Cave, Refectory, Road: Monastic Rhythms for Contemporary Living

by Ian Adams

In this short book, Ian Adams captures the essential genius of the monastic tradition and combines it with his own experience as poet, family man and abbot of a 'new-monastic community' to address the disease of so much of our contemporary ways of living. His book gives simple, practical inspiration for 'ordinary living' and re-calls monks and nuns, friars and sisters tot he passion of their founders as it "How did the dynamic way of the passionate, scandalous re-imaginer Jesus give way to so much that is passionless, repressed and safe?"-Abbot Stuart Burns OSB

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christian Living

99 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2010

About the author

Ian Adams is an Anglican priest and founder of mayBe, a new monastic community in Oxford. A popular speaker, he is the creator of Morning Bell, a daily call to prayer sent by e-mail, text, and Twitter. He lives in South Devon, England.

Reviews

[Fantine Cascales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring and opening the mind. A lot to learn from the monastic world, a lot to take and to apply.

[Jérémie Cascales · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to reshape our devotion...
Through the perspective of the monastic life, building the kingdom of God is a “come in” and “come out” to have this close relationship with Jesus and to reflect Him in our every-day-areas.
This book opens a lot of new perspectives to build up our relationship, reading, and prayer lives.
Easy to read and really small, this book is a must have!
3 words: Cave, Refectory, Road. 3 words to applied and to practice in our lives!
Let’s bring new perspectives in your devotion life

[Julie Nicholson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book reflecting on these three themes taken from the monastic example. I had hoped for a bit more, especially how to put these ideas into practice, but maybe I just need to start with what is there.

[Rob Hewlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an encouraging, creative, interesting and open way to consider a new monasticism and how it can apply now.

[Clive Baggallay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short 99 pages but beneficial in understanding how the benefits of monasticism can be brought into daily life, work and play in ways that will enrich them.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for a short, inspiring synopsis of how we can appropriate a 'monkish' way of life today.

[David Metting · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Ian Adams examines many aspects of traditional Christian monasticism that are relevant for our hurried, post-modern age. Adams gently and compellingly presents perennial monastic wisdom gained from solitude (the Cave), community (the Refectory), and travel (the Road). His writing has his own poems, personal anecdotes, and quotes from St. Benedict and other religious figures. He also describes monastic virtues such as humility, chastity, and rootedness and tells how they are meaningful for the present day. His chapter on rootedness really struck me. Here are 2 quotes:

"And if those of us in 'regular life" commit ourselves to living with quiet persistence and awareness where we are, the most ordinary of human tasks in the most mundane of settings may slowly open themselves up, and be seen to be fecund- pregnant with life, meaning, and possibility." (85).

and

"The monastic way teaches us that there is great value in becoming willing to be shaped by our setting, to root ourselves somewhere specific, to engage with a small piece of the world." (83).

Great stuff, and the book is filled with such nuggets! I give it 4 instead of 5 stars only because the book was a little short and I would have enjoyed much more. Very revitalizing, and gave me wisdom for living my own life in the world. Recommended!

[writer...]

from my professors of the Mission Shaped Ministry course:

In Cave Refectory Road, Ian Adams has produced a book that can be guaranteed to open up new vistas for anyone searching for an authentic spirituality that will make sense in the context of today’s 24/7 world. By combining threads of wisdom long forgotten or overlooked and showing how they can be interwoven so as to offer fresh insights into our everyday challenges, Ian has crafted a rich tapestry of scriptural and historic patterns for living that will be both empowering and sustaining.
- John & Olive Drane, authors, Visiting Fellows of St John's College, University of Durham

Ian skilfully opens up the Christian contemplative tradition as received from the monastics and friars in a grounded and accessible way for today's spiritual seeker. In an age when many are spiritually hungry, Ian opens up the Christian tradition in a way that is dynamically spiritual and authentically religious. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to establish a deep Christian faith and practice that can thrive in the complexity of the modern world.
- Ian Mobsby, New Monastic, author and Priest Missioner to the Moot Community, London

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both reflective and practical. It is not an explanation of, or detailed introduction to New Monasticism. Look elsewhere for that. But it is a guide into experiencing the thinking and practice of monasticism for yourself. A book to read slowly and return to often.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book about 4 times and each time find something more to challenge me, encourage me or make me think. New monasticism is certainly something the present day Church could be exploring further.

[Ruth Innes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this little book on new monasticism. But it only skimmed the surface and left me wanting to know so much more.

[Lisa Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monastic principles for modern life. Love it.

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful exploration of modern monasticism that draws its roots from a variety of historical influences.