Into the Abyss - Benedict Allen

Advantages: Great writing, great thoughts
Disadvantages: -

...The first word of the Rule of St. Benedict is 'Listen'. This rule, composed centuries ago for Benedict's community, and continued by communities across the world to this day, is a powerful way of living into the fullness of God's grace and love. However, as the title of this text by Esther de Waal indicates, it is not always an easy rule, nor one that is immediately grasped and completely understood. The monastics and oblates of Benedict's orders take vows, typically being poverty, obedience, chastity and conversion of life (the oblate's vows are modified to reflect the reality of living outside the enclosed monastic community, but the vows are derivative of the same root). It is the last vow, conversion of life, that perhaps at the heart of this book. Conversion in this context is not a once-for-all, 'road to Damascus' kind... Read review

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Advantages: Concise, well-written, very accessible
Disadvantages: None

...One of Ron Allen’s colleagues once described him in terms of being the Isaac Asimov of preaching and homiletics – ‘he never has an unpublished thought,’ the statement went. Allen himself recently told me in jest that his philosophy is ‘write first, think later.’ To anyone who reads Allen’s works, this statement is obviously false. Such is true with his latest volume, ‘Preaching: The Essential Guide.’ This text is a mere 125 pages, but encapsulates much of Allen’s decades of preaching and teaching experience. The purposes of the book reflect this duality of Allen’s experience. One purpose is to teach new preachers the basics of preaching. A second purpose is to help students – the book can be used as a text in a course. The book is useful for more than just beginning preachers. Rare is the preacher who does not benefit from a review... Read review

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Advantages: Contemplative, well organised, enlightening
Disadvantages: A bit light on non-Benedictine things

...'Listen!' This is the first word of the Rule of St. Benedict. It is the first commandment in spirituality, as well as pastoral care, and should be in any good relationship. 'Monastic life is a training in the art of listening, which begins in silence, develops in attentiveness, and is perfected in communication.' Many people have gone on monastic retreat to look for spirituality, to look for some enlightenment and wisdom, ancient and timeless yet hopefully accessible and useful. Many people come away from the monastery disappointed, for they never quite realise that the monastery is not where this wisdom is. The wisdom they seek is from inside. In this volume of the 'Essentials' series Hugh Feiss has put together a worthy little tome the explores some of the mechanics and the principles of monasticism. He begins with a section... Read review

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