Monastic Publications by Br. Steven Olderr, OSB
Br. Steven Olderr, OSB has been a member of the Companions of St. Luke since 2010 and is currently an active Life Professed Brother. Both the Inclusive Rule of Benedict with Topical Concordance and Monastic Guide to Prayer were submitted as solemn profession projects. Some people play the piano as a hobby, I enjoy writing reference books and have been fortunate enough to get 21 published so far on a variety of topics.
Dictionary of World Monasticism; McFarland & Co., 2020, 205 pages; paperback $39.96; Kindle edition $29.99
The roots of monasticism may go back as far as 1700 BCE, to ascetic practices in ancient India. Since that time, the monastic world has naturally developed its own extensive and distinct vocabulary. Countless volumes have been written on monasticism yet many do not clearly define obscure or vernacular terms. Some terms may be found in standard dictionaries but without in-depth explanations. This first comprehensive dictionary—not a proselytizing work but a reference with historical and biographical focus—fills the gap, with a worldwide scope covering not only Christianity,
but all faiths that have monastic traditions, including but not limited to Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
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Inclusive Rule of Benedict with Topical Concordance; Sister Moon Press, 2016, 446 pages; paperback $24.99; Kindle edition $9.99.
The Rule of Benedict has successfully guided people to God for over 1500 years. Although written originally for a small community of monks in Italy, its wisdom and humanity helped it spread worldwide. From its very first days, it proved to be a beacon for the laity as well.
This present edition revives a 17th century translation into Early Modern English, here updated for the modern reader. In keeping with contemporary usage, gratuitous references to men are replaced with unobtrusive inclusive language.
The most prominent feature of this work, however, is a comprehensive topical concordance. This gathers related subject material scattered throughout Benedict’s original work and puts it in one place so the reader can review Benedict’s thoughts on any given subject without the necessity of thumbing through a conventional index that lists only page numbers.
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Monastic Guide to Prayer: What Monks & Nuns Tell Us about Praying; Sister Moon Press, 2016; 158 pages; paperback $49.98; Kindle edition $2.99
Prayer as a means of communication with God has been a constant of religious belief essentially since the dawn of recorded history. There is written evidence of its existence dating back 5,000 years, and it surely goes back much further than that. It is an essential part of all major religions and always has been.
Not all faith traditions have a monastic expression, but the observations of monastics–Christian and non-Christian alike–are particularly relevant nonetheless. The monastic life is essentially a life of prayer. It’s what monks and nuns do, and as such, they have much to share about the topic. For all its corporate expression in weekly services, at its base, prayer remains intensely personal. Each individual must find their own way and what works best for them. This book provides a variety of viewpoints and observations to help the seeker on their way.
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A Treasury of Monastic Quotations Arranged by Author; Sister Moon Press, 2022, 707 pages; paperback $21.99; Kindle edition $8.99
This collection includes over 6,000 monastic quotes. While the largest share is from Christian monks and nuns, Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains also have well-developed monastic traditions and quotes useful to Christians are therefore included.
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A Treasury of Monastic Quotations Arranged by Subject; 2023, 2,046 pages; Kindle edition $9.99
This volume of quotations, arranged by subject, is presently only available in a Kindle edition. The only book of its kind.
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Index to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer; Companions of St. Luke, 2016; Free download.