Volume 39, Nr. 1c, February 2009 Richardton, ND 58652
Demythologizing Celibacy: Practical Wisdom From Christian and Buddhist Monasticism by William Skudlarek, OSB (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2008) 115 pp., paperback, $14.95, ISBN 978-0-8146-2947-5.
With his deep appreciation of monastic spirituality, both Christian and Buddhist, Father William takes on an area that has often been avoided or treated superficially in studies of consecrated life. He begins by using the example of Thomas Merton's struggle with celibacy, about which he was able to write extensively, to show the thought, emotion, and development that go into a consciously celibate commitment.
For those who have a limited knowledge of Buddhism, there is a very detailed summary of the legislation surrounding Buddhist monasticism. He also gives a survey of the implied expectations of St. Benedict and the teachings of Cassian. From there, he moves to Catholic tradition and the contemporary Church positions on marriage, homosexuality and sexuality in general.
An important part of this book is the pastoral approach which the author takes to those teachings. It is clear that he wishes to place his subject solidly in the context that celibacy is a different, not a superior, path, and that the love of a man and woman is a reflection of Godly love; celibacy is not anti-sexual. There is also great compassion for the controversy surrounding homosexuality. The bottom line here is an affirmation of the possibility of all persons to choose celibacy, whatever their orientation, and to thrive in the loving support of a monastic community.
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Bobbio in the Early Middle Ages: The Abiding Legacy of Columbanus by Michael Richter (Four Courts Press, distributed in the U.S. by International Specialized Book Services, Portland, OR, 2008) 211 pp., hardback, $65, ISBN 978-1-84682-103-5.
Bobbio is a comprehensive new resource for those interested in monastic history. The monastery of Bobbio in Lombard Italy was founded by Columbanus on a voluntary exile from Ireland, probably in his seventies. Such a foundation at the dawn of the seventh century can only lead to a form of monastic life which blends Celtic and early Italian monasticism in a unique mixture.
Richter uses that mixture as a focal point for this study, showing how the influence of Columbanus and Irish traces are woven into the history of the community. He has sections on the leaders who followed Columbanus, the structure and everyday life of the monastery, its manuscripts and other details. There are summaries of extant documents and an especially detailed analysis of the monastery's library holdings. Following the Bobbio foundation through the Carolingian period to the tenth century, the author can assert that Bobbio "was the Irish foundation in Western Europe that survived longest." Thus, the reader can see and appreciate the blending of traditions which is one of the great hallmarks of monastic history.
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The New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (Ada, MI: Brazos Press, 2008) 147 pp., paperback, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-58743-224-8.
A young Baptist minister in North Carolina does more in this book than tell the story of his intentional Christian community. He is a leader of what is known as the "New Monastic movement," which the publisher defines as "recovering the radial discipleship of monasticism and unearthing a fresh expression of Christianity."
The individuals and families come from diverse denominations and backgrounds, but they are united, as were the early monastics, by a desire to be a witness to others of the Christian community as a transforming presence in the world. The title of one chapter is "A Vision So Old It Looks New," and the author introduces the reader to the origins of monasticism, an overview which may be totally new to many. He takes significant note of the famous statement of Alasdair McIntyre that the world is awaiting a new, and probably very different, St. Benedict.
It may be argued that what is most important in this book is not merely that it gives credit to the Benedictine tradition, and describes an inspiring new form of the heritage of St. Benedict. What should be examined here by "old monasticism" is what these young idealists see as the gifts which that tradition offers the world. They want to be called monastics because of what they believe monasticism, in its purest form, to be. They cite their desire to go to the marginalized and abandoned regions of the empire, to embrace the diversity of people and pay attention to their needs, to share their prayer and resources with others, to care for the earth and to make peace. Their list of the 12 marks of their movement is a succinct, challenging and comprehensive list of what monasticism should be.
If this list is what drew them, then this list might continue to be the measure for all of monasticism. Much of the book is devoted to how the author's community addresses the needs of the world and how they feel their lifestyle responds to those needs. Their quest must also be ours. If they are seeking to imitate us, we can do no better in many areas than to try to imitate them. Oblates, social justice committees in monasteries, whole communities, may do well to read this book and see where their own lives fit. A young man, in a very informal narrative, speaks his mind and his experience in a personal and prophetic way. He shares his own idealism, and it is clear that he believes it is nothing extraordinary, that everyone else should want to do it too. Didn't St. Benedict himself say that the young (New Monasticism) may often have the best insights?
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Correction from October 2008 issue:
In the Monastic Studies Grant report on Dorothy Baroch's research on canonical visitation, her email contact was incorrectly listed. It should be <dhbwrites @ charter.net>.
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