Benedict In The World: Portraits of Monastic Oblates

by Linda Kulzer (Editor), Roberta Bondi (Editor)

In  Benedict in the World , Linda Kulzer, O.S.B., and Roberta Bondi have gathered stories of many of the ordinary and extraordinary men and women Benedictine oblates—members of the Benedictine family who live in the world. Benedict in the World  begins with an introductory chapter citing some reasons for an influx of Benedictine oblates into monasteries today. It then presents in detail a collection of the lives of nineteen significant Benedictine oblates who lived from the years 973 to 2000. Nearly half the contributors are themselves Benedictine oblates and most of the others are professed Benedictine monastics. The combined effort offers support and inspiration to those who have loved their oblate journey and brings to light the lives of these outstanding lay monastics. Among the more well-known oblates included are Dorothy Day, Patrick and Patricia Crowley, Jacques and Raissa Maritain, Walker Percy, H. R. Reinhold, and Elena Cornaro. Chapters are " On Being a Benedictine Oblate," by Roberta Bondi; “Introduction,” by Linda Kulzer, OSB, “Monasticism Beyond the Walls,” by Linda Kulzer, OSB, “Carolyn Catcher of the Light,” by Paschal A. Morlino, OSB; “Oblate and Elena Lucrezia Scholastica Cornaro Piscopia (1646-1684),” by Ann Kessler, OSB; “Patrick Oblate of St. Benedict,” by Patty Crowley; “Faith in The Lives of Patrick and Patricia Crowley,” by Margaret Colleton; “Evelyn Davie's Dream Deferred,” by Mary Ruth Coffman, OSB; “Prayer and Work in the Light of Dorothy Day,” by Rita (McClain) Tybor; “Eric Presbyterian Pilgrim,” by Phyllis K. Thompson; “Believing Is Frances of Rome, Patron of Benedictine Oblates,” by Susan Anderson Kerr; “Rumer Oblate Novelist,” by Catherine Wybourne, OSB; “Edith Gurian, Oblate Peter,” by Mary Anthony Wagner, OSB; “Henry Monk-King,” by Hugh Feiss, OSB; “On the Road to The Spiritual Journey of Joris-Karl Huysmans,” by George C. Tunstall; “Emerson A Vocation to Conversation,” by Owen Lindblad, OSB; “St. Benedict and the Maritains,” by Lucie R. Johnson, OBLSB; “Walker The End of His Beginning,” by Edward J. Dupuy; “Faithful to the Very Oliver Plunkett, Irish Martyr and Archbishop,” by Jem Sullivan; “Denys The Oblate Abbot,” by Charles Preble; “H. A. Architect of the Liturgical Movement in America,” by Julia Upton, RSM; and “Rita Sorg’s Life of Joyful Remembering the Transfiguration on Tabor,” by Donald Raila, OSB Linda Kulzer, OSB, PhD, is co-editor of  Medieval Women Wisdom’s Wellsprings  and  Purity of Heart in Early Ascetic and Monastic Essays in Honor of Juana Raasch, OSB,  published by The Liturgical Press. Roberta Bondi, DPhil., is a Professor of Church History at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and the author of nine books in the area of spirituality.

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2002

Reviews

[Joshua Booher · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I wanted and was looking for was discussions about how to fulfill the oblate obligation while being a husband, full time employee, etc. I was looking for how other people solved the day to day problems of living into the oblate vows.

What I got was short biographies on people who did big things in the Catholic church. Many of them were connected to each other. When their oblations were mentioned it was often in passing or in short paragraphs that simply said where they made their vows and who their Benedictine friends were.

So, in the end, I was disappointed and this did not help me understand the role of being an oblate any better.

[Nathan Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read for oblates and monastics alike. Writing style is surprisingly consistent despite the contributions of about twenty different authors, which helps make it an easy read. A good guide to holiness in the messiness that is our world.