Man of Blessing: A Life of St. Benedict

by Carmen Acevedo Butcher

Overview

Praise for Man of Blessing

"The difference with Butcher's book... is the exploration of Benedict's unusual life; his relationship with his twin sister, Scholastica; and the illumination of the saint's miracles. The book's readability will make it easy for patrons to escape into late Roman Culture and find peace in monastic simplicity." -Library Journal starred review

"This remarkable book is a delightful blend of legend and solid history." -Sr. Lenora Black OSB, Spirit & Life

"Throughout the book [Butcher]...interweaves some good research that expands the context of Benedict's world and adds dimension to his character." -American Benedictine Review

"Butcher's life of St. Benedict is an excellent example of modern hagiography, written with imagination in a contemporary style based on historical facts and tradition." -Catholic Library World

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612611624
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	03/01/2012
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Carmen Acevedo Butcher has spent the last twenty years studying and teaching medieval Christianity. She earned her Ph.D. in medieval studies and teaches at Shorter College. She is also the author of Hildegard of Bingen: A Spiritual Reader. Visit her at www.carmenbutcher.com.

Editorial Reviews

"The difference with Butcher's book...is the exploration of Benedict's unusual life; his relationship with his twin sister, Scholastica; and the illumination of the saint's miracles. The book's readability will make it easy for patrons to escape into late Roman Culture and find peace in monastic simplicity." --Library Journal starred review

"This remarkable book is a delightful blend of legend and solid history." --Sr. Lenora Black OSB, Spirit & Life

"Throughout the book [Butcher]...interweaves some good research that expands the context of Benedict's world and adds dimension to his character." --American Benedictine Review

"Butcher's life of St. Benedict is an excellent example of modern hagiography, written with imagination in a contemporary style based on historical facts and tradition." --Catholic Library World

From the Publisher

This biography comes at a time of renewed interest in the saint known as the "patriarch of western monasticism" thanks to the current Roman Catholic leader's choice of Benedict as his papal name. Butcher, a scholar of ancient and medieval Christianity, interlaces what little is known of Benedict with research about the times in which he lived, drawing heavily on the second volume of Pope Gregory the Great's four-book Dialogues. Written in A.D. 593, Gregory's narrative is considered the only ancient account of the saint who sacrificed wealth and status to seek a life that would be pleasing to God. For three years, Benedict lived as a hermit in a cave before founding a string of monasteries in Italy, including the famous Monte Cassino. To her scholarly writings, Butcher adds some imaginative dialogue that might have occurred between Benedict and others. These retellings imitate the style of Gregory in his Dialogue, but also serve to make Man of Blessing more readable. Butcher concludes with helpful appendixes summarizing Benedict's brief monastic Rule and introducing the popes who have chosen his name through history. The author's observation that Benedict's story has something to say to those living in our present age of instability could generate interest in this book among Christian readers, especially those drawn to monasticism. (Mar.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

This book, timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's inauguration, crafts an exciting story of the life of St. Benedict of Nursia, who founded Western monasticism in the sixth century and later became the patron saint of Europe. Historian Butcher (medieval & Renaissance literature, Shorter Coll.) presents a time line of events, a biography of Benedict's life, and a summary of the Rules of St. Benedict. Given that little is known about this historical figure, Butcher relies on studies of the late Roman times and the "Dialogues" of Pope Gregory the Great, who had documented talks with those who had known Benedict. A similar work is Esther de Waal and Kathleen Norris's Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict, which serves as a source of guidance, support, and comfort for people dealing with life challenges based around the Rules. The difference with Butcher's book, however, is the exploration of Benedict's unusual life; his relationship with his twin sister, Scholastica; and the illumination of the saint's miracles. The book's readability will make it easy for patrons to escape into late Roman culture and find peace in a monastic simplicity.-L. Kriz, West Des Moines P.L., IA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal