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The View from a Monastery
A Benedictine monk and the author of A Share in the Kingdom recounts four decades of his life, from the day-to-day experiences of the busy Blue Cloud Abbey, to the personalities of his brother monks, to the teachings of St. Benedict. Reprint.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 20, 2015
I loved this book!! You would think reading about the daily life of a bunch of Benedictine monks in South Dakota would be boring but Brother Benet Tvedten brings humor to the subject. There were moments when I actually laughed out loud reading it. The monks are nothing like I imagined- they are not too different from you and I. I highly recommend this little gem!
April 18, 2018
A glimpse in the life of a monk. Very interesting that the monks at Blue Cloud Abbey live more like an ordinary commune than the pious existence I imagined.
September 25, 2024
A BENEDICTINE BROTHER EXPLAINS LIFE IN A MONASTERY
Brother Benet Tvedten entered the Benedictine community of Blue Cloud Abbey in South Dakota in 1958. He has written other books such as 'How to Be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job: An Invitation to Oblate Life,' 'The Motley Crew: Monastic Lives, Share in the Kingdom: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict for Oblates,' etc.
He wrote in the first chapter of this 1999 book, "I have lived in the monastery for over forty years, and I have witnessed this unending stream of tourists... There are many false notions about monasticism. Pious people think that monks are holy. People who don't know much about religion think we are peculiar. The truth of the matter is that we are neither, though I have known individual monks who were both. Most of us are ordinary men who find that it is easier for us to be holier here than in some other place." (Pg. 2)
He observes, "I soon learned... that the brothers were treated as second-class citizens in the monastery. They were forbidden by church law to hold certain offices, they could not vote on matters affecting the whole community, and they were restricted in the kinds of work they could do. St. Benedict would have been disqualified from being an abbot in a twentieth-century monastery because he was not a priest. Monasticism had departed from his idea of a classless society with equal rights." (Pg. 22)
He recalls, "When I came to the monastery, I knew that a candidate for this kind of life had to dispose of his personal property. I didn't own much, just a lot of books, and I gave away most of them. The few I brought with me were confiscated upon my arrival... I couldn't understand why books which were required reading in one Benedictine community were banned in another. Today my bookcase holds a lot more books than I brought with me to the monastery in 1958... Monks don't need the best, the state-of-the-art... This is also the truth: No matter how much monks give away, no matter how frugally we live, monks will never be poor." (Pg. 54-55)
He explains. "the possibility of becoming too intimate with a fellow novice was always present... In reality, everyone had a personal friend and still has. It is the most ordinary thing in the world... to confide in a special friend of one's own sex... These days the works of St. Aelred are widely read in monasteries... Abbot Aelred, who encouraged friendships among his medieval monks, has contributed greatly to dispelling all scorn for particular friendships... After all of those years in which the close relationship of one monk with another was fearfully equated with homosexuality, we listen now to a saint who might very well have been gay himself." (Pg. 56-57)
He notes, "The first reality a person faces upon entering a monastic community is an awareness that these are not the people with whom one would choose to live under normal circumstances. But St. Benedict tells us that regardless of the monks' differences, we are all equally loved by God and we must love one another." (Pg. 64) He explains, "When I was visiting with someone from the outside to whom I expressed several of my disappointments and frustrations, he asked, 'Why do you even stay in the monastery?' The answer is simple: I know I'm loved here. Regardless of my prejudices and eccentricities and differences and failings, I'm still loved. I'm with the right support group." (Pg. 173)
He admits, "Very few men enter our monastery these days, and of those who do, even fewer stay. Are numbers important to Benedictines? We were once a community of eighty, in the 1960s, but since then we have watched our numbers diminish. Numbers... do not detract from the quality of monastic life. St. Benedict seemed to think only twelve monks were necessary... A demographer has predicted that if no one makes final profession in our community within the next ten years, our membership will be reduced to twelve monks by the year 2009. There is no need to worry unless a community becomes so small that it is a burden to maintain a dwelling built for many monks." (Pg. 186-187)
This quiet, somewhat rambling series of thoughts will be of keen interest to anyone wanting to know more about what monastic life is like.
