Benedict In The World: Portraits of Monastic Oblates

In Benedict in the World, Linda Kulzer, O.S.B., and Roberta Bondi have gathered stories of many of the ordinary and extraordinary men and women Benedictine oblates—members of the Benedictine family who live in the world.

Benedict in the World begins with an introductory chapter citing some reasons for an influx of Benedictine oblates into monasteries today. It then presents in detail a collection of the lives of nineteen significant Benedictine oblates who lived from the years 973 to 2000.

Nearly half the contributors are themselves Benedictine oblates and most of the others are professed Benedictine monastics. The combined effort offers support and inspiration to those who have loved their oblate journey and brings to light the lives of these outstanding lay monastics. Among the more well-known oblates included are Dorothy Day, Patrick and Patricia Crowley, Jacques and Raissa Maritain, Walker Percy, H. R. Reinhold, and Elena Cornaro.

Chapters are “Foreword: On Being a Benedictine Oblate,” by Roberta Bondi; “Introduction,” by Linda Kulzer, OSB, “Monasticism Beyond the Walls,” by Linda Kulzer, OSB, “Carolyn Attneave: Catcher of the Light,” by Paschal A. Morlino, OSB; “Oblate and Heroine: Elena Lucrezia Scholastica Cornaro Piscopia (1646-1684),” by Ann Kessler, OSB; “Patrick Crowley: Oblate of St. Benedict,” by Patty Crowley; “Faith in Action: The Lives of Patrick and Patricia Crowley,” by Margaret Colleton; “Evelyn Davie’s Dream Deferred,” by Mary Ruth Coffman, OSB; “Prayer and Work in the Light of Dorothy Day,” by Rita (McClain) Tybor; “Eric Dean: Presbyterian Pilgrim,” by Phyllis K. Thompson; “Believing Is Seeing: Frances of Rome, Patron of Benedictine Oblates,” by Susan Anderson Kerr; “Rumer Godden: Oblate Novelist,” by Catherine Wybourne, OSB; “Edith Gurian, Oblate Peter,” by Mary Anthony Wagner, OSB; “Henry II: Monk-King,” by Hugh Feiss, OSB; “On the Road to Emmaus: The Spiritual Journey of Joris-Karl Huysmans,” by George C. Tunstall; “Emerson Hynes: A Vocation to Conversation,” by Owen Lindblad, OSB; “St. Benedict and the Maritains,” by Lucie R. Johnson, OBLSB; “Walker Percy: The End of His Beginning,” by Edward J. Dupuy; “Faithful to the Very End: Oliver Plunkett, Irish Martyr and Archbishop,” by Jem Sullivan; “Denys Prideaux: The Oblate Abbot,” by Charles Preble; “H. A. Reinhold: Architect of the Liturgical Movement in America,” by Julia Upton, RSM; and “Rita Sorg’s Life of Joyful Hope: Remembering the Transfiguration on Tabor,” by Donald Raila, OSB

Linda Kulzer, OSB, PhD, is co-editor of Medieval Women Monastics: Wisdom’s Wellsprings and Purity of Heart in Early Ascetic and Monastic Literature: Essays in Honor of Juana Raasch, OSB, published by The Liturgical Press.

Roberta Bondi, DPhil., is a Professor of Church History at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and the author of nine books in the area of spirituality.