I found Finding Sanctuary a really helpful book. It is written by Christopher Jamieson, Abbot of Worth Abbey, featured in the TV series The Monastery.
The first part of the book looks at the origins of our “busy-ness” and then offers “a way into sanctuary - a door through which we can enter sacred space”. He tells us that “before he could offer sanctuary he had to find it”.
The book is very well structured, based on the rules of St Benedict and offers ways to apply these monastic steps to everyday life. One quote tells us that “virtue is necessary in professional life today and traditional virtues are now being taught to executives … and are being written into codes of practice”.
There are chapters on Silence, Contemplation, Obedience, Humility, Community, Spirituality, and Hope. These are the tools needed to build our sanctuary.
There is an acknowledgement of the difficulties we are likely to encounter in doing this. The rules included lots of practical help – even St Benedict faced such challenges and had a chapter “On the Presumption of Striking another monk”!
Each chapter of this book ends with a reference to a website and another book to read.
I recommend Finding Sanctuary - it is full of sensible and realistic advice based on a good understanding of humanity.
Websites
Sacredspace.ie
Centeringprayer.com
Mertonfoundation.org.
Worthabbey.net/bbc
Laybenedictines.org
Anamchara.com
Findingsanctuary.org
Books
Silence & Honey Cakes – The Wisdom of the Desert
Reading with God: Lectio Divina- David Foster
Seeking God: The Way of Benedict
Truthful Living – Michael Casey
Prayer & Community – Columba Stewart
The Cloister Walk – Kathleen Norris
Crossing the Threshold of Hope
