American Monk

by Becket

American Monk is the inspiring true story of the spiritual years Becket spent in a Benedictine monastery north of New Orleans and of the grace of God given to him through the words and works of simple brother monks. Almost a decade before becoming the assistant of author, Anne Rice, Becket studied to be a Roman Catholic priest as well as underwent a fifteen hundred year tradition of monastic rite and discipline. In this memoir, he shares vignettes of his life among the brothers, recounting tales of Easter and Christmas, of the mystical silence during meals, of the value of work and prayer, of the day-to-day life in the brotherhood, of the deepening of his relationship with God, and of so much more! In this encouraging, unforgettable memoir, Becket travels the path of self-discovery among monks who were not saints, but like him were men healing in the hospital of God’s church. “When the hour comes for me to breathe my last, I look forward to seeing all of my brothers in their monastic habits, where we will all embrace one another with open arms in the resting place of Eternal Love.”

236 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2015

About the author

Becket has a BA in music composition, an MA in Systematic Theology, and an MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

He was a diocesan seminarian for 3 years. He was a Benedictine monk for 5 years.

He has been working for Anne Rice since 2005, and he has spent that time learning from her the craft of writing.

Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK book. Nothing spectacular and not so boring either.

[Nola Sarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dove into American Monk knowing a bit about what I was getting into, thanks to the chapter samples the author posts on his Facebook page.
What I didn't realize was how deeply this book was going to pull me in and keep me there in the enchanting, deeply moving world of the Benedictine Monks of St. Joseph's Abbey in colorful New Orleans.

The author tells of his life as a Benedictine Monk, and begs readers to look at their own perceptions of the world around them and ask themselves if there are ways they could love each other better. Through work and prayer, Becket and the other monks of St. Joseph's Abbey navigate the emotional waters of the path to Eternal Love.

What entrenched me in this story on such a soul-deep level was the universal goal of all the monks. American Monk does not simply speak on a Christian level. It speaks of love and strife on a human level, the way the monks work with each other to resolve conflicts, to cherish small blessings, to endure exhaustion, to deepen their own personal relationships with Eternal Love in so many ways. Every description of Gregorian chant flows effortlessly from the text to the reader's mind. Every monk in the story springs to life with their unique personalities and quirks. Every moment in the monastery is written in such an intricate, immersive voice that I almost feel like I've been there and sang in the choir as one of the brothers.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to take a spiritual journey into a world we rarely get to glimpse from the inside, and anyone with a passion for music or self-improvement. You don't have to be Christian to adore this story and grow through the messages Becket learns in the monastery. American Monk is vivid, enthralling, and wholly moving.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated Becket's point of view on how what each and every ceremony meant not only for himself but his brothers. I also appreciated him sharing his personal experiences with readers because this particular path was very intimate to him indeed. He certainly has a way with words and I was drawn in and I could follow along in a visual exploration as he guided readers on his personal Monk adventures.

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, fun read. Thank you Becket for your beautiful prose.

[Sue Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a snippet of this book on Becket's Facebook page, I knew I had to read this. I'm not religious, but I am a long time fan of Anne Rice, and as Becket is her assistant it was only natural that I became a fan of his too. I also became curious about this book because I am a former history teacher, and used to teach in a museum which was heavily based on St Bede and the life of the early Benedictine monks so I was keen to learn more about these monks in the modern age too. Why do I tell you this in a review I hear you ask? Well my point is that, you do not need to be Catholic, or even religious in any way to appreciate this beautiful little book. One can easily read this out of curiosity, as an educational piece, or simply for no other reason than the fact it was recommended.
So about the book itself! Well I found it to be an extremely relaxing read, a perfect bedtime book actually. I also found I learned a lot about modern monasticism without it becoming dry and dull as I personally find a lot of religious books can be. In fact I was pleasantly surprised at how 'normal' the men of the monastery actually were, and how they were still able to enjoy the things that you and I do.
The biggest plus for me however was what I learned, I learned a lot about love, how to love myself and those around me a little bit better. This is a huge theme of the book, and if I'm honest, not one I ever expected.
My only criticism is that some parts of the book were a little repetitive. One chapter would repeat what another had already said. It's not a huge criticism, and didn't detract from the book a great deal, just maybe gave me a little de Ja vu.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work of non-fiction is eloquent in it's description of the simplistic daily life of a monk. For those looking for calm amid the chaos, it is highly recommended reading. Anyone discerning a vocation or curious about life in a monastery will find it honest and informative. I have already recommended the book to friends and family.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me want to become a monk. I would if it wasn't for my bad back. No way I could toss around big barrels of food.