Brother Benet Tvedten entered the Benedictine community of Blue Cloud Abbey in South Dakota in 1958. He has written other books such as 'How to Be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job: An Invitation to Oblate Life,' 'The Motley Crew: Monastic Lives, Share in the Kingdom: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict for Oblates,' etc.
He wrote in the first chapter of this 1999 book, "I have lived in the monastery for over forty years, and I have witnessed this unending stream of tourists... There are many false notions about monasticism. Pious people think that monks are holy. People who don't know much about religion think we are peculiar. The truth of the matter is that we are neither, though I have known individual monks who were both. Most of us are ordinary men who find that it is easier for us to be holier here than in some other place." (Pg. 2)
He observes, "I soon learned... that the brothers were treated as second-class citizens in the monastery. They were forbidden by church law to hold certain offices, they could not vote on matters affecting the whole community, and they were restricted in the kinds of work they could do. St. Benedict would have been disqualified from being an abbot in a twentieth-century monastery because he was not a priest. Monasticism had departed from his idea of a classless society with equal rights." (Pg. 22)
He recalls, "When I came to the monastery, I knew that a candidate for this kind of life had to dispose of his personal property. I didn't own much, just a lot of books, and I gave away most of them. The few I brought with me were confiscated upon my arrival... I couldn't understand why books which were required reading in one Benedictine community were banned in another. Today my bookcase holds a lot more books than I brought with me to the monastery in 1958... Monks don't need the best, the state-of-the-art... This is also the truth: No matter how much monks give away, no matter how frugally we live, monks will never be poor." (Pg. 54-55)
He explains. "the possibility of becoming too intimate with a fellow novice was always present... In reality, everyone had a personal friend and still has. It is the most ordinary thing in the world... to confide in a special friend of one's own sex... These days the works of St. Aelred are widely read in monasteries... Abbot Aelred, who encouraged friendships among his medieval monks, has contributed greatly to dispelling all scorn for particular friendships... After all of those years in which the close relationship of one monk with another was fearfully equated with homosexuality, we listen now to a saint who might very well have been gay himself." (Pg. 56-57)
He notes, "The first reality a person faces upon entering a monastic community is an awareness that these are not the people with whom one would choose to live under normal circumstances. But St. Benedict tells us that regardless of the monks' differences, we are all equally loved by God and we must love one another." (Pg. 64) He explains, "When I was visiting with someone from the outside to whom I expressed several of my disappointments and frustrations, he asked, 'Why do you even stay in the monastery?' The answer is simple: I know I'm loved here. Regardless of my prejudices and eccentricities and differences and failings, I'm still loved. I'm with the right support group." (Pg. 173)
He admits, "Very few men enter our monastery these days, and of those who do, even fewer stay. Are numbers important to Benedictines? We were once a community of eighty, in the 1960s, but since then we have watched our numbers diminish. Numbers... do not detract from the quality of monastic life. St. Benedict seemed to think only twelve monks were necessary... A demographer has predicted that if no one makes final profession in our community within the next ten years, our membership will be reduced to twelve monks by the year 2009. There is no need to worry unless a community becomes so small that it is a burden to maintain a dwelling built for many monks." (Pg. 186-187)
This quiet, somewhat rambling series of thoughts will be of keen interest to anyone wanting to know more about what monastic life is like.
March 25, 2019
An easy read. Brother Benet is a good storyteller. He lifts the veil of a monastery in South Dakota (now closed) and tells stories about his confreres. They, like all of us, are sinners, yet also saints. Along the way you learn about the Rule of Saint Benedict, too.
July 18, 2024
I have always been curious about the monastic life especially how some traditions came about.
It is easy to read and understandable written as you progress from the traditional to today- love that!
