Beverly Lanzetta - The Monk Within: Embracing a Sacred Way of Life

This is a book I have been longing for! Beverly Lanzetta has delved deeply into the wisdom of Christianity and other faith traditions and shares here her study and experience of monasticism. But this book is not satisfied in rehearsing traditional monastic practice. It offers a profound synthesis of ancient sapiential theology with contemporary womens contemplative experience. Dualisms of celibacy and sexuality, solitude and relationship, contemplation and world engagement are beautifully broken down. Here is a spiritual vision for women and men who long for the divine and yet live in the world. Here is a new monasticism that will inspire a generation of seekers and lovers of God, humanity, and the world.

Wendy Farley, Professor of Christian Spirituality, San Francisco Theological Seminary and author of Tragic Vision and Divine Compassion: A Contemporary Theodicy

This work is a beautiful reflection on a path that, once upon a time, called seekers to the deserts of Egypt. This book empowers contemporary seekers to find that same desert within their hearts, all while living in the world, confronting structures of violence and oppression, and learning how to help make God all in all. Written from a place of deep prayer, experience, and mystical intuition, it provides invaluable guidance for a world in crisis, inviting people to honor the universal impulse to say yes to God in an authentic way so we can all serve the needs of our time.

Adam Bucko, co-founder of The Reciprocity Foundation and co-author of Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation and The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living

The Monk Within guides the yearning soul toward the quiet reassurance, devotion to all being, and boundless joy that arise from unmediated engagement with the ever-present Divine. A path of compassionate, integrative, long-seeing faith: the mystics way of unfolding the Mystery within the ordinary. Read, practice, and find comfort for your restless heart. Rabbi Raachel Jurovics, President, Association of Rabbis, Cantors, and Rabbinic Pastors for Jewish Renewal and contributing author, Seeking and Soaring: Jewish Approaches to Spiritual Direction

Connection. That is the word that resounds in Beverly Lanzettas book, The Monk Within . Connection with the Holy One, with humanity, and with creation. The new monastic impulse honors the sanctity of creation and the miracle of the spirit, holding the divine presence in ones heart. This book, in a very real way, is a call to the desert as the early monastics journeyed to so long ago. This new desert is not dependent on institution, but embraces mystery, plurality, and openness to the upwelling of God in the soul.

Michael Peterson, OSB, Chairman of the Board, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue and Oblate Director for Saint Johns Abbey.

Beverlys book is a powerful witness that braves the flow and flux of contemporary monastic forms. With insight and passion she identifies the essential elements of the monks seeking God and highlights the paradox of it being both equally for everyone and yet for some in a particular way. As a guide through this often-cloudy time she brings range of vision and sure subtlety of spiritual touch.

Laurence Freeman OSB, director of the World Community of Christian Meditation and author of Christian Meditation: Your Daily Practice and Light Within: Meditation as Pure Prayer

A radiant book, Beverly Lanzettas latest reminds me why many of us love the Christian mystical tradition but also have trouble finding a home in its wings. The desert calls us, and what we feel there doesnt seem to hold when we try institutions of faith. This is not to say that Lanzettas take on new monasticism is only for Christians, but for those of us to whom it will speak profoundly, shes a sure guide across the mysteries.

Jon M. Sweeney, publisher of Paraclete Press and coauthor of Meister Eckharts Book of the Heart

The Monk Within is a striking reminder that the truly spiritual life is essentially an inward journey toward a deeper and more penetrating sense of the sacred. Written by one of Americas most impressive spiritual figures and writers, this book yields something meaningful for persons of virtually every faith tradition. Her rich tapestry of spiritual wisdom and reflections is really a blessing for these times, when we are witnessing an unprecedented crisis of the sacred. An insightful, inspiring, and moving book!

Lewis V. Baldwin, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, Vanderbilt University and author of Never to Leave Us Alone: The Prayer Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Monk Within:

Embracing a
Sacred Way
of Life

Beverly Lanzetta

The Monk Within: Embracing a Sacred Way of Life

Copyright 2018 by Beverly Lanzetta

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, write Blue Sapphire Books, PO Box 1235, Sebastopol, CA 95473.

Scripture Quotations from the New International Version of the Bible are copyrighted 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc., published by Zondervan. Reprinted by permission.

Blue Sapphire Books website http://bluesapphirebooks.com

Cover and interior design: Nelson Kane

Publishers cataloging-in-publication data

(Prepared by The Donohue Group, Inc.)

Names: Lanzetta, Beverly.

Title: The monk within : embracing a sacred way of life / Beverly Lanzetta.

Description: Sebastopol, CA : Blue Sapphire Books, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: ISBN 9780984061655 | ISBN 9780984061662 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Spiritual life. | Monastic and religious life. | FeminismReligious aspects. | NatureReligious aspects. | ReligionsRelations.