The Monastic Heart

50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life

By: Joan Chittister

Narrated by: Joan Chittister

The activist, nun, and esteemed spiritual voice who has twice appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday sounds the call to create a monastery within ourselves - to cultivate wisdom and resilience so that we may join God in the work of renewal, restoration, and justice right where we are.

“Essential reading for anyone wishing to find the compass of their heart and the wellspring from which to live fully.” (Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries and New York Times best-selling author of Tattoos on the Heart)

“In every beating heart is a silent undercurrent that calls each of us, to a place unknown, to the vision of a wiser life, to become what I feel I must be - but cannot name.” So begins Sister Joan Chittister’s words on monasticism, offering a way of living and seeing life that brings deep human satisfaction. Amid the astounding disruptions of normalcy that have unfolded in our world, Sister Joan calls all of us to cultivate the spiritual seeker within, however that may look across our diverse journeys: “We can depend only on the depth of the spiritual well in us. The well is the only thing that can save us from the fear of our own frailty.”

This book carries the weight and wisdom of the monastic spiritual tradition into the twenty-first century. Sister Joan leans into Saint Benedict, who, as a young man in the sixth century, sought moral integrity in the face of an empire not by conquering or overpowering the empire but by simply living an ordinary life extraordinarily well. This same monastic mindset can help us grow in wisdom, equanimity, and strength of soul as we seek restoration and renewal both at home and in the world.

At a time when people around the world are bearing witness to human frailty - and, simultaneously, the endurance of the human spirit - The Monastic Heart invites listeners of all walks to welcome this end of certainty and embrace a new beginning of our faith. Without stepping foot in a monastery, we can become, like those before us, a deeper, freer self, a richer soul - and, as a result, a true monastic, so “that in all things God may be glorified”.

©2021 Sister Joan Chittister (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This mystical wholeness aligns our souls with our spacious God. Seeing as God sees is within our reach, and this book helps us find our true selves in loving.” (Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries and New York Times best-selling author of Tattoos on the Heart)

“One of the Church’s contemporary prophets teaches us, simply and clearly, how to cultivate our inner lives, and so encounter the One who desires to encounter us.” (James Martin, SJ, author of Learning to Pray)

“Refreshing, practical . . . We learn that the ‘monastic heart’ is a portable thing, a heart that we all can carry in our busy lives as we respond deeply to the suffering of Mother Earth and the world around us. . . . A beautiful, handy guide to bringing out the best in ourselves as we try to serve the future charged with the wisdom of the past.”—Rev. Matthew Fox, author of Julian of Norwich and Hildegard of Bingen

Hopeful

Loved the use of tradition in support of Christian values for breaking barriers to loving each other and following Jesús of Nazareth as we meant to follow him, making the world a better place by loving more.

Monastic Paractice

This book uses conflict narrative to frame the monastic life. Could be a narrow political framing of the author or it could be that she is entering the frame of those with this rigid frame to reach them.

Good book, but with a side agenda

Good book on the key tenets of the monastic life and how to incorporate them into everyday life in ways that are relevant and meaningful. I think it is important to mention that she definitely has a side agenda that comes up repeatedly, in almost every chapter, on women’s rights and equality. I don’t really disagree with her stances on women’s rights, but in all honesty it should have been prominently mentioned on the book cover because it came up dozens of times in the book. Chittister would even force it many times into topics that had no correlation to women’s rights. If I knew she had this as a prominent side agenda in this book I would have been prepared for it, rather than frustrated that she kept changing the topic of conversation over and over. If one opens the book prepared for this however, he/she can get a lot from it.

The Woman’s Voice

This could only have been narrated by Joan herself! Joan adds dimension to the text of her book with her own unique intonation that illuminates more of the undertone attitude that brings a wry smile to the listener. Like her elbow nudges your own … the “subtext” is clear.
Thoroughly enriching. Thank you!

Wonderful account of the goal, history & role of Benedictine monastic life and its wisdom.

Loved it all. Written by a highly intelligent, spiritually mature woman who has clearly practiced what she preaches. She writes clearly and eloquently about the spiritual journey and the joys and challenges of Benedictines in this modern, affluent society

Possibly Chittister's Best Yet

Sr. Joan Chittister is, along with Thomas Merton, Karen Armstrong, C.S. Lewis, and Cornel West, one of the best writers and documenters of the spiritual life. She writes clear prose about the mystical depths of our human existence with profound simplicity. I have read and listened to dozens of her books, audio teachings, and lectures. This may be the most important book she's written to date. We need these teachings. We need her voice in our ears as we take our morning walks or slog through another afternoon commute home from work. The practices are easy to understand even though they've come to us from the most ancient of sources. We need more Sr. Joan in our lives and this wonderful audiobook is a blessing for all who come to it. May you find creative inspiration in her revelation of ancient wisdom.

So historical and so relevant

I will listen to this book many times. After going though it once I know I now need to soak in each chapter. Joan Chittister does not disappoint with this great work. She brings the Rule of St. Benedict alive and shows us lay people how we can join in the freedom of monastic life without joining a Monestary. So relevant for the times we are in and I expect the times we are about to face.

I will listen to this over and over in coming yrs.

I am not Catholic, I am not a subscriber to any particular religion but I believe in our common humanity and our connection to everyone and everything. I just love this book. The concepts, the description and explaination of ritual reptitive practices. I will never stop listening to this book in the coming years. Joan Chittister is a treasure, her Radical Spirit is also a great introduction to the 12 pillars of humility and has something to offer everyone.

amazing reading on how to live a deliberate life

this is a powerful book on how St. Benedict constructed guidelines that have become very relevant to our lives today.

An interesting book

While slow at times, I found this book to be a great start for the small things of monastic life that I found interesting as a child. Now, as an adult in a whole different faith system, I still belive that many of the practices put forth in this book could be quite rewarding.