Men in Sandals

by Richard C. Madden, ocd

If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the austere walls of a monastery - what kind of men, how they acquire that mien of inner serenity you wish could rub off on you, whether they are really human or part angel, and why young men want to become a monk - this book is for you.

154 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1954

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

In reading this book you are guided by a gentle author with genuine inside information on what it is like to live the heroic life of a consecrated religious man. (A monk) Before you yawn and turn away, think a moment. Who are these strange otherworldly men and what motivates them? Father Madden uses humor, real-life experiences, and deft prose to brings alive a hidden world. He makes attractive, a life without lived without personal possessions, without meat, and without shoes. Not an easy task but he pulls it off. I recommend it to every young person who wonders if there is more to life than social media and fashion and who wonders what it might to throw one's life into the arms of God. (And also to every parent who wonders if their child might have a vocation or wonders why their child has a vocation.) I loved it.

[Adam R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was going to give it 4; and maybe this is bias, but this book gives a great look at religion and spirituality from the catholic view point. The author, Father Madden, writes in a humble way that did not make someone like myself feel judged or looked down on. He wrote of what I believe religion to be, something for all the believe. I really enjoyed it, and even though antiquated at times, I felt very relieved to read portions of this book.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subject matter of this book was simply sad. It was written in the 50s to attract men to enter the Carmelites, but to me it served to show why the Church stands in great need of the New Evangelization. The life of a Carmelite was described in a humorous enough manner, but there was desperately little indication that a vocation to the priesthood or a vocation to Carmel had anything at all to do with love, God's call, or the existence of anything supernatural. Rather, religious life is presented as an endurance contest where those who can "buck up" enough survive. There is nothing interior or personal presented, except perhaps the idea that "obedience" means it is just safer to have someone else make certain decisions for you. Somehow, this is supposed to get you closer to God.

As a Catholic and a secular Carmelite in formation, this is deeply saddening to me.