The Cistercian Way: Volume 76

by André Louf

Book Overview

A sketch of the unique tradition of the 'white monks' as they have sought 'men and women alike' to leave all things to follow the Gospel.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879079762
• ISBN13: 9780879079765
• Release Date: November 1983
• Publisher: Liturgical Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A Beautiful Introduction to Cistercian Life and Spirituality

The literary style of Abbot André Louf's THE CISTERCIAN WAY is very much consonant with its topic: simple, incisive, and lyrical. I was pleasantly surprised to find this short book on the Cistercians--a Roman Catholic monastic order reaching back to the 11th century and with roots in the 6th century RULE OF SAINT BENEDICT--so captivating and moving. (This excellent English version was translated from the original French by Nivard Kinsella.) The book includes a short history of monasticism in the West and the reforms which led to the Cistercian houses, a description of a day in the life of a monk, meditations on the core values in Cistercian life (especially the central role of prayer), and a brief treatment of the theological underpinnings of Cistercian spirituality. Included is a long excerpt of a 12th century anonymous Cistercian work titled, "Treatise on the Interior Mansion," and several pages of black-and-white photos depicting Cistercian life today. THE CISTERCIAN WAY may very well have been written as an introduction to Cistercian life for the aspirant, much like William J. O'Malley's THE FIFTH WEEK is aimed at one considering a vocation to the Jesuits. However that may be, I think anyone with an interest in Cistercian (or Trappist, as Cistercians of the Strict Observance are sometimes called) spirituality, particularly one without a lot of background in that area, will have much to gain by reading Louf's work.

An Essential Guide

Abbot Louf's book is a succinct, clearly written exposition of all major aspects of Cistercian life and spirituality as it presently exists. Lucid and thoughtful, Louf deliberately and in an orderly fashion imparts the 1,000 year old tradition of the order founded by Saint Bernard in the 11th century, without getting bogged down in historical details or side issues. Absolutely authoritative without being at all polemical, richly informative without being colorful or showy, Louf's writing in itself conveys the root of his order's austere and durable charism. It is an essential guide and the best single volume available on its subject. A short but relevant set of photographs gives his teaching a resonant and striking contemporary dimensionality. If one is visiting the Cistercians for the first time or has visited them for decades, your experience will be solidly enriched and reinforced by this book.

An excellent overview of contemporary Cistercian life

Thomas Merton is the writer who comes automatically to mind when one thinks of the Cistercian Order, and while his books perhaps show greater spiritual depth than Louf's (which is probably an unfair comparison), it must be remembered that Merton is describing Trappist life as it was before and just after Vatican 2, many years ago. Dom Andre Louf's book is a brilliant, compact and beautiful overview of contemporary Cistercian life and will serve as an outstanding introduction to this way of life and devotion to God. Although each Cistercian monastery has its own character and differences, Louf is a very insightful writer and has a gift for describing what is a rather alien way of life to the modern world in simple, beautiful language. I read it in a Trappist monastery, which only made it better. Highly recommended!

Inspired Introduction to the Trappist Vocation

Dom Andre Louf, former Abbot of the Cistercian Abbey of Mont-des-Cats on the Franco-Belgian border, is a well-known spiritual writer, and especially within his own religious order.The Cistercian Way is a seductive book, as indeed all books that talk of vocation to the religious life should be. "I shall seduce his heart and lead him into the desert" we read in the Old Testament. Movingly evoking the specifically Trappist vocation to follow God, Dom Andre redresses the several false notions that persist, even within the Church, about life as a Trappist. He writes with great truth that 'there is no reason why simplicity should mean ugliness...' Both for the man or woman who is considering life as a Cistercian, and for anyone seeking to understand more about Cistercian spirituality and direction, Dom Andre's book is an excellent starting point, and one to which one will always feel drawn to return.