Joan Chittister

"The activist, nun, and esteemed spiritual voice who has twice appeared on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday sounds the call to create a monastery within ourselves--to cultivate wisdom and resilience so that we may join God in the work of renewal, restoration, and justice right where we are. "In every beating heart is a silent undercurrent that calls each of us to a place unknown, to the vision of a wiser life, to become what we feel we must be--but cannot name." So begins Sister Joan Chittister's words on monasticism, offering a way of living and seeing life that brings deep human satisfaction. Amid the astounding disruptions of normalcy that have unfolded in our world, Sister Joan calls readers to cultivate the spiritual seeker within all of us, however that may look across our diverse journeys: "It is only the depth of the spiritual well in us that can save us from the fear of our own frailty." This book carries the weight and wisdom of the monastic spiritual tradition into the twenty-first century. Sister Joan leans into Saint Benedict, a young man who sought moral integrity in the face of an empire in the sixth century, not by conquering or overpowering the empire, but by simply living an ordinary life extraordinarily well. This same monastic mindset can help us grow in wisdom, equanimity, and strength of soul as we seek restoration and renewal both at home and in the world. At a time when people around the world are bearing witness to human frailty--and, simultaneously, the endurance of the human spirit--The Monastic Heart invites readers of all walks to welcome this end of certainty and embrace a new beginning of our faith. Without stepping foot in a monastery, we can become, like those before us, a deeper, freer self, a richer soul--and, as a result, a true monastic: "that in all things God may be glorified.""--

50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life

The Monastic Heart

A beloved nun and social activist offers a soul-stirring guide for all who feel disillusioned and dissatisfied with the power-hungry institutions and systems of this world “A cri de coeur against the status quo and for a bold spirituality to fight injustice.”—The New York Times In The Time Is Now, Sister Joan Chittister—a rabble-rousing force of nature for social justice and fervent proponent of personal faith and spiritual fulfillment—draws on the wisdom of prophets, both ancient and modern, to help us confront the societal forces that oppress and silence the sacred voices among us. Pairing scriptural insights with narratives of the truth-tellers that came before us, Sister Joan offers a compelling vision for readers to combat complacency and to propel ourselves toward creating a world of justice, freedom, peace, and empowerment. For the weary, the cranky, and the fearful, this energizing message invites us to participate in a vision for a world greater than the one we find ourselves in today. This is spirituality in action; this is practical and powerful activism for our times. Praise for The Time Is Now “For decades Chittister has been a prolific author and advocate for women and social justice inside and outside the realm of the Catholic Church. Here she shares her perspective on the current state of equity, social justice, and the environment and calls on all Christians to explore the traits of prophets, many of which they can find within themselves . . . offering motivation as well as ways to accomplish change.”—Booklist “A series of short essays to encourage and refresh the spirit of activists . . . applicable to both progressive and conservative Christians. Will appeal to spiritual readers seeking an encouraging book for social justice advocacy.”—Library Journal (starred review)

A Call to Uncommon Courage

The Time Is Now

Building on the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God and on the story of her own battle with life-changing disappointment, Sister Joan Chittister deftly explores the landscape of suffering and hope. (Practical Life)

Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope

Feeling burnt-out from life, strung-out from social media, and put out by a society that always wants more from you? Beloved nun and social activist Joan Chittister, who appeared on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday, offers a practical, character-building, and inspirational guide to help you take control of your emotional life and redirect your spiritual destiny. Joan Chittister, whom Publishers Weekly calls "one of the most well-known and trusted contemporary spiritual authors," is a rabble-rousing force of nature for social justice, and a passionate proponent of personal faith and spiritual fulfillment. Drawing on little known, ancient teachings of the saints, Sister Joan offers a practical program to help transform our thinking and rebel against our fears, judgments and insecurities. "Freedom from anxiety, worry, and tensions at home and work, comes when we give ourselves to something greater," she argues. "We need to seek wisdom rather than simply facts, to think before speaking, and in turn create respectful communities." With a series of twelve simple rules for healthy spiritual living, Chittister not only reminds us, but pleads with us, to develop enduring values by shifting our attention to how God wants us to live. This book will teach you how to accomplish this.

12 Ways to Live a Free and Authentic Life

Radical Spirit

Wise and enduring spiritual guidelines for everyday living –– as relevant today as when The Rule was originally conceived by St. Benedict in fifth century Rome.

Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today

Wisdom Distilled from the Daily

Søren Kierkegaard

C. S. Lewis

Jean Vanier

Eugene H. Peterson

Thomas Merton

Henri J. M. Nouwen

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Richard J. Foster

Chiara Lubich

Saint Benedict

Howard A. Snyder

Dorothy Day

David Janzen

Christine D. Pohl

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Eberhard Arnold

John M. Perkins

Christine Christine

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Why, in age of connectivity, are our lives more isolated and fragmented than ever? And what can be done about it? The answer lies in the hands of God's people. Increasingly, today's Christians want to be the church, to follow Christ together in daily life. From every corner of society, they are daring to step away from the status quo and respond to Christ's call to share their lives more fully with one another and with others. As they take the plunge, they are discovering the rich, meaningful life that Jesus has in mind for all people, and pointing the church back to its original calling: to be a gathered, united community that demonstrates the transforming love of God. Of course, such a life together with others isn't easy. The selections in this volume are, by and large, written by practitioners--people who have pioneered life in intentional community and have discovered in the nitty-gritty of daily life what it takes to establish, nurture, and sustain a Christian community over the long haul. Whether you have just begun thinking about communal living, are already embarking on sharing life with others, or have been part of a community for many years, the pieces in this collection will encourage, challenge, and strengthen you. The book's fifty-two chapters can be read one a week to ignite meaningful group discussion.

The Life Jesus Wants for His People

Called to Community

Explores the concerns of modern life and argues that readers should embrace the contradictory nature of life in order to live well.

Embracing the Contradictions of Life

Between the Dark and the Daylight

Criticizes the patriarchal world view, outlines the historical realities that have produced a culture that glorifies violence and domination, and argues for a worldview that recognizes the full humanity of women.

Feminist Spirituality for Women and Men

Heart of Flesh

"In concert with Swanson's art, Chittister's prose explores, through the biblical story of Ruth, a series of twelve life-defining moments in every woman's life"--Publisher description.

Twelve Moments in Every Woman's Life

The Story of Ruth

Illuminated Life: Monastic Wisdom for Seekers of Light

Arthur Waskow

Saadi Shakur Chishti

The Tent of Abraham is the first book to tell the entire story of Abraham and to reenergize it as a basis for peace. Written by three leaders belonging to different faiths, the book explores in accessible language the mythic quality and the teachings of reconciliation that are embedded in the Torah, the Qur'an, and the Bible.

Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims

The Tent of Abraham

The bestselling spiritual writer Joan Chittister reflects on 15 paintings by contemporary American artist Janet McKenzie in a 21st centry interpretation of the centuries old Christian devotion. When popular writer Joan Chittister heard that artist Janet McKenzie painted the fifteen stations of the cross, she was eager to write the accompanying text-her first book-length treatment of the stations.

The Path to New Life

The Way of the Cross

Everyone goes through times of pain and sorrow, depression and darkness, stress and suffering. It is in the necessary struggles of life, however, that we stretch our souls and gain new insights enabling us to go on. Building on the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God and on the story of her own battle with life-changing disappointment, Sister Joan Chittister deftly explores the landscape of suffering and hope, considering along the way such wide-ranging topics as consumerism, technology, grief, the role of women in the Catholic Church, and the events of September 11, 2001. We struggle, she says, against change, isolation, darkness, fear, powerlessness, vulnerability, exhaustion, and scarring; and while these struggles sometimes seem insurmountable, we can emerge from them with the gifts of conversion, detachment, faith, courage, surrender, limitations, endurance, transformation, and (perhaps most important) hope. Each of these struggles and gifts is discussed in a chapter of its own. Meant to help readers cope with their own suffering and disappointment, Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope is, in Chittister's words, "an anatomy of struggle and an account of the way hope grows in us, despite our moments of darkness, regardless of our regular bouts of depression. It is an invitation to look again at the struggles of life in order that we might remember how to recognize new life in our souls the next time our hearts turn again to clay." Neither a self-help manual nor a book offering pat answers, but supremely practical and relevant, Chittister's Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope will richly reward those readers seeking solace in the empathic, wise, and accessible meditations of a fellow struggler.

