Thursday, December 14, 2023

Review: Strangers to the City: Reflections on the Beliefs and Values of the Rule of St. Benedict 2013 edition (Voices from the Monastery) by Michael Casey (1-Aug-2013) Paperback

Strangers to the City: Reflections on the Beliefs and Values of the Rule of St. Benedict 2013 edition (Voices from the Monastery) by Michael Casey (1-Aug-2013) Paperback Strangers to the City: Reflections on the Beliefs and Values of the Rule of St. Benedict 2013 edition (Voices from the Monastery) by Michael Casey (1-Aug-2013) Paperback by Michael Casey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another of my Benedictine books which I've been reading the last few years. I took this one slow, reading a few paragraphs, stopping, reflecting, sometimes reading a bit more. Really the book rewards that kind of reading because it was clearly written out of lectio divina, which is a similar type of reading style.

The book itself is, of course, reflections on aspects of the Rule of St. Benedict, so the context is, of course, monastic. And, as I am not called to be monastic, but rather a husband and father, you'd think the connections would be difficult to apply to my life. And some are, to be sure. However, like many books on Benedictine values, so much of what this book talks about is common to all vowed lives- balancing stability, accountability and on going conversion to our own lives in the here and now. And Casey has a lot to offer in considering those common elements of the spiritual life.

For those who find a value in Benedictine values, this book is well worth reading. It is clear. It is thoughtful. And it inspires reflection on one's own life, whether one is a monk or not.

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