resources

RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
The Resource of the Month will be a regular feature on the Good Samaritan Website. Its purpose will be to introduce new resources relevant to Good Samaritan Benedictine spirituality and way of life to our readers. If you would like to recommend a book, article, film or website please forward a 250 word review to Sr Bernardina Sontrop bsontrop@goodsams.org.au  

FINDING SANCTUARY - Monastic Steps for Every day Life by Christopher Jamison, Abbot of Worth Abbey.
2006, Weidenfield and Nicolson. UK.

If you enjoyed the B.B.C. series ‘The Monastery’ that screened recently, you would also find food for thought in this book. Just as the five men, who took part in the live-in experience for six weeks, were invited to really enter into their formation program, so the readers are invited to reflect on some key values in Benedictine spirituality and apply them to their own lives. 

The image used through out the book is that of building, a sanctuary in the heart, using the key values of silence - to form the underlay on the floor, contemplation- to form the carpet, obedience-the sanctuary walls, humility - the roof, community - the windows, spirituality - the furnishings and hope in God as the atmosphere of this inner sacred space.

Each chapter is introduced with a photo and ends with a recommended web site that expands the theme. One website has been developed directly to support this book, while others include centering prayer, the writing of Thomas Merton and ways to pray.

Also listed at the end of each chapter is a relevant book for further reading, again related to the theme and often including real life stories, as well as books on Benedictine spirituality.

It is a most enjoyable book, full of human anecdotes, down to earth humour and profound wisdom in its practical simplicity.

Veronica Griffith sgs,
Sisters of the Good Samaritan Oblate Director.

 

 

archives - Book Reviews

Esther De Waal, Lost in Wonder, Rediscovering the Spiritual Art of Attentiveness
- Click Here

Norvene Vest, Gathered in the Word: Praying the Scripture in Small Groups
- Click Here

Resource and Reading List

The Rule of St Benedict
Fry, T., RB80 In Latin and English, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1981

General Commentaries
Chittister, J., Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, San Francisco: Harper, 1991
- The Rule Of St Benedict: Insight for the Ages, New York: Crossroads, 1997
-In the Heart of the Temple, New York: Bluebridge, 2005
- 25 Windows into the Soul. Praying with the Psalms Benetvision 2007
De Waal, E., Seeking God: The Way of St Benedict, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1984, 2001
- A Life Giving Way, London: Geoffry Chapman, 1995
Drumm, D., Cherish Christ Above All, New York: Paulist Press, 1996
Holyhead, V., The Gift of St Benedict, Melbourne: John Garrett, 1995
Marrett-Crosby, A.,The Benedictine Handbook, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 2002
Norris, K., The Cloister Walk, New York: Riverhead Books, 1997
Swan, Laura Engaging Benedict. What the Rule can Teach us Today Indiana, Ave Maria Press 2005
Swan, Laura (ed) The Benedictine Tradition. Spirituality in History. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press 2007
Tomaine, J., St Bendict’s Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living, USA: Morehouse, 2005
Vest, N., Preferring Christ: A Devotional Commentary on Rule of St Benedict, USA: Morehouse, 2004

On Prayer
Casey, M., The Art of Sacred Reading, Melbourne: Harper Collins, 1995
Merton, T., Seven Story Mountain, Harcourt- Brace, Javanovich, 1978
- New Seeds of Contemplation, New Directions, 1972
More Information on Thomas Merton is available at www.merton.org
Pennington, B., Lectio Divina: Reviewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures, New York: Crossroads, 1998

On The Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Walsh, M., The Good Sams: The Sisters of the Good Samaritan, 1857-1969, Melbourne: John Garratt, 2001
Heininger, J (ed)., Journey to the Heart: Mater Dei, 50 Years and 50 Stories, Sydney: Sisters of the Good Samaritan, 2007

PRAYER SITES
http://www.taize.fr/en
http://www.ChristianMystics.com
http://www.pray.com.au
http://www.clubi.ie/shalom/lectio
http://www.wellsprings.org.uk
http://prayerwindows.com
http://www.humilitymatters.com
http://churchresources.info/pray
http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org

BENEDICTINE MONASTERIES
http://www.christdesert.org
http://www.bedegriffiths.com
http://www.benetvision.org
http://www.osb.org
http://www.stgertrudes.org/index.htm
http://www.thedome.org
http://www.jamberooabbey.org.au
http://www.benedictinesisters.org
http://www.walburga.org
http://www.eriebenedictines.org
http://www.usccb.org