Rowan Williams

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams often says that, no matter what, the proper stance of the Christian in the world is one of gratitude. In this book, Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, and Archbishop Rowan Williams offer us a sweeping set of things and circumstances to be grateful for 'things for which we can sing alleluia," "praise and thanks be to God." Some are things we naturally feel grateful for: God, peace, wealth, life, faith, and unity. But when these are set alongside other things we would never think to sing alleluia about 'death, divisions, sufferings, and even sinners 'we begin to see, as Joan Chittister says in her introduction, that "Life itself is an exercise in learning to sing 'alleluia ' here in order to recognize the face of God hidden in the recesses of time. To deal with the meaning of 'alleluia ' in life means to deal with moments that do not feel like 'alleluia moments' at al." In this series of reflections it becomes clear that singing "alleluia" is not a way to escape reality but receptivity to another kind of reality beyond the immediate and the delusional, of helping us understand what is now and what is to come. Joan Chittister, OSB, is a Benedictine nun and international lecturer who has been a leading voice in spirituality for more than thirty years. She has authored forty books, including her most recent, The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life, published by Thomas Nelson. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, is acknowledged internationally as an outstanding theological writer, scholar, and teacher. He has been involved in many theological, ecumenical, and educational commissions and has written extensively across a wide range of fields of professional study ' philosophy, theology, spirituality, and religious aesthetics. He has also written on moral, ethical, and social topics and, since becoming archbishop, has focused more intently on contemporary cultural and interfaith issues. "

Alleluia for All That Is

Uncommon Gratitude

Excepts of writings on women in church and society and on feminist spirituality.

From the Writings of Joan Chittister

On Women

In this lovely book, Sr. Joan looks at 50 "aspects," all of which in some way can fill our hearts and our lives. She talks about a prayerful heart, a peaceful heart, a risking heart, a wise heart, a cosmic heart, a compassionate heart. Each brief chapter offers abundant food for reflection and prayer, and each offers an opportunity to become persons who "produce Good from the treasure of the heart" (Luke 6:45).

The Many Paths to a Good Life

Aspects of the Heart

«Cuenta la historia que un día el abad Lot fue a ver al abad José y le dijo: "Padre, en lo que puedo, observo una regla sencilla, hago pequeños ayunos, practico algo de oración y meditación, guardo silencio y, en la medida de lo posible, procuro mantener limpio mi pensamiento. ¿Qué más debería hacer?" El viejo monje se puso en pie, alzó las manos hacia el cielo, y sus dedos se convirtieron en diez antorchas llameantes. Entonces dijo: "¿Por qué no te transformas en fuego?"». En El fuego en estas cenizas, Chittister llama a los religiosos, hombres y mujeres, a transformarse en fuego, a convertirse en la "abrasadora presencia" del Espíritu de Dios en el mundo. Con una asombrosa capacidad para ir directamente al núcleo de los problemas que afronta hoy la vida religiosa, la autora identifica los signos de vida y de santidad que en ellos se manifiestan y busca los motivos de esperanza, a la vez que analiza aquellas actitudes que ocasionan un estancamiento y ofrece alternativas atrayentes y esperanzadoras. JOAN CHITTISTER, OSB, ex-presidenta de la Conferencia Norteamericana de Superioras Religiosas, es autora de numerosos libros y artículos sobre temas de espiritualidad, vida religiosa y compromiso por la paz y la justicia social.

Espiritualidad de la vida religiosa hoy

El Fuego en estas cenizas

Rowan Williams, writing in partnership with the bestselling American Benedictine author, Joan Chittister, explores the meaning of a word often spoken in Christian worship, but rarely considered. What are we doing when we say the word 'Alleluia'? In the Old Testament, it is a summons to praise - when it feels appropriate and when it doesn't. In the New Testament it becomes part of the language of praise, used at all times, even to this day in the funeral liturgies in the Eastern Orthodox church. Here then is a clue - it is a call to see the whole of life 'as one long Alleluia moment' as the authors put it, to discover the richness and manifestations of God even when they are hidden from us. Some things we naturally feel grateful for - life, health, comfort, pleasure - but how is it possible to say 'Alleluia' to the parts of life that weigh us down and drain our spirits dry? This book aims to give some very practical answers to how we cultivate 'an Alleluia view' of every present moment, to find the meaning in Dag Hammerskold's famous words: 'For all that has been, thanks - for all that shall be, yes.'

Growing a Sense of Gratitude

For All That Has Been, Thanks

Joan Chittister, one of our most celebrated spiritual writers, invites us in The Gift of Years to embrace older age as a natural part of life that is both active and contemplative, productive and reflective, and deeply rewarding. These are the capstone years, the time in which a whole new life is in the making again. The gift of these years is not merely being alive, it is the gift of becoming more fully alive than ever. Original.

Joan Chittister

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