Christ: The Ideal of the Monk

by Columba Marmion OSB

This is not a book about spirituality for monks and nuns only. Columba Marmion believes that Christian discipleship means imitating Christ the Monk no matter your form of life. Christ is the sublime ideal of all holiness, the divine model presented by God himself. By faith, we accept this holiness into our lives – but we can also (in fact we must) allow Christ Jesus to become what Marmion calls “the very life of our souls.” This powerful book explores a spirituality that is possible by examining the light of the Gospels and the writings of St. Paul and St. John, offering joy and spiritual understanding to all Christians.

Genres: Spirituality, Theology

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1926

Reviews

[Thomas Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great foundation for anyone interested in the heart of Western Monasticism. Abbot Marmion takes you step by step through the principles of The Rule of Saint Benedict and displays the ideal life of monastics in their following of Christ. This would be a helpful text for those interested in becoming Benedictine Oblates, who wish to more perfectly live thier secular life with monastic principles and ideals.

[Ephrem Arcement · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful journey through Benedictine spirituality. This classic stands out mainly because of Blessed Marmion's grounding of Benedictine spirituality in its Christian roots--the life of Christ himself. Monasticism as nothing other than a form (however radical) of Christian discipleship is demonstrated throughout this well thought out book.