Right off I want to comment that the book is well written and shows the proper respect to the community. The photos are outstanding and the quotes appropriate. This beautiful book seeks to express the spirit of monasticism through an examination of one Trappist (Cistercian) monastery, Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina. And it does just that.

The book is written in two main sections. In the first part the author takes us on a tour of the Monks at Mepkin. We see their history and the present life within the community. It shows us a glimpse of a vibrant community that is both living the ancient life of monastic practices and have blended it with the world of today in such a way as to take nothing away from the former.

As we read the second section of the book we see it focus on the monk himself. What is it that makes up a life of a Trappist monk? His work, prayer, worship, sacred reading; as well as how they blend a life of community, solitude and true Christ like hospitality.

This book was not written to explain the monks nor the monastery, but to allow us a glimpse of what it is to see through the eyes of these monks. We have the opportunity to learn while reading this book that that there is a universal call to holiness to be found in each and everyone of us. ( )

Gethsemani trip, 4-2013