Brother Mark Barrett from the Benedictine community of Worth Abbey creates an imaginative link between the stages of the day as reflected in the monastic hours and the stages of life. A wonderfully insightful glimpse into the human condition, peppered with lovely literary allusions and personal illustrations. A thoughtful read if ever there was one.

Franciscan priest and prolific writer Richard Rohr explores the concept of the ‘two stages’ of life as a framework for spiritual growth. He examines how, in the first half of life, our task is the necessary one of establishing a strong container for personal identity. He then goes on to show that in mid-life, we need to press on with the important task of filling that container with our deepest and fullest self. It rather puts one in mind of the old adage that although the tr

Rowan Williams introduces us to that oft-forgotten group of 4th century men and women known as the Desert Fathers and Mothers, who headed off into the Egyptian desert to live lives of uncluttered asceticism and spiritual reflection. One of the fruits of this was a wonderful collection of pithy sayings and aphorisims which still have the power to stop us in our tracks today. The Desert Fathers and Mothers laid the foundations of western monasticism and Archbishop Rowan brings

This totally readable book takes us on a tour of the again oft-forgotten history of contemplative practice as lived out in the Christian tradition over the last 2000 years. For those who wish to embark on such an inner journey in our day and age, Fr Martin offers a straightforward approach to contemplative practice and some insights into how folk have navigated the many hurdles which people of all traditions encounter in the course of this journey. I’m on my 5th reading of it