by Carl McColman
Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Ind.
192 pages
It’s a little known fact that John Calvin was deeply influenced by Bernard of Clairvaux who in 1115 A.D. established a Benedictine monastery in France. He came from Cîteaux, from which the term Cistercian derives. Cistercians follow the sixth century rule of Saint Benedict. That fact is important to recall in the 21st century when the search for God appears in different forms. This book describes why this particular way of spirituality is compelling for modern seekers.
In addition to Bernard of Clairvaux, other well-known Cistercians include Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating and Basil Pennington. The author, a lay Cistercian and popular retreat leader, draws upon these figures and others to describe the “universal call to holiness.” He writes, “It’s a call that comes from God, a call to a life of compassion and service, of self-knowledge and hospitality, of prayer and deep silence. This call points us to the heart of what Cistercian spirituality offers us – a way to seek God.”
There are very few spaces for silence anymore. This way of seeking God draws deeply upon the ancient rule of Benedict to listen before speaking. “If you would like for the ancient Cistercian wisdom to shape your own spiritual path, begin with a simple effort to foster silence in your life.” Of course, this runs counter to the world of noisy activism that so often characterizes the search for meaning. The Benedictine way has always been countercultural. This is a welcome guide to an ancient way of silence, prayer and service.
