Product Description

This text draws on things both old and new: on the wisdom of the Bible, enshrined in Benedictine liturgy, on the experience of modern monks, and on the wisdom of the Christian church throughout her long history. Coming as it does from an Irish monastery, it also reflects the Celtic tradition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74146 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
'Deservedly an instant bestseller in Ireland, it is an attractive, accessible introduction to a living tradition.'

Customer Reviews

A blessing in book form
The Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick, Ireland, is a wonderful place to behold. They are a Benedictine monastery, operating a school, a ministry of hospitality, and providing an expression of Benedictine spirituality in the modern world. The pattern of their liturgical and prayer life is a modified form of the ancient Benedictine structure; this book reflects what that is.

The first section of the book is on daily prayer, prayer cycles that adhere to the spirit of Benedict's instructions. The section is divided into prayers for each day of the week, prayers for the 'stops' (mid-morning, noon, afternoon, and compline), and prayers for the seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary time). These give the full text of prayers, canticles, Bible readings, psalms, invocations and blessings for use at each event.

The second section highlights common prayers and recitations in the Christian tradition. These include the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary prayer, the Apostle's Creed, St. Patrick's Breastplate, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and more. Among these one gets both the Celtic and the more universal Christian sense of things.

The third section looks at ritual prayers and liturgical pieces. These include devotional prayers during activities (prayers before beginning work, prayers before and after meals), as well as prayers of vocation, guidance, and peace. This includes a section on blessings, blessings that can be given to homes, to families, to the sick, to the dead, and more.

The final section includes additional psalms and a short selection of readings from the actual Rule of St. Benedict.

The book itself is in a small format, about as wide as an average hand, which means it fits into the palm perfectly, as if it were made for being carried and used on a regular basis. The printing and paper stocks used are superb - as much as I am generally loathe to describe books in such terms, the basic construction of this book is worthy of note, as it adds 'flesh' to the prayers being given out of this text. It is a joy to read from the sensory perspective as well as the spiritual perspective.

The Glenstal Abbey taps into an ancient history, but is itself a relatively new establishment, having been founded in 1927 as the first Benedictine monastery in Ireland since the Reformation (King Henry VIII dissolved monasteries as part of his Reformations in the British Isles). This book is a great reflection of part of their community.

A blessing in book form
The Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick, Ireland, is a wonderful place to behold. They are a Benedictine monastery, operating a school, a ministry of hospitality, and providing an expression of Benedictine spirituality in the modern world. The pattern of their liturgical and prayer life is a modified form of the ancient Benedictine structure; this book reflects what that is.

The first section of the book is on daily prayer, prayer cycles that adhere to the spirit of Benedict's instructions. The section is divided into prayers for each day of the week, prayers for the 'stops' (mid-morning, noon, afternoon, and compline), and prayers for the seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary time). These give the full text of prayers, canticles, Bible readings, psalms, invocations and blessings for use at each event.

The second section highlights common prayers and recitations in the Christian tradition. These include the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary prayer, the Apostle's Creed, St. Patrick's Breastplate, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and more. Among these one gets both the Celtic and the more universal Christian sense of things.

The third section looks at ritual prayers and liturgical pieces. These include devotional prayers during activities (prayers before beginning work, prayers before and after meals), as well as prayers of vocation, guidance, and peace. This includes a section on blessings, blessings that can be given to homes, to families, to the sick, to the dead, and more.

The final section includes additional psalms and a short selection of readings from the actual Rule of St. Benedict.

The book itself is in a small format, about as wide as an average hand, which means it fits into the palm perfectly, as if it were made for being carried and used on a regular basis. The printing and paper stocks used are superb - as much as I am generally loathe to describe books in such terms, the basic construction of this book is worthy of note, as it adds 'flesh' to the prayers being given out of this text. It is a joy to read from the sensory perspective as well as the spiritual perspective.

The Glenstal Abbey taps into an ancient history, but is itself a relatively new establishment, having been founded in 1927 as the first Benedictine monastery in Ireland since the Reformation (King Henry VIII dissolved monasteries as part of his Reformations in the British Isles). This book is a great reflection of part of their community.

Handy to have
I was given this book by an African Missionary, an irishman from County Clare. from the Comboni order. He is now back in Malawi. The book lay for quite some time before I opened the pages. What struck me was its simplicity. Its set out in days of the week then prayers for alive, dead sick etc. Then there are the old familiar Christian prayers and intentions.
I found this book to be an immense treasure to tap into, its now falling apart after 8 years. So much so I bought another and gave it to a friend, then I bought another and gave it away.
The icons display a pleasant image of the Christ and of course they are a prayer in themselves. If ever this was a book for a spiritual person this is it I highly recommend it