Very light humored and identifiable.
It is easy to read and understandable written as you progress from the traditional to today- love that!
Very light humored and identifiable.
November 5, 2024
A very interesting and honest look at the simple life of Benedictine monks. Blue Cloud Abbey unfortunately like other monasteries had to close due to lack of vocations, but this book provides inspiration for others to honor and respect the (difficult) calling of these men.
October 9, 2017
Plain writing describing aspects of the monastic life. Short chapters. Autobiographical. Very enjoyable.
March 29, 2019
Just glimpses inside a Benedictine Monastery in the Dakotas. But the observer's eyes are what matters--Tvedten is well worth reading.
October 17, 2019
Very interesting!!
August 20, 2020
A very good read for us laypersons who are intrigued and interested in the monastic life of monks and nuns.. I recommend anyone who is interested in the Conscrated Life of the Church to read it.
July 13, 2021
The book jacket says of the author "a skilled storyteller, he continually dodges expectations.." but I found this book to be exactly as expected.
November 6, 2022
Outstanding rendition from the inside of Blue Cloud Abbey Monastery in Northeastern South Dakota!!
May 18, 2023
Very interesting!
August 30, 2022
This is just another example of a Vatican II generation Catholic saying “I can’t understand the youth”. Ultimately he tries too much to make monks seem like any other people. While he had a few interesting vignettes of various monks, it just feels like he’s appealing to the nonreligious. While his style is more relatable than Thomas Merton, I think I’d take Seven Story Mountain over this.
April 21, 2012
Blue Cloud Abbey opened as a Benedictine monastery in 1950 in the rural community of Marvin, South Dakota - about midway between Sioux Falls and Fargo. The author, Brother Benet Tvedten entered as a novitiate in 1958, shortly after graduating from college. In this gracefully and simply written book about monastery life, Tvedten looks back over a half century that was witness to the sweeping changes ushered in by Vatican II.
He recalls the impact of these changes, when English took the place of Latin in worship, the number of hours spent daily in silence were reduced, and rigid hierarchies were replaced by an egalitarian spirit more in keeping with the rules originally set down by St. Benedict in the 6th century. Tvedten remembers that monks were once unable to read the weekly magazine in the Sunday newspaper because they might see revealing ads for women's undergarments. The monks today, he notes, have ready access to secular publications, including the Sports Illustrated annual swimsuit issue.
Without much effort, he dispels any illusions of pious other-worldliness the reader might hold about modern-day monks. He describes the quirks and all-too-human behavior of individuals who have chosen to live together as family - never too far from dysfunctional, including disputes over the TV. His book is richly detailed with profiles of the strong personalities who have lived their lives within the walls of his monastery. Noting that monastic community thrives on a rich oral history, he fills his book with the stories that are told and retold about the brothers - stories remembered even more warmly after they have gone.
There's a wry sense of humor throughout this collection of short essays on various and sundry topics: pet dogs, dining out, going to the movies, friendship, answering the phone, reading aloud at meals, getting the giggles during service, how monks get their names, where to put your hands in your robe. They are simple topics, often profound when they least seem so. They are told with a clear and unsentimental love of everyday life and gratitude for a community that gives ample opportunity to indulge that love.
He recalls the impact of these changes, when English took the place of Latin in worship, the number of hours spent daily in silence were reduced, and rigid hierarchies were replaced by an egalitarian spirit more in keeping with the rules originally set down by St. Benedict in the 6th century. Tvedten remembers that monks were once unable to read the weekly magazine in the Sunday newspaper because they might see revealing ads for women's undergarments. The monks today, he notes, have ready access to secular publications, including the Sports Illustrated annual swimsuit issue.
Without much effort, he dispels any illusions of pious other-worldliness the reader might hold about modern-day monks. He describes the quirks and all-too-human behavior of individuals who have chosen to live together as family - never too far from dysfunctional, including disputes over the TV. His book is richly detailed with profiles of the strong personalities who have lived their lives within the walls of his monastery. Noting that monastic community thrives on a rich oral history, he fills his book with the stories that are told and retold about the brothers - stories remembered even more warmly after they have gone.
