The Monastic Way: Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Living

As modern Christians shift their focus back to orthodoxy, a corresponding resurgence of interest in monastic life and thought has emerged. Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, longtime collaborators, believe that much wisdom can be gained from those who have lived the monastic life. Their Monastic Way offers inspirational daily readings drawn from the writings of monastics in all the major spiritual traditions of the Eastern and Western churches -- Benedictine, Franciscan, Orthodox, Carmelite, and so on.

Covering a year's time, The Monastic Way links the qualities of everyday monastic life to the practical everydayness of all human life. Each month focuses on a specific theme -- living with others, balancing life, working for justice, etc. -- and each theme is introduced by quotations from one of the great monastic Rules. For every day of the year there is an excerpt from the writings of men and women across the centuries, from fifth-century Desert Mothers to Basil Hume, Joan Chittister, Thomas Merton, and hundreds of others.

At once practical and sublime, this collection will prove valuable to students of ancient culture, those intrigued by monastic life, and all who are looking for ancient wisdom relevant to modern living.

Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild are freelance writers and editors, both of whom have spent part of their lives as members of Anglican religious orders. They have together produced several best-selling anthologies, including The Lion Christian Meditation Collection and Conversations: Relating to our Forebears in Faith.