A Life-Giving Way by, Esther de Waal, offers simple, practical commentary on St. Benedict’s famous book, The Rule. If you struggle to understand how The Rule can apply in your daily life, then I would recommend checking this out.
The Rules of St. Benedict: What is it?
If you are already familiar with what The Rule is, feel free to skip on down.
The Rules of Saint Benedict is an influential guidebook for monastic life, written by Saint Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century.
It serves as a comprehensive set of guidelines and principles that aim to foster a harmonious and balanced existence within a monastic community.
This rulebook outlines various aspects of monastic life, including prayer, work, obedience, and the pursuit of spiritual growth.
It emphasizes the importance of humility, moderation, and the pursuit of inner peace through a structured routine and communal living.
The Rule of Saint Benedict has had a profound impact not only on monastic communities but also on the broader society, as they provide valuable insights into discipline, community, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.
OK, Now What?
Many of the chapters of The Rules are great and offer wonderful spiritual guidance that can be incorporated into the lay life. Some chapters, such as chapter 29, Whether Brothers Who Leave the Monastery Should be Received Again, or, Chapter 35, On the Weekly Servers in the Kitchen, leaving me scratching my head to make a connection to my vocation.
I read The Rule without any commentary and, honestly, just skipped over this kind of stuff.
I always felt like I was missing out on important connections but couldn’t quite bring it all together.
Esther de Waal’s Book
I first saw reference to Esther de Waal in a list of recommended resources for Benedictine Oblates. One of her books, the subject of this review, came highly recommended.
I held off on purchasing it because it was a little difficult to find and I had already muddled through some pretty disappointing commentaries already. I didn’t want to risk adding another one to the pile.
At one point a few weeks ago, I found a used copy that was super cheap so I went ahead and bought it.
I haven’t been disappointed!
Who is She?
Not that you can capture someone in a few words but Esther de Waal is a writer, speaker, and spiritual guide known for her insights into Benedictine spirituality and monastic traditions.
With a background in medieval English literature, she has dedicated her life to studying and interpreting the wisdom of Saint Benedict and his Rule.
Through her writings and teachings, de Waal invites readers and listeners to explore the relevance of monastic practices in our modern lives, emphasizing the importance of silence, prayer, and contemplation.
Her approach, coupled with her profound understanding of Benedictine spirituality, makes her work accessible to people from all walks of life.
The above is from an amalgam of statements but I have found this assessment to be the case.
A Life-Giving Way delivers St. Benedict’s message in a way that is easily relatable.
In Conclusion
If you have been or are interested in learning more about The Rule of St. Benedict, then I would highly recommend, A Life-Giving Way by Esther de Waal.
It really helps me connect what St. Benedict was directing towards the religious living in monasteries to my life as a lay person. Even the oddball chapters on subjects I thought had zero relevance to me.
If you come across a copy in the library or one in a used bookstore somewhere, it’s definitely worth picking up.
Thanks for reading!