The Life of St. Benedict By Gregory the Great: Translation and Commentary by Terrence G. Kardong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As someone who is a Benedictine Oblate I am embarrassed to say that until now I have not read an edition of The Life of St. Benedict by Gregory the Great until I read this translation by Terrence Kardong.

This book, part of the Dialogues of Gregory the Great, provides a hagiography of St Benedict that must be considered mandatory reading for anyone who wishes to have an understanding of the life of St Benedict and, therefore, the origins of the Rule that has so influenced the spiritual tradition of the Western Church.

From the backcover:

In his classic Second Book of Dialogues, Pope Gregory the Great lionizes Saint Benedict as hero and casts him predominantly in the role of miracle worker. Yet in his Rule, Benedict comes across more as a practical community organizer and premier spiritual father. In this volume, Terrence Kardong offers a fresh take on Gregory the Great’s classic. He alternates between translated sections of the Dialogues and his own commentary. Crisp and direct, and infused with his wry and ever-present sense of humor, Kardong’s writing is sure to build up the spiritual life of readers and, equally important, to make them love St. Benedict.

Highly recommended.

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Seeking Life by Esther de Waal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will confess up front that my reading of this book probably did not fit the expectation of the author, in that I read it all in one day rather than reflectively over the course of many weeks. In my defence, I was stuck at home with no power and no ability to do anything other than read, and de Waal’s writing and insight on the Rule of St Benedict captured my attention.

Like her other forays into reflections and commentaries on the Rule of St Benedict, and Benedictine life and spirituality, Seeking Life provides a wonderful entree into the Prologue of the Rule of St Benedict that is focussed and centred on a baptismal reading of that introductory section of Benedict’s great spiritual treatise.

There is much to be found there in the Prologue, which is as should be expected. What was not expected by this reader was the way in which de Waal looked at the riches of the Prologue from the perspective of having renewed her baptismal vows and vocation during a celebration of the great Easter Vigil. This fresh approach provides yet another vein to be mined for spiritual wisdom and insight – which is, of course, what constant re-reading of the Rule of St Benedict provides.

Although I read this in ‘one sitting’, I have a feeling that I will be revisiting parts of it again and again over coming weeks and months as what I have only begun to digest becomes clearer.

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An Introduction to Islamic Law by Wael B. Hallaq
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book will prove uncomfortable for all readers. For those Westerners who think they know what Shari’a is this book will show them that they are, in fact, probably incorrect. For Muslims who think that Shari’a has always been the same immutable legal code, this book will suggest to them that they too are incorrect.

Although an introductory text, this book by Wael B. Hallaq, Professor of Humanities at Columbia University, covers a basic description of Islamic Law (Shari’a) and its history and development in broad strokes from the formative period of Islam to the contemporary milieu of the modern nation-state.

Given the ongoing conversations around extremist versions of Islam, and their particular rigorist interpretation of Shari’a, this book is a must read for anyone wishing to engage in that public conversation – if only so they are aware of what it is they are talking about.

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Quiet Influence: The Introvert’s Guide to Making a Difference by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Of all the books I’ve read about introverts and introversion this was the most disappointing of them. Although it had been recommended to me as a good insight into how introverts can function in the ‘real world’ I found it incredibly disconnected from the reality of introverts and all but saying that introverts need to act in particular ways – that look remarkably like an extrovert – in order to succeed.

Not recommended.

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Blessed Are the Bored in Spirit: A Young Catholic’s Search for Meaning by Mark Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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The Introvert’s Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World by Sophia Dembling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another of the increasing number of books written about introverts by introverts, this book particularly looks at the way in which introverts tend to act in the world, and how they can continue to avoid the usual labels attached to them by the large number of people who still do not grasp the reality of introverts.

I found myself nodding my head over and over again as I worked my way through the very short and pithy chapters, each looking at a particular aspect of behaviour as experienced by introverts. Each chapter also looks at ways in which introverts can manage to live in a world that still lives with the understanding that extroverts – and extroversion – are the norm, and introverts are, therefore, not.

For introverts, this book will reaffirm what they know to be innate to their own identity, and how to honour that while continuing to live in the world. For extroverts, this book will help them to understand the way in which introverts work and, therefore, to be a little more accommodating the introverts they encountered.

I highly recommend this book.

I should mention this was the first book I had read via an e-book reader. I had resisted the experience for a long long time, but my experience has made me a strong convert.

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When the Magisterium Intervenes: The Magisterium and Theologians in Today’s Church: Includes a Case Study on the Doctrinal Investigation of Elizabeth Johnson by Richard R. Gaillardetz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This collection of essays by leading scholars in their own particular fields of inquiry contributes significantly to the ongoing discussions surrounding the nature of the Magisterium, the way in which that is exercised by the hierarchical church, and the interaction of the Magisterium (understood as the hierarchical church) with theologians and the proper exercise of the theological enterprise.

Each individual essay is worth reading in and of itself, but together the collection, edited by Richard Gaillardetz, provides much food for thought and the basis of ongoing conversations. The Third Part of the collection, which I willingly admit I did not read in depth, contains a case study surrounding the case of Elizabeth Johnson csj, whose work has been the subject of a “doctrinal investigation” at the hands of the US Bishops.

A worthy book for anyone with an interest, large or small, in the practice of theological inquiry.

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