Annual Symposium on Benedictine Spirituality
Benedictines Gone East
Saturday, May 4, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
St. David's Episcopal Church
5150 Macomb St., NW
Washington, DC 20016
Western monastics shaped by Benedict of Nursia’s 6th Century Rule found resonance in Eastern spiritual traditions and pursued the various parallels through their travels, writing, and spiritual practices.
Thomas Merton’s Asian journals are studied by scholars and seekers alike. But Merton wasn’t the first Westerner in the Benedictine family who “went East.” He was preceded by Henri Le Saux (Swami Abhishiktananda) and Bede Griffiths, a Frenchman and an Englishman. Each sought in India what Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple described as “…the attempt to find God through penetrating to the inmost recesses of the self.” This path, he added, has led people “of all times and races to a similar experience.” Thurston will present the parallel journeys of these two European Benedictines and provide fresh understanding of how Christians might deepen their experience of the divine through knowledge of others’ religions.
Photo by Rudra Gupta on Unsplash
Thomas Merton’s Asian journals are studied by scholars and seekers alike. But Merton wasn’t the first Westerner in the Benedictine family who “went East.” He was preceded by Henri Le Saux (Swami Abhishiktananda) and Bede Griffiths, a Frenchman and an Englishman. Each sought in India what Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple described as “…the attempt to find God through penetrating to the inmost recesses of the self.” This path, he added, has led people “of all times and races to a similar experience.” Thurston will present the parallel journeys of these two European Benedictines and provide fresh understanding of how Christians might deepen their experience of the divine through knowledge of others’ religions.
Photo by Rudra Gupta on Unsplash
About Our Speaker
Bonnie Thurston resigned a seminary chair and professorship in New Testament to live quietly in her home state, West Virginia. She has addressed multiple Friends of St. Benedict programs over the years. She gives retreats for parishes and monastic communities, preaches, and volunteers weekly at her parish’s food pantry. She has written 24 books on New Testament and Christian spirituality, eight poetry collections, and multiple articles for scholarly and general audiences. Ordained in 1984 “to the church’s ministry” (Christian Church, Disciples of Christ), she has served several churches and is a licensed lay preacher in Episcopal Church. Books will be on sale during the lunch that will be offered as part of the program.
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Registration
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To reserve a place, fill out the registration form. To pay, send a check ($35 for in-person participation with lunch/ $25 for link to live streaming) made out to the Friends of St. Benedict.
Mailing Address: PO Box 5615 Washington, DC 20016 In person attendees may at the door on Saturday, May 4. (Available for In Person and Lead Supporter tickets only) In Person | $35 Lead Supporter | $200 Virtual $25 (pay at the door not available for this ticket) |
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