April 16, 2007
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The Cloister Walk
Kathleen Norris writes about laundry and liturgy in The Quotidian Mysteries. This was my first exposure to her writing. Finding the sacred in the everyday, discovering communion in the common, is a life-long pursuit of mine. Intrigued by Norris, I went on to read The Cloister Walk.
Norris wrote this book during a residence at St. John’s Abbey, a Benedictine monastery. Since the book follows the liturgical year, I read the short chapters slowly, correlating my reading to the liturgical calendar. I found The Cloister Walk a welcome companion to my medieval studies. After reading the Rule of St. Benedict, it was fitting to read how the living by the Rule fleshes out today. Norris references many of the works I have studied; she quotes many of the lights of the early and medieval church.
Restricting your reading and studies to people with whom you agree often leads to tedium. On one level it is warm and comfortable, but you end up feeling cramped and stoved up because your mental muscles aren’t being stretched. I appreciate reading authors outside of my worldview, outside my theology, outside of my chronology, and outside of my culture. Interacting with different frameworks provokes me to think; it challenges me and keeps me alert.
In the past I have described Norris as very L’English. By that, I mean that reading Kathleen Norris is very similar to reading Madeleine L’Engle. They are both articulate poets. There is a considerable bit I disagree with when I read both authors. However, after I have skipped over or disregarded that which I would describe as stubble, I discover chunks of gold. Here are some nuggets I’ve been examining:
~ “A life of prayer is a life of beginning all over again.” ~ Charles Cummings~ The idea of attentive waiting. [What does this look like?]
~ Obey and listen are etymologically related [That's one of my top 2007 word finds.]
~ “for all the military metaphors employed in the Old Testament, the command that Israel receives most often is to sing.” p. 155
~ The fruit of celibacy is hospitality, because celibacy requires loving all well.
~ The prominence of the psalms (reading, singing, chanting) in the Benedictine lifestyle. The idea being so immersed in the psalms that the psalms surface in response to the circumstances of life, that I respond to life with the words God has given to me.
~ Essentials of the monastic way: sacred reading, liturgy, work, silence, vigilance and stability. [are these good and realistic goals for my life? Where am I unbalanced?]
Comments (8)
I like the thought of ‘singing’ topping the list of commands. Why isn’t singing more of a propensity of our souls? If you are singing edifying songs it’s hard to rebel in high-handedness. Also the phrase ~ “The fruit of celibacy is hospitality, because celibacy requires loving all well.” could also apply to any single man or woman in the church even if they are not gifted with celibacy.
Pastor T.
“~ Obey and listen are etymologically related [That's one of my top 2007 word finds.]“
I’d be interested in hearing more about this. . .
In Russian, the word “obey” when talking with children is the perfective form of the word “listen.” So, it is implying that obeying is listening completely.
Goodness – my pastor and TulipGirl both! I’m breathless!!
The connection between obey and listen is one I’d like to study more, noting it as I read through the Bible. Here’s some bits I gleaned:
Obey: [Middle English obeien, from Old French obeir, from Latin oboedīre, to listen to : ob-, to; see ob– + audīre, to hear.]
Listen: [Middle English listenen, alteration (influenced by listen, to list, listen; see list4) of Old English hlysnan.]
More on obey: [Origin: 1250–1300; ME obeien < OF obeir < L oboedīre, equiv. to ob- ob- + audīre to hear; -oe- for expected -ū- is unclear]
Catch the connection in Psalm 81:11 – “My people did not listen to My voice; Israel did not obey Me”
This entry is chock-full of meaty tidbits…. you are so diligent!
This phrase struck me: *Restricting your reading and studies to people with whom you agree often leads to tedium.* So, now you wont think to ill of me, if you catch me reading/watching something by someone outlandish. And surely, you will agree that for younger learners, it is more important to mold their minds with the writings of those with whom we do agree
At any rate, I have *The Virgin of Bennington* sitting on the chair behind me….another of Kathleen Norris’s. I finally purchased The Quotidian. But I love your L’English moniker. My poetry selection is a L’Engle today, whom I hesitate to endorse whole-heartedly because I’ve heard she believes in *reincarnation*
Love the new profile pic….it shows a new side of you! Teehee.
I love your posting about Kathleen Norris. I feel as though I’ve read her sometime in the past but can’t quite put my finger on it.
We visited two Benedictine Abbeys a couple of years ago and found them both amazing. They were very different, yet the peace of both places was palpable.
Listen and Obey. Yes! Thanks for sharing that.
Blessings,
Sandy
Reading and enjoying, Carol. You often give me more books to add to my large stack.
Hmmm, where/when was the picture taken?
Kathleen Norris is high on my list of favorite authors. Dana, I have read Virgin of Benninton too. And Quotidian Mysteries. and Cloister Walk. You are both right in saying she sometimes says things you can’t agree with – and yet she labels herself as Presbyterian. Reincarnation? Hardly…I think she may attend a Presbyterian church but perhaps doesn’t confine her theology to what is taught there.
Good review, I’ve found that most of Norris’ books need to be read slowly–I liked the way she intergrated ancient theologians in her writing.