Crown of Monks

David Barry OSB made solemn profession at the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, New Norcia, Western Australia in 1960. He has studied at Sant'Anselmo, Rome, and Saint Benet's Hall, Oxford, as well as at Murdoch University. In addition to doing parish work, teaching, working in monastic formation, and giving spiritual direction and retreats in Australia, he has also taught in China and done archival research in Europe on his monastery's founders.

• ContentsIntroduction   xiiiTranslator’s Preface and Acknowledgments   xxiiiAbbreviations of Works Cited   xxvAuthors and Works Cited   xxviiThe Crown of Monks   1Prologue 1Chapter 1    On Prayer   3Chapter 2    On the Discipline of Psalmody   7Chapter 3    On Reading   10Chapter 4    On Love of God and of Neighbor   12Chapter 5    On the Observance of God’s Commandments   17Chapter 6    On Fear   19Chapter 7    On the Wisdom That Is Christ   23Chapter 8    On Prudence   26Chapter 9    On Simplicity   27Chapter 10  On Patience   29Chapter 11  On Humility   32Chapter 12  On Peace   35Chapter 13  On Obedience   36Chapter 14  On Those Who Despise the World   39Chapter 15  On Repentance   41Chapter 16  On Confession   44Chapter 17  On Compunction   46Chapter 18  On the Hope and Dread of the Elect   48Chapter 19  On Those Who after Shedding Tears Return to Sin   50Chapter 20  On the Life and Way of Living of Monks   52Chapter 21  On Those Who Love a Quiet Life   54Chapter 22  On the Chosen Who Leave All   56Chapter 23  On the Mortification of Monks   58Chapter 24  On the Contemplative Life   61Chapter 25  On Desire for the Heavenly Kingdom   63Chapter 26  On the Lax Way of Life of Monks   66Chapter 27  On Abstinence   69Chapter 28  On Continence   71Chapter 29  On Bearing Divine Correction   73Chapter 30  On the Scourges of God   75Chapter 31  On the Weakness of the Flesh   77Chapter 32  On the Tribulations of the Just   79Chapter 33  On Temptations   81Chapter 34  On the Manifold Ways of Sinning   84Chapter 35  That after Ruin One May Rise   87Chapter 36  On Thought   89Chapter 37  On Speech   92Chapter 38  On Reserve in Speech   94Chapter 39  On Much Speaking   96Chapter 40  On Holding Conference   99Chapter 41  On Love of Neighbor and Fraternal Correction   101Chapter 42  On the Zeal of the Pastor’s Office   105Chapter 43  On Discretion in Doctrine   107Chapter 44  On Divine Gifts   111Chapter 45  On the Grace of God   114Chapter 46  On Good Subjects   116Chapter 47  That the Monk’s Treasure Is to Be Located in Heaven   119Chapter 48  On Counsel   121Chapter 49  On the Sanctification of Heart and Body   124Chapter 50  On the Call of the Divine Kindness   127Chapter 51  On the Love and Grace of God   129Chapter 52  That the Saints Are Called Children of Light   132Chapter 53  On Hope   134Chapter 54  That We Are to Pray without Ceasing   136Chapter 55  That We Are to Be Simple, as Children of God   138Chapter 56  That We Should Do Everything without Murmuring   140Chapter 57  On Circumcising the Vices   142Chapter 58  On the Fruit of Righteousness   144Chapter 59  That We Are to Return to the Innocence of Childhood   146Chapter 60  About the Fact That the Just Are Called Living Stones   148Chapter 61  On Enduring Temptations   150Chapter 62  On Knowing Our Lord Jesus Christ   152Chapter 63  On the Glorification of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Saints   154Chapter 64   We Should Walk Worthy of God, and Be Filled with Knowledge of His Will   156Chapter 65  That We Do Not Have to Please Everyone   158Chapter 66  That We Are to Forgive One Another’s Faults   160Chapter 67  That We Are Children of God, His Heirs and His Inheritance, and He Ours   163Chapter 68  How a Person May Gain Christ   165Chapter 69  That the Lord’s Mighty Acts Are Ever to Be Proclaimed by Monks   167Chapter 70  That It Is Given to the Saints to Suffer for Christ   169Chapter 71  That Christ Gave Himself up for Love of Us   172Chapter 72  That the Apostle Says: Do Not Extinguish the Spirit   174Chapter 73  On the Harmful Curiosity of Monks   176Chapter 74  On the Rule Laid Down by the Apostles   178Chapter 75  That Monks Are to Be Vigilant   180Chapter 76  On the Battle of the Virtues   182Chapter 77  On Hatred and Fraternal Correction   184Chapter 78  That the Monk Have the Loins of His Mind Girded   186Chapter 79  On the Mortification of the Vices   188Chapter 80  On the Grace of Tears   190Chapter 81  That Holy Monks Are Called Children of God   192Chapter 82  That Virtues Arise from Virtues, and Vices from Vices   195Chapter 83  What Is It to Be Fastened to the Cross of Christ?   197Chapter 84  That Monks Are to Have a Pure Heart and a Good Conscience   199Chapter 85  That Monks Are to Be Rich in Good Works, and Store Up for Themselves a Solid Foundation   201Chapter 86  On the Eternal Dwelling That God Has Prepared for the Saints   203Chapter 87  How Humans Become Blessed   205Chapter 88  On the Hour of Death and the Separation of Soul from Body   207Chapter 89  On Innocence   210Chapter 90  What It Means to Sanctify a Fast   212Chapter 91  What It Means to Fast Well   214Chapter 92  On What Is Written: Many Will Come from East and West and Will Recline with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven [Matt 8:11]   215Chapter 93  That Every Chosen and Perfect Monk Is Figuratively Both Human and Calf and Lion and Eagle   217Chapter 94  On What the Apostle Says: The Flesh Lusts, etc. [Gal 5:17]   219Chapter 95  What Is the Impulse of the Spirit, and What Is the Impulse of the Flesh   221Chapter 96  That All the Righteous Walk Before Their Own Face and in the Presence of Their Face   222Chapter 97  On the Fact That It Is Written: Keep Your Heart with All Care [Prov 4:23]   223Chapter 98  What It Means That God Said to Abraham: Go out from Your Country and Your Kindred, and Come to the Land That I Will Show You [Gen 12:1]   225Chapter 99  On the Martyrdom That Takes Place in the Church’s Peace   227Chapter 100  On the Two Altars in the Human Being, of Which One Is in the Body, and the Other in the Heart   229Bibliography   231Scripture Index   233Index of Authors and Works   238