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Sarah Masters reviews the film

Christian Mysticism and the Monastic Life

Christian Mysticism and the Monastic Life heightens spiritual awareness through words handed down from the great Christian mystics. Narrated by Gordon Gould, these messages are intercut with breathtaking footage filmed close to three decades ago of beautifully maintained cathedrals and monasteries in Europe and the U.S. and of cathedrals in ruins.

The monastic belief that love leads to enlightenment shines through the serenity of the monks featured in Christian Mysticism and the Monastic Life, through the rituals of their daily life and their openness. The monastic life is also beautifully illustrated in this film through their music and spiritual appreciation of their environs.

Scenes in Christian Mysticism and the Monastic Life of monks gardening, creating stained glass windows, milking cows, and in solemn chapel prayer illustrate in a vivid way the belief that contemplation and work are paths to God. Chaplains will find solace in this visual meditation on the monks’ belief in “a union too overpowering to express in words.”

Completed: 1978
Running Time: 21 Minutes
Producer: Elda Hartley

If you are interested in purchasing this film, you can do so at www.hartleyfoundation.org. Just click on “Hartley Classics” on the homepage for more information. The cost of the film series is $19.95 for a VHS.

Sarah Masters is the Managing Director of the Hartley Film Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to cultivation, support, production and distribution of the best documentaries and audio meditations on world religions, spirituality, ethics and well-being.

Book Review

Rev. Dr. Joan Murray reviews

Healing Words for Healing People

Deborah Patterson has written a book which is “a source of healing and peace for you and those with whom you minister, as one of God’s healers, in a world so much in need of the gifts that you have to share.” (Pg. 10) Through her nursing and theological perspective, she has written an easy to read and practice resource for those in parish nursing as well as in caring ministries in local congregations. While written from a Christian perspective, she invites the reader to adjust the meditations and prayers for multifaith use. She has divided the book into two sections; one on meditations and one on prayers. These can be used with individuals or in services.

The framework for the meditation portion of the book is an identified theme, scripture, a brief meditation with relevant theologians and writers, and a closing blessing for the reader. From her personal and professional life she draws stories that demonstrate her theme. Themes include hospitality, relating with the stranger among us, faith, trust, and being in relationship. But the main theme permeating her writing is that of the life-giving ways for us to “connect” with our selves, each other, and with God. The connections are essential for both religious leaders and laypersons in service and ministry with individuals, groups, and communities. The piece on hospitality is particularly appropriate for the parish nurse and others who, in their ministry, welcome the one who waits for healing.

The “healing words for healing people” contains words healers will find nourishing for their soul as well as words the healer may offer to others for their healing.

The prayers in the prayer portion of the book are written for direct use or adaptation based upon the specific needs of the one in need of healing of body, mind and spirit. Prayer as spiritual practice supports her call for connecting through relationship. The context for prayer is the spiritual relationship the healer establishes with the one to be healed. She has captured simple yet authentic words in prayer that will be received with comfort, hope, strength and trust in a God who loves us.

In both the meditations and prayers, she invites us to “remember our roots”. (Pg. 51) What better way to be connected than by remembering our roots in the God who provides more than we can imagine, and who in every circumstance is trustworthy. Patterson has provided a resource that has integrated spiritual practices into our life experiences in a gracious and truthful way. She invites us to healing words and relationships on behalf of God.

Patterson, Deborah L. Healing Words for Healing People. (Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2005) pp 144.

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