The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life [B0568]

2022 PB in excellent condition. The activist, nun, and esteemed spiritual voice who has twice appeared on Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Sunday sounds the call to create a monastery within ourselves-to cultivate wisdom and resilience so that we may join God in the work of renewal, restoration, and justice right where we are.

"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 I feel I 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 astounding disruptions of normalcy that have unfolded in our world, Sister Joan calls all of us to cultivate the spiritual seeker within, however that may look across our diverse journeys: "We can depend only on the depth of the spiritual well in us. The well is the only thing that can save us from the fear of our own frailty."

This book carries the weight and wisdom of the monastic spiritual tradition into the twenty-first century. Sister Joan leans into Saint Benedict, who, as a young man in the sixth century, sought moral integrity in the face of an empire 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.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This volume is filled with short essays and guidance on 50 ways to be open to God's presence, to develop personal spiritual growth, and to be a person of faith, love, and service in our community. Each chapter is succinct, instructional, and calming. Chittister focuses on the fact that we are one of the many, not above or better than others . . that it is the community that elevates all to God's world, including the community of nature and its health."; "Excellent reminders on how to live a simple life. This book leads you to ways to incorporate gratitude, routine, and purpose into your every day life. I really loved the simplicity of the message."