His De la Saintete is unquestionably one of the most important works of post-medieval Cistercian writing and occupies a major place in the history of spirituality David N.
Bell medievalist, theologian, professor at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, author of Everyday Life at La Trappe Under Armand-Jean Ranc , Understanding Ranc , etc.
Back to Asceticism: The Trappist Option, Vol.
1 is an updated translation of this work De la Saintet et des Devoirs de la Vie Monastique by the Abb Armand-Jean de Ranc was originally published in Paris in 1683.
In 1830 it was translated and titled On the Sanctity and the Duties of the Monastic State by Abbot Vincent Ryan, founding abbot of Mount Melleray in Capoquin, Ireland.
This derivative edition has been re-typeset, re-titled, edited, updated, heavily annotated, and its many citations both substantially corrected and expanded.
Moreover , it has been supplied with a contemporary introduction, with 52 illustrations as well as an Image Index and an Index of Scriptural Citations.
Although Abb de Ranc , the founder of the Trappists, originally wrote for his monks, many laity of 17th c.
France enthusiastically adopted much of his spirituality, and to wonderful effect.
With asceticism re-appearing now as a corrective to our self-indulgence and softness, his incisive book is a badly needed, bracing corrective for the Christians of our time.
Back to Asceticism: The Trappist Option will likely accomplish spontaneously all that The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher envisioned, and far more.
On the Sanctity and Duties of the Monastic State was the soul of Trappist spirituality until very recently, and the very implosion of the Trappists suggests that survival of the order depends on an about-face, a return to the wisdom of its founder.
In fact, the entire Church is badly in need of the ascetic wisdom that de Ranc has distilled from Saint Benedict, Saint Bernard, Saint Basil, Saint John Climachus and other desert fathers.
Volume I contains.
Arthur M. Gilbert & Son, Publishers Back to asceticism: the trappist option: a translation with introduction and notes of de la saintet et des devoirs de la vie monastique, paperback/vincent ryan
