http://monasticism.org/monk Monasticism in the Catholic Church Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:40:06 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Perhaps the most effective and powerful research tool on the web to search information on women religious communities of the Middle Ages comes from the Department of History at The University of Southern California, titled Matrix. The purpose of the site is, in their own words ... Our goal is to ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2009/05/28/117/ One of the most significant developments in the academic world in the past decade has been the emergence of the Open Access (OA) movement. In response to spiraling costs for academic journals, most notably in the fields of science, technology & medicine, people came together looking for a solution, ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2009/02/17/research-aid/ [caption id="attachment_111" align="alignleft" width="166" caption="The Abbey of the Genesee"][/caption] I visit the Abbey of the Genesee's web site weekly to stay current with what is going on at the abbey, and came across this gem, undoubtedly the result of a rich spiritual life.  I haven't yet read the book, but this ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2009/02/01/genesee-abbey/ [caption id="attachment_98" align="alignleft" width="194" caption="Thomas Merton"][/caption] Tomas Merton died 40 years ago this past December 10.  It was the process of reading Merton's words that moved me towards monastic life over 20 years ago, and so I thought it would be profitable to mention that his books and audio tapes and ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2009/01/29/thomas-merton-redoux/ I came across this journal entry of Thomas Merton written on March 2, 1966.  It is from a compilation of Merton's journalistic writings, titled The Intimate Merton, edited by Br. Patrick Hart and Jonathan Montaldo.  It is so universal, as was so much of Merton's writing, and thus so appropriate ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2009/01/15/merton-wisdom-for-our-time/ It's been a year and a half... and I can hardly believe it. My - I should say our, because this story is about both my wife, Carol, and me - life has been about personal adjustment and lately just plain old survival, which has left very little time for my ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2009/01/05/update-2/ Well, as you few faithful souls that actually stop by and read these little reflections on monastic life have noted, it's been very little, and very occasional for about a year now. I was initially occupied with finding work, after losing my job at the seminary. On top ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2007/05/17/personal-note/ The real monk, the one who's deepest desire (God) is in line with the way he lives, is a smasher of idols. And the biggest idol he smashes is the notion that being called a monk means he is somehow special or different from others. He doesn't pretend ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2007/03/27/idol-smasher/ The film Into Great Silence has finally debuted in the U.S.  In Boston it's showing at the Kendall Square Cinema.  I haven't seen it yet, but will sometime this weekend.  Here is a link to the New York Times review of the film. http://monasticism.org/monk/2007/03/24/into-great-silence-debuts-in-us/ Here is a link to a terrific interview with Mr Groening, the director of, Into Great Silence, a film of monastic life taken at The Grande Chartreuse, charterhouse of the Carthusian monastic order. In response to what his film is meant to convey Growning says, "The film should become ... http://monasticism.org/monk/2007/03/01/into-great-silence-update-2/