A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict

Rating:
Summary: personal commentary on the Rule by a lay Benedictine
Review: De Waal has made a name for herself by adapting Benedict for the laity. This latest of her works is perhaps the least accessible, andit by no means a place to start in getting to know the saint of Monte Cassino. Christians who already order their lives by drawing from the centuries-old "Rule," however, will want to read it cover to cover. She goes through each chapter and gives, not a scholarly but a personal commentary on its meaning. Many references to other works of Benedictine scholarship. Don't have a copy of the "Rule" handy? (You must have one to get anything out of this work at all.) Liturgical Press will send you one free if you return the postpaid card that comes with de Waal's book. What a deal!

Rating:
Summary: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home
Review: De Waal's commentary brings the 6th century "Rule of Benedict" into my 21st century life and home, revealing how relevantly Benedict's wisdom speaks to our modern age. Another recently published book, a modern commentary on the Rule, written for parents, is titled THE FAMILY CLOISTER: BENEDICTINE WISDOM FOR THE HOME, by David Robinson (New York, NY: Crossroad, 2000).

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant reading of Benedict's Rule for everyday life.
Review: Esther de Waal has managed to bring the Rule of Benedict to life by insightfully applying it to life lived in the world, not just for an enclosed Benedictine community.