Description: In The Way of Simplicity Esther de Waal reveals the riches of the Cistercian (Trappist) tradition and its relevance for todays world. The book draws not only on such twelfth-century writers as Bernard of Clairvaux and Aelred of Rievaulx, but also on Thomas Merton and many contemporary Cistercians. These Cistercian men and women wrote on matters of perennial concern: the true self, growth, integration, friendship, the love of God, and above all the live of prayer. Anyone wishing to explore Cistercian spirituality will find this book an illuminating and practical guide.
Brief description: Esther de Waal is one of today's most celebrated spiritual writers. Seeking God, her classic book on the relevance of the Rule of Saint Benedict, has opened up the riches of the monastic tradition to readers throughout the world for almost twenty-five years. Greatly in demand as a speaker and retreat leader, she lives in Herefordshire, UK.
Review Quotes: Esther de Waal has gifted us with new and fresh insights into Benedictine spirituality from the Cistercian perspective. She gently and prayerfully explores the Cistercian charism by weaving the strands of her study and reading of the twelfth-century Cistercian mystics with her prayerful reflection on Benedictine values. The American Benedictine Review