The Monastic Heart

50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life

Sister Joan Chittister

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN:
  9781399800853
• eBook ISBN:
  9781399800877
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religious Institutions & Organizations

Activist, nun and spiritual guide Joan Chittister invites us to create a monastery within ourselves: to cultivate wisdom and resilience, so we can live more easily and give of ourselves more fully, no matter our circumstances.'In every beating heart is a silent undercurrent that calls each of us to a place unknown, to the vision of a wiser life, to become what we feel we must be - but cannot name.' So begins Sister Joan Chittister's words on monasticism, offering a way of living and seeing life that brings deep human satisfaction. Amid the recent global disruptions, Sister Joan calls readers to cultivate the spiritual seeker within all of us, however that may look across our diverse journeys. The Monastic Heart carries the weight and wisdom of the Benedictine spiritual tradition into the twenty-first century. Sister Joan draws deeply from Saint Benedict, a young man who sought moral integrity in the face of an empire in the sixth century, not by conquering or overpowering the empire, but by simply living an ordinary life extraordinarily well. This same monastic mindset can help us grow in wisdom, equanimity and strength of soul as we seek restoration and renewal both at home and in the world. At a time when people around the world are bearing witness to human frailty - and, simultaneously, the endurance of the human spirit - The Monastic Heart invites readers to embrace a new beginning of faith. Without stepping foot in a monastery, we can become, like those before us, a deeper, freer self, a richer soul - and, as a result, a true monastic. 'Essential reading for anyone wishing to find the compass of their heart and the wellspring from which to live fully.' Gregory Boyle, New York Times bestselling author of Tattoos on the Heart

Table of contents

• Cover
• About the Author
• Also by Joan Chittister
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1. Bells: On Remembering
• 2. Statio: On Involvement
• 3. Antiphon: On Mantras of the Moment
• 4. Monastic Procession: On the Display of Oneness/Unity
• 5. The Rule of Benedict: On Seeking God
• 6. Horarium: On Parsing Time
• 7. Hospitality: On a Spirit of Welcome
• 8. Choir: On Singing Praise
• 9. Beauty: On the Invisible in the Visible
• 10. Silence: On Inner Quietude
• 11. Lectio: On Reading Between the Lines
• 12. Cloister: On Sacred Space
• 13. The Monastic Cell: On Privacy
• 14. Metanoia: On Growth
• 15. Fuga Mundi: On Living in the World or Not
• 16. Community: On Spiritual Companionship
• 17. The Oratory: On Holy Space
• 18. Hermits: On the Solitary Life
• 19. Solitude: On Discovering Calm and Clarity
• 20. Blessing: On Recognizing the Gifts of Life
• 21. Divine Office: On the Daily Presence of God
• 22. Manual Labor: On the Purpose of Work
• 23. Serenity: On Inner Peace
• 24. Lauds: On Morning Praise
• 25. Vespers: On Evening Praise
• 26. Holy Leisure: On Quality of Life
• 27. Service: On Caring for Humankind
• 28. Listening: On Attentiveness
• 29. Private Prayer: On God and Self
• 30. Obedience: On Mutuality
• 31. Stability: On Perseverance
• 32. Peace and Justice: On Peacemaking
• 33. Chant: On the Sound of Angels
• 34. Incense: On the Sweet Balm of Life
• 35. Memento Mori: On Valuing Yesterday
• 36. Candles: On Spiritual Illumination
• 37. The Abbot/Prioress: On Leadership
• 38. Contemplation: On Seeing as God Sees
• 39. Humility and the Presence of God: On the Presence of God
• 40. Humility and the Essence of the Self: On the True Self
• 41. Humility and the Making of Community: On Building Community
• 42. The Monastic: On “One Thing Only”
• 43. Stewardship: On the Conservancy of Creation
• 44. The Desert: On Difficult Times
• 45. The Beginner’s Mind: On Newness and Possibility
• 46. Oblates of St. Benedict: On Extending the Common Enterprise
• 47. Purity of Heart: On a Life Worth Living
• 48. Marian Hymns: On Mary, Model Woman
• 49. Good Zeal: On Ardor for Holiness
• 50. The Making of the Monastic Heart: On Developing the Heart of God
• Acknowledgments
• Copyright