Finding Sanctuary
by Abbot Christopher Jamison
Liturgical Press (2006)


Description of the Book
Modern life is characterized by an overwhelming sense of busyness. The Rule of St. Benedict, written 1500 years ago for an Italian abbey, provides practical insights about Christian living that can be applied today and provide sanctuary from this busyness for everyday people and monastics alike.

Interpretation of the Book
Finding Sanctuary grew out of Abbot Jamison’s experience on the BBC reality TV show The Monastery, in which five men were immersed in the monastic life at Worth Abbey for 40 days and nights. Their experience, and the author’s, showed viewers of the TV series that the Benedictine spiritual tradition is a practical spirituality for contemporary life.

The book is broken into two major sections.

The first section is relatively short, and establishes the contemporary sense of busyness which dominates our everyday lives. It shows that today’s consumerism, while toxic, is not much different from the cultural environment encountered by the desert fathers, from whom Benedict evolved.

The second section introduces seven steps from Benedictine spirituality which provide sanctuary in contemporary culture. Abbot Jamison discusses the monastic practices of silence, contemplation, obedience, humility, community, spirituality and hope. In each chapter he describes monastic history, tells contemporary stories about that practice, and then provides practical suggestions for implementing the topic in everyday life. He also includes spiritual practices from other monastic movements such as the Jesuits, Carthusians, Eastern Orthodox and others.


Application
This book is an easily approachable spin on Benedictine spirituality. It compares well with Radical Hospitality by Fr. Daniel Homan, OSB and Lonni Collins Pratt.

Abbot Jamison’s section describing lectio divina in the chapter on Contemplation is the highlight of the book for me. It makes some key points that I’ve used in leading retreats and to my own small group : “the text is seen as a gift to be received, not a problem to be dissected. The first task to which the tradition invites the modern reader is: avoid imposing your questions and let the text question you. Humility is the key to wisdom.” (p. 64).
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A brief guide to Benedictine values for lay people. There's nothing really new in this volume, but the step by step practices are helpful and fun to read. The book is well-written and respectful of people from all backgrounds which I found refreshing (although the Benedictines generally are, it seems). ( )

This is a very good book. Although it is aimed primarily a a readership which has had little contact with Christianity and 'classic religion' (as he refers to it) its refreshing and simple presentation makes it quite a useful 'reminder' for those who have been at the heart of 'classic religion' for many years.

The intended audience is clearly those who have seen 'The Monastery' and want to find out more, and the regular references to the program might be a slight obstacle for those who have not seen it.

Perhaps the best chapters are those on silence and contemplation, but the books is a seamless whole and to stop at those would miss the point.

Jamison states his Christian faith clearly in the introduction, but then deliberately lets that fade into the background - indeed the idea of God only returns half way through, as he seeks to demonstrate that without something beyond ourselves the 'sanctuary' cannot be found. Towards the end he seeks to demonstrate how what he calls 'classic religion' can give us the tools to live truly authentic lives. It is here that I have to part company a bit, as he implies that all religions are equally good in this respect. While I would agree that most, and probably all, mainstream religions have value in achieving this, I would have liked him to have returned to his own Christian perspective again, rather than leave it rather fuzzy'. But that is a minor niggle really. ( )

Wonderfully fun ( )