The Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders is an intimate, vibrant, and deeply moving portrait of monastic life in America today. Thirty elders of the Benedictine Order, all born between 1901 and 1925 and at home in monasteries and convents across the country, share their touching and thought-provoking life stories-from the everyday rhythm and ritual of prayer and work, solitude and community, sanctity and humility, to their moments of greatest joy and deepest sorrow. They tell us in a most candid, down-to-earth fashion, and with much gentleness and humor, when and why they decided to enter the cloistered world, how the Benedictine Rule and tradition serve as foundations for their spiritual and physical lives, and their hopes for the future. Part graceful memoir, part sacred legacy, The Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders is an immensely nourishing encounter with thirty exceptional women and men and an inspirational journey into their hearts, minds, and souls. Book jacket.