There's a wry sense of humor throughout this collection of short essays on various and sundry topics: pet dogs, dining out, going to the movies, friendship, answering the phone, reading aloud at meals, getting the giggles during service, how monks get their names, where to put your hands in your robe. They are simple topics, often profound when they least seem so. They are told with a clear and unsentimental love of everyday life and gratitude for a community that gives ample opportunity to indulge that love.
November 2, 2013
This was an easy read. The chapters are short, and they are independent so it's not necessary to read the book cover-to-cover.
As far as content, it was overall very enjoyable. The reader sees a life which few modern Americans experience or understand. I have to admit parts of the book where boring, and I jumped past some chapters; however, I would definitely recommend this book to any reader who has even a slight interest in the subject.
As far as content, it was overall very enjoyable. The reader sees a life which few modern Americans experience or understand. I have to admit parts of the book where boring, and I jumped past some chapters; however, I would definitely recommend this book to any reader who has even a slight interest in the subject.
December 28, 2014
I really liked this book. I've been interested in monastic life for quite some time. Though, I'm not sure that I would ever want to live that sort of life, I am fascinated by those who choose to do so. Benet Tvedten's book was so wonderfully personal...and respectful for those he talked about. Sure, he poked fun here and there, but his approach was familial and loving. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading about a quiet and different lifestyle.
August 27, 2016
Halfway thru this book i was sure i disliked it and the author. By the end I found myself looking up snippets of stories to share and am ready to loan this out to lots of friends. Brother Benet is just an average guy living in a S. Dakota monastery (for the past 40+ years). i realized he is someone i could confide in without fear of judgement or reprisals.
June 9, 2011
This was a pretty interesting, sometimes amusing, account of life in a Catholic monastery. The author, a long-time resident of monastic life, describes his life as well as the changes made over time regarding liberalization in modern monastic communities. A comfortable read.
April 6, 2009
I woke up at dawn and read this pleasant volume from cover to cover. I came away feeling like the author, Br. Benet Tvedten was an old friend of mine and that I'd been privileged to visit the Benedictine abbey he calls home, Blue Cloud Abbey. http://www.bluecloud.org/
July 2, 2010
A delightful view of Blue Cloud Abbey in North Dakota. The monks are truly a motley crew; I expect Brother Benet chose to profile them because they are characters.
Living in a monastery presents real challenges.
Living in a monastery presents real challenges.
January 21, 2011
Exactly what I was looking for, a nice book that talked about what a monastic life is like. I am fascinated by simple living and a minimalist lifestyle and this is a great place for inspiration. Plus he referenced another book, The Cloister Walk? by Kathleen Norris, that my library also had.
October 22, 2023
This is the third time I've read this book, it is what led me to study "The Rule of Benedict" and later to become an Oblate. At the present time, there are more Oblates than professed men and women. The Oblates will be the ones to carry on the Benedictine Charism in the future that is unfolding.
December 28, 2014
I am using this book as a basis for my New Year's Resolutions. It is a simple, cleanly written book concerning the lives of various monks as told through an insider. Nothing eye opening, but a nice read.
April 8, 2011
While I must disagree with Mr. Hassler (this is not Seven Storey Mountain for a new generation), this is a wonderful volume of stories from a life-long monk out in a prairie abbey. A joy to read.
November 6, 2011
The writing doesn't flow at times, but the insight to monastic life is intereting.
March 8, 2013
Inspirational and motivating.
June 12, 2013
Love his writing style.
July 27, 2013
This felt Benedictine, with its thoughtful and devoted practicality and frequent allusions and citations to the Rule of Benedict.
April 27, 2016
I loved Brother Tvedten's pithy wit and unique observations. It was a delightful read from beginning to end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews