Synopses & Reviews
a landmark in the 'feud' between Ca®teaux and Cluny, the Apologia contains Saint Bernard's opinion on the place of graphic arts in the monastery and shows his mastery of satire.
Review
Swift would have appreciated it; the monks of Cluny did not.Irish Times
Synopsis
This Apologia, composed by Bernard and approved by William, the Benedictine abbot of Saint-Thierry, excoriates monks black and white: Cistercians who had become slanderers, Cluniacs who had grown self-indulgent. Bernard's satirical wit spared no one who had lost sight of the monk's first duty, the love of God and the brethren.
About the Author
Michael Casey, OCSO, has been a monk of Tarrawarra Abbey (Australia) since 1960. After completing a degree in Scripture at Leuven, he received his doctorate from Melbourne College of Divinity for a study of desire for God in the writings of Bernard of Clairvaux. For the past decades he has been engaged in exploring different aspects of monastic spirituality, writing, and giving conferences throughout the English-speaking monastic world. His books include The Road to Eternal Life: Reflections on the Prologue of Benedict’s Rule (Liturgical Press, 2011), Strangers to the City (Paraclete Press, 2005), and A Guide to Living in the Truth (Liguori, 2001).