The Benedictine Handbook: Benedictine Handbook

I love this handbook. I use it daily. It has a new translation of the Rule, lots of articles to help a person live it, and a 2 week daily office with Morning & Evening Prayer.

I thought the book was an excellent guide for people wondering about becoming an oblate as I am. It comes with the Benedictine rule, and numerous short essays giving one insight into living the rule. The only reason for four stars is that none of the information ties back into Abbeys or monasteries in America, it seems the history stops at Europe. And I wish it had better examples of balancing the prayer life with living in the world.

I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend who, with me is a Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani Abbey. It is a great primer for one who wants to follow the spirituality of St. Benedict and his sons and daughters. The book gives a history of the Benedictine Order and the various reforms that have occurred over time, including the history of the Cistercian reform and Order. It chapters on the Rule of St. Benedict, the tools of Benedictine Spirituality, the Benedictine experience of God, how to live this spirituality in community, in solitude, as an oblate, and in the world. It also includes the brief biographies of various saints and holy men and women who have followed the Benedictine spirituality. It includes morning and evening prayers for those who do not have another prayer regime.

"The Benedictine Handbook" is very well-written one-volume introduction to the Benedictine Order and its founder, Saint Benedict of Nursia. The book contains the entire Rule of Saint Benedict, a section on the "tools" of the order, which also fall under the title "words of wisdom", a very good exemplar of special and daily prayer in the order, biographies of key figures in the development and history of the Benedictine Order, finally concluding with a good collection of essays explaining how the Order of Saint Benedict serves the Will of Christ in the world today.This book is so good that my first copy went to the senior pastor at my church (a church belonging to the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana).

This book has some helpful and useful information for those considering the life of a Benedictine Oblate, quite a bit of helpful and good info in fact. The essays on the different aspects of Benedictine life are quite good for the most part. Unfortunately, there is also some very concerning things, particularly in the section which highlights important Benedictines through the ages. On more than one occasion, a Monk/Nun/Sister who has for all intents and purposes left the faith, is presented as some sort of role model. An example can be found in a monk who went to India, studied other religious for years and was described as "being open to all roads to God". Well, that's fine, except the Hindu god, is not God and if you are studying a path towards one, you are sure as heck not coming closer to the true God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. In other occasions, those who are in open dissent from the Magisterium of the Church are presented in this same manner. Again, I find this disappointing because there is also a large amount of good information in the book. The big problem, of course, is separating the good from the bad. For those who are well formed in their faith, this would be relatively easy. However, considering the state of catechesis in the Church (openly acknowledged by our Bishops by the way), the likelihood that many who read this text are not able to weed out the bad from the good is far too high. And let's be honest here, they really shouldn't have to. The dissent and modernity never should have made it into the book to begin with.Moving on, the big thing I miss from the excellent 1955 version of this book:  Manual for Oblates of St. Benedict , are the statues which govern Oblates, the indulgences, prayers, process of receiving Oblates, etc. that are in the older text. Those provide excellent information which is still very pertinent to both the Oblate Director and Abbot/Abbess who may be responsible for Oblates as well as the potential Oblates themselves.All in all, the book has some really excellent stuff, but is missing too much, and too much of what is there is concerning to say the least. I recommend skipping this book, getting the 1955 version linked above, and a good and faithful commentary on the Holy Rule such as:  Commentary for Benedictine Oblates: On the Rule of St. Benedict . In doing so, one would be much better prepared for the life they are considering.Hopefully, future editions of this book will go back and include some of those things from the earlier texts which would be valuable information to have. In addition, extreme care needs to be taken to ensure that those who have acted in a manner contrary to the faith are presented as such, or simply removed from consideration all together.

Prior to reading the Rule of Saint Benedict or becoming involved with any Benedictine activity, an individual should have some foundation to stand upon in order to adequately understand how, what and why. "The Benedictine Handbook" is that foundation. It offers the reader a brief history of the Benedictine life as well as suggested prayers and the Rule of Saint Benedict.Although an excellent introduction for the novice, an Oblate of Saint Benedict should delve deeper by using the prayers in the Liturgy of the Hours such as "Benedictine Daily Prayer: A Short Breviary."

The Handbook contains the Rule of Saint Benedict as well as other important sections such as prayers and the benedictine way of life.A very interesting read.

As a Benedictine Oblate, this book is meant to be used by me and all oblates, as an adjunct to our life of work and prayer. It is an excellent little handbook, containing Benedict's Rule; articles written by other oblates and monks to help round out our understanding; and readings for each day of the week.Unfortunately, the book hasn't been properly proofread, so that some words are missing, others have the wrong meaning, and there are typos which are irritating while reading.Overall, a very good book, spoilt by poor proofreading.

The book is a great help to those interested in Benedictine spirituality. However, it is meant to be used on a daily basis - the Rule of St. Benedict, daily prayers... And here is the problem. Touch the cover - and you leave marks on it. Even if you handle the book with cleans hands, you will leave greasy marks. So, after one or two uses the book cover looks dirty.

Contains 2 weeks of Simple daily prayers. takes about 7 minutes for morning or evening prayers, plus there is time built in for quiet reflection if you like. Lots of informative and clear articles keeping it straightforward.

Excellent summary of the Rule, and good daily prayer summary for those without a breviary.

a great book and very useful to me

Wish the description would of said it had paragraphs highlighted. This was a gift a little embarrassing.