become (p. 49)." Humility is a lost and misunderstood virtue. Contrary to common definition, the Rule says humility allows for people to be happy with what they do well, as long as they don't exalt themselves to positions of power over others. Here the difficulties of both historic Christianity (i.e. grandiose medieval Cathedrals) and the fine-lines of the balance within the Rule are addressed head on, yet not totally resolved.

Discussions of harmony, wholeness, work, leisure follow and further underscore the Rule's notion of a balanced life that embraces the small, daily and often picayune opportunities to improve the world and the individual. Finally, hospitality and the importance of recognizing the gifts of individuals, and the need to "bloom where planted" (i.e. stability) are developed as Benedictine virtues.

What has been conspicuously absent from this book up to this point are specific prescriptions, do's and don't's if you will, for Christian living. And it seems somewhat unnecessary, even paltry when Chittister finally devotes a later chapter to monastic practices. Although these practices are consistent with the bulk of the Rule, they do not hold a preeminent place in the text. Meaning, they are examples of what someone committed to the Rule on a daily basis would naturally evince, almost like a virtue ethic. Although this may be frustrating for 20th century readers who are accustomed to 12 step programs and bullet point memorandums, it is wholly instep with the Rule according to Chittester. The book ends with a final promise of peace. At the end of a life that never arrives but is always arriving, that struggles to grow and not conquer, peace comes to the enlightened and faithful.

II. Critique

Chittester deals with the vague and nuanced notions of balance and tension in the Rule deftly. She uses approachable language and simple examples, both from her life in the monastery and from secular sources. She artfully structures the chapters in a way consistent with practical application: we are introduced to basic skills, then virtues and finally, big picture results. Moreover, she exhibits a good bit of humor and interesting writing, particularly in the use of ancient axioms, anecdotes and stories straight from the original Rule. Who could forget the John the Dwarf (p. 150), or a senior monk affronted by a withheld fig (p. 123) or the go-ahead-make-my-day monastic who wouldn't bat an eyelash at being "run through" by a big talking swordsman (p. 184).

Where "Wisdom" perhaps falls short is in Chittister's (at times unconscious) use of a highly evolved sense of perception and spiritual connectedness. The reader feels somewhat left out as Chittister recalls how the stain glass windows in the monastery chapel "tear at her soul" or how a well-hung crucifix reminders her of so many cosmic reassurances. Truly, these are symbols of a faith and for the lifelong faithful they point to wealth of memories. Yet it is her success as a contemplative and cloistered nun that renders some of her ruminations too sophisticated for the laity.

In this remarkable book, Sister Joan Chittister filters the wisdom of St. Benedict through her own monastic experience to produce an inspiring guide to centering, focusing, and leading a life of meaning and integrity in today's world. Her message transcends religious and ideological specificity; her writing manages to be direct and luminous at the same time. I, as a non-Christian, was both deeply moved and inspired.

As a member of Sr. Joan's community, readers often ask, "Is that really true? Is she really describing, accurately, life in your community?" Well, yes, I have to say, she really is. Life at its best, of course! I hope that our over 700 yearly visitors could verify that when they leave us after their usual weekend or week long stay. Perhaps Joan's greatest gift is being able to find the beauty, the inspirational, the grace in every day events, places, etc...even in a Benedictine monastery..or ESPECIALLY in a Benedictine monastery. Equally challenging is to take a 1500 year old spiritual document and try to make sense of it at this time in history, in this culture, for us. Joan does a wonderful job, but after all she was a Benedictine prioress for 12 years, so she should know the life and be able to interpret it. And she does.

The Catholic Church has a tradition of conferring the title of "doctor," upon people posthumorously, who have contributed much to others' learning of faith. The more I read from Joan Chittister, the greater the impression I have that I am reviewing the work of a living doctor.

In regards to one of the reviews that labeled some of the information in the book as slightly dated, I am at a loss for where such a shortcoming occurred. The books deals with the timeles issue of spirituality, and I felt that all of the refferences she made were pertinent to any time, including the present.

In regards for a comment made by a reviewer that referred to Chittister as "Sr. Issues," which implied that she bemoans the status of women, true she mentions situations in which women's lives have obstacles to spirituality, some of which are institutionally impsoed, but no less often than tshe mentions men, and the poor and the rich. And she would be religiously irresponsible if she neglected to cite examples of where people could implement gospel teachings to address some of the social ills or "issues" that our confronts our society today.

In short, this is a book for everyone, to inspire and uplift all readers and to provide guidance to everyone for how to develop a spiritual life. It is full of lucid observations such as her distinction between praying people and spiritual people "There is nothing easier than to lead people down the path of prayer forms without ever asking them what goes on inside them as a result. At the end, consequently it is possible to get a praying person; it is not alwyas possibel to get a spiritual person. Praying people get their prayers in and wait for God somehow miraculously to deliver them from their private deomns. Spiritual people expect the demons. What they look for is a way to find God even there."

The book is written in reference to a Christian document, but the guidelines are not exclusive for Christians. Chittister's view, based on her interpretation of the Rule of St. Benedict, is that spirituality can not be developed in a vacuum, only through prayer, or only through attending church, or only through working with people, but that needs to be honed through balancing all aspects of life.

Balance is the key. She elaborates on different facets of life that one should listen to and conduct attentively in order to realize enlightenment. She does not offer exact perscriptions for what dosage of each component a person needs, because the requirements depend on a person's individual situation and needs.

Among these components are daily spiritual reading ("lectio") with an attitude of seeking "not so much and attempt to know God in history or Jesus in Israel as much as it is an attempt to know God in my life and Jesus in me;" contemplation, as "not a vacation from life.Contemplation is the pursuit of meaning...Those who find the will of God every where and feel the presence of God any where are the real contemplatives;" spiritual prayer; applying the gospel to all decisions in life such as what you buy and how your work; developing a sense of community with your neighbors, your colleagues and your family(a key center piece of which is a family meal).

Benedictine spirituality focuses much on interactions of people with each other and their environemt; listening to God's voice and learning to recognize it in every one you meet, and every event that occurs. It is an ideal framework for people today who do not live as hermits because it is based on the idea of a members of a community receiving reinforcement from the group for their weeknesses and sharing their strengths with the group. A community can be found any where.

I found the book beautiful and inspiring and would recommend it to any one who is looking for a resource that will help them with spiritual growth and the art of discerning God's voice. The tone is easy and converstional, and provides a flexible blue print for the pursuit of spirituality in any type of life style.

This is one of them. Every page is filled with peace and wisdom. I found this book, of course, "by accident" (that is, by the grace of God) just at the time my extraordinarily holy Catholic parish priest and spiritual director was discerning whether or not to become a Benedictine monk. This book will deepen my life, i'm sure of it. A good companion book, at least for me, is Jean-Pierre de Caussade's "Abandonment to Divine Providence."

I had to read this for a summer internship, and I found it very helpful. It made me think on my own and sparked good discussions. Chittister's theme seems always to be "slow down and listen" something I can always hear again.

My chapter of the Daughters of the King did this book as a 6-month study. Highly recommended! Easy to read!

Have your highlighter ready to mark all the words of wisdom!

Some great quotes that I refer back to every now and then:

"The cross says that we can rise if we can only endure."

"We pray so that when the incense disappears, we can still see the world as holy."

"In community, we work out our connectedness to God, to one another, and to ourselves.... In the security of each other, we can afford to stumble."