St. Benedict’s “Little Rule,” written in the sixth century, has become one of the most important sources of inspiration for twenty-first century Christians and seekers alike. What is it about this “little rule,” as Benedict called it, that has inspired a resurgence of interest in personal spiritual growth as well as a new understanding of what it means to be “the church” – the body of Christ – in a secular society?
In both Part One and Part Two, we will read and reflect on the Rule along with Joan Chittister’s daily commentary, which is divided into a 4-month period from September 1 to December 31. In Part 1 we will also read the very first book to inspire a revival of interest in Benedict’s Rule – Esther de Waal’s Seeking God, originally published as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book for 1984 and reprinted constantly since then. And in Part 2 we’ll read the newest book in this genre – Rowan Williams, The Way of St. Benedict, just published in January this year.
The course will include slide show lectures, discussion groups, and videos of some of the best teachers about Benedict in our century – Rowan Williams, Joan Chittister, Lawrence Freeman, and Kathleen Norris – from the 2003 Trinity Institute. Everyone will also have the opportunity to read a novel about Benedictine monastic life.
PART 1: TO THE REFORMATION
Wednesday evenings, 7 – 9 pm, September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14
Reading:
- Joan Chittister, The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century (Crossroad, 2010) – follow the daily readings for November 1 – December 31
- Esther de Waal, Seeking God, rev. ed. (The Liturgical Press, 2001) OR
Topics:
- Jesus, John and Paul
- Origins and Forerunners of Christian monasticism
- Desert Monasticism and Forefunners of Benedict
- Benedict’s Rule and the Development of Benedictine Monasteries
- Benedictine reforms (Cistercians & Trappists)
- The Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries
PART 2: AFTER THE ENGLISH REFORMATION
Wednesday evenings, 7 – 9 pm, November 4, 18, 25, December 2, 9, 16
Reading:
- Joan Chittister, The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century (Crossroad, 2010) – follow the daily readings for November 1 – December 31
- Rowan Williams, The Way of St. Benedict (Continuum, 2020)
- Optional: A novel, to be selected from suggestions provided by the instructor. A brief synopsis of each will be presented in the last two classes.
Topics:
- Early Communal Experiments in the Church of England (Little Gidding)
- Sarum Rite and the Benedictine office
- The Book of Common Prayer
- The Oxford Movement and the Revival of monasticism in the English Church
- Contemporary New Monastic Movements
- The Future of Monasticism