Engaging Benedict

Engaging Benedict

What the Rule Can Teach Us Today

Laura Swan

Nearly fifteen centuries ago, Benedict of Nursia wrote a rule for Christians who wanted to live, work and pray together in community. The Rule, with its core values of contemplation, hospitality, and simplicity, remains as useful today as it was when Benedict created it. But the Rule is not without difficulties in contemporary practice. Author Laura Swan looks at it with a critical eye, seeking to unpack parts that are problematic and uncover gems that support the yearnings of today's seekers. Readers will discover that Benedict's wisdom can shed light on their own lives. By wrestling with the Rule, and hence taking it seriously, Laura Swan offers readers guidance on many difficult and painful questions.