In Benedict in the World, Linda Kulzer, O.S.B., and Roberta Bondi have gathered stories of many of the ordinary and extraordinary men and women Benedictine oblates—members of the Benedictine family who live in the world. Benedict in the World begins with an introductory chapter citing some reasons for an influx of Benedictine oblates into monasteries today. It then presents in detail a collection of the lives of nineteen significant Benedictine oblates who lived from the years 973 to 2000. Nearly half the contributors are themselves Benedictine oblates and most of the others are professed Benedictine monastics. The combined effort offers support and inspiration to those who have loved their oblate journey and brings to light the lives of these outstanding lay monastics. Among the more well-known oblates included are Dorothy Day, Patrick and Patricia Crowley, Jacques and Raissa Maritain, Walker Percy, H. R. Reinhold, and Elena Cornaro. Chapters are "Foreword: On Being a Benedictine Oblate," by Roberta Bondi; “Introduction,” by Linda Kulzer, OSB, “Monasticism Beyond the Walls,” by Linda Kulzer, OSB, “Carolyn Attneave: Catcher of the Light,” by Paschal A. Morlino, OSB; “Oblate and Heroine: Elena Lucrezia Scholastica Cornaro Piscopia (1646-1684),” by Ann Kessler, OSB; “Patrick Crowley: Oblate of St. Benedict,” by Patty Crowley; “Faith in Action: The Lives of Patrick and Patricia Crowley,” by Margaret Colleton; “Evelyn Davie's Dream Deferred,” by Mary Ruth Coffman, OSB; “Prayer and Work in the Light of Dorothy Day,” by Rita (McClain) Tybor; “Eric Dean: Presbyterian Pilgrim,” by Phyllis K. Thompson; “Believing Is Seeing: Frances of Rome, Patron of Benedictine Oblates,” by Susan Anderson Kerr; “Rumer Godden: Oblate Novelist,” by Catherine Wybourne, OSB; “Edith Gurian, Oblate Peter,” by Mary Anthony Wagner, OSB; “Henry II: Monk-King,” by Hugh Feiss, OSB; “On the Road to Emmaus: The Spiritual Journey of Joris-Karl Huysmans,” by George C. Tunstall; “Emerson Hynes: A Vocation to Conversation,” by Owen Lindblad, OSB; “St. Benedict and the Maritains,” by Lucie R. Johnson, OBLSB; “Walker Percy: The End of His Beginning,” by Edward J. Dupuy; “Faithful to the Very End: Oliver Plunkett, Irish Martyr and Archbishop,” by Jem Sullivan; “Denys Prideaux: The Oblate Abbot,” by Charles Preble; “H. A. Reinhold: Architect of the Liturgical Movement in America,” by Julia Upton, RSM; and “Rita Sorg’s Life of Joyful Hope: Remembering the Transfiguration on Tabor,” by Donald Raila, OSB Linda Kulzer, OSB, PhD, is co-editor of Medieval Women Monastics: Wisdom’s Wellsprings and Purity of Heart in Early Ascetic and Monastic Literature: Essays in Honor of Juana Raasch, OSB, published by The Liturgical Press. Roberta Bondi, DPhil., is a Professor of Church History at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and the author of nine books in the area of spirituality.

Table of Contents:
Contents Foreword: On Being a Benedictine Oblate   v      Roberta C. Bondi Acknowledgments   ix Introduction   1      Linda Kulzer, O.S.B. 1. Monasticism Beyond the Walls   5      Linda Kulzer, O.S.B. 2. Carolyn Attneave: Catcher of the Light   11      Paschal A. Morlino, O.S.B. 3. Oblate and Heroine: Elena Lucrezia Scholastica Cornaro Piscopia (1646–1684)   19      Ann Kessler, O.S.B. 4. Patrick Crowley: Oblate of St. Benedict   31      Patty Crowley 5. Faith in Action: The Lives of Patrick and Patricia Crowley   35      Margaret Colleton 6. Evelyn Davie’s Dream Deferred   43      Mary Ruth Coffman, O.S.B. 7. Prayer and Work in the Light of Dorothy Day   55      Rita McClain Tybor 8. Eric Dean: Presbyterian Pilgrim   67      Phyllis K. Thompson  9. Frances of Rome: Patron of Benedictine Oblates   79      Susan Anderson Kerr 10. Rumer Godden: Oblate Novelist   87      Catherine Wybourne, O.S.B. 11. Edith Gurian, Oblate Peter   97      Mary Anthony Wagner, O.S.B. 12. Henry II: Monk-King   103      Hugh Feiss, O.S.B. 13. On the Road to Emmaus: The Spiritual Journey of Joris-Karl Huysmans   117      George C. Tunstall 14. Emerson Hynes: A Vocation to Conversation   129      Owen Lindblad, O.S.B. 15. St. Benedict and the Maritains   141      Lucie R. Johnson, OBL.S.B 16. Walker Percy: The End of His Beginning   153      Edward J. Dupuy 17. Faithful to the Very End: Oliver Plunkett, Irish Martyr and Archbishop   165      Jem Sullivan 18. Denys Prideaux: The Oblate Abbot   177      Charles Preble 19. H. A. Reinhold: Architect of the Liturgical Movement in America   187      Julia Upton, R.S.M. 20. Rita Sorg’s Life of Joyful Hope: Remembering the Transfiguration on Tabor   199      Donald S. Raila, O.S.B. Contributors   207