Sister Wendy Beckett – författare

Join Sister Wendy on a journey through Lent, and discover the timeless wisdom to be found in some of the world's greatest paintings.Illustrated in full colour with over forty famous and lesser-known masterpieces of Western art, this beautiful book will lead you into a deeply prayerful response to all that these paintings convey to the discerning eye.From the Hokusai's Great Wave to Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son, these reflections draw from the emotions and spiritual truths behind the painting to give you lessons that will stay with you a lifetime.Each of the days is based around a different theme. From joy to tranquility to courage to sacrifice - the messages from The Art of Lent are short meditations that are designed to leave you with questions of your own to think about, rather than a compendium of conceptions to espouse in certain occasions.'For those who want to appreciate the spirituality behind some of the world’s greatest works of art, this book will be hugely inspiring - not only during Lent but at any time of the year.'Dr Janina Ramirez, art historian and broadcaster

‘For those who want to appreciate the spirituality behind some of the world’s greatest works of art, this book will be hugely inspiring – not only during Lent but at any time of the year.’ - Janina RamirezBrimming with Sister Wendy's irrepressible wisdom and enthusiasm, this little book explores the spiritual riches to be found in some of the world’s greatest paintings of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus. Illustrated in full colour with thirty famous and lesser-known masterpieces of Western art, here is a chance to hear again the voice of Sister Wendy as she gently leads you into a deeper appreciation of all that these paintings convey to the discerning eye.'Sister Wendy’s deep and insightful commentaries are utterly unique.' - Delia Smith

Brimming with Sister Wendy's inimitable wisdom and enthusiasm, this little book explores the spiritual riches to be found in some of the world's greatest paintings of Mary, the mother of Jesus.The forty exquisite paintings gathered here follow Mary's story in the Gospels - from the moment of the Annunciation through to the earliest days of the Church, when the disciples of Jesus were gathered in Jerusalem following his ascension into heaven.The Art of Mary will be warmly welcomed by all who would love another chance to hear the voice of Sister Wendy as she gently leads the reader into a deeper appreciation of these masterpieces, and of the uniquely blessed woman to whom they point.ContentsForeword by Amy Orr-EwingIntroduction: Scenes from thee life of MaryPart 1. The servant of the LordPart 2. Blessed among womenPart 3. Mother and childPart 4. A piercing swordPart 5. Treasure in her heartPart 6. Woman, behold your son!Epilogue: Devoted to prayer

Sister Wendy, who has been dedicated to a life of prayer for more than half a century, has always resisted writing a book on the subject. Her reasons mix humility with a conviction that prayer is simple: books about prayer can be a dangerous distraction. Yet, when she does speak about prayer, often in response to the questions of ordinary people, she does so with an eloquence that speaks directly to her hearers in ways that make practical sense. Now, in her older age, Sister Wendy is willing to set down some of what she has learnt over a lifetime in a series of meditations. The format of the book is deliberately non-linear: where prayer is concerned, Sister Wendy says, it is simply a matter of trying to turn to God as honestly as the person you are in the circumstances you find yourself in. Her co-author, David Willcock, who has worked with Sister Wendy for many years producing her television programmes, adds to her text a biographical sketch about being a nun and at the same time one of the art world's most acute and revered commentators and a TV personality.Illustrating this unique book are a dozen pieces of artwork: no book by Sister Wendy would be complete without this dimension.

For the first time, here is the story of Sister Wendy's life, along with her personal reflections on prayer.Sister Wendy, who has been dedicated to a life of prayer for more than half a century, has always resisted writing a book on the subject. Her reasons mix humility with a conviction that prayer is simple: books about prayer can be a dangerous distraction. Yet, when she does speak about prayer, often in response to the questions of ordinary people, she does so with an eloquence that speaks directly to her hearers in ways that make practical sense. Now, in her older age, Sister Wendy is willing to set down some of what she has learnt over a lifetime in a series of meditations. The format of the book is deliberately non-linear: where prayer is concerned, Sister Wendy says, it is simply a matter of trying to turn to God as honestly as the person you are in the circumstances you find yourself in. Her co-author, David Willcock, who has worked with Sister Wendy for many years producing her television programmes, adds to her text a biographical sketch about being a nun and at the same time one of the art world's most acute and revered commentators and a TV personality. Illustrating this unique book are a dozen pieces of artwork: no book by Sister Wendy would be complete without this dimension.

Apart from her celebrity status as 'the art nun', generated by her television programmes, Sister Wendy has been approached throughout her life for counsel on the spiritual life and the life of prayer. Here, for the first time, are collected some of the finest of her responses in the form of letters, kept and treasured by their receipients over the years. Sister Wendy herself has written a charming and very personal autobiographical preface in which she sets these letters in their context. This little book is a treasure trove of wisdom and sound simple advice.

Apart from her celebrity status as 'the art nun', generated by her television programmes, Sister Wendy has been approached throughout her life for counsel on the spiritual life and the life of prayer. Here, for the first time, are collected some of the finest of her responses in the form of letters, kept and treasured by their receipients over the years. Sister Wendy herself has written a charming and very personal autobiographical preface in which she sets these letters in their context. This little book is a treasure trove of wisdom and sound simple advice.

A powerful devotional study of all existing pre-Iconoclastic icons that are still readable.In Encounters with God, Sister Wendy Beckett travelled to remote churches and monasteries to view the earliest icons of Mary. In Real Presence, she resumes this journey to see additional early icons of Jesus and the saints - icons that are among the few to survive the wholesale destruction of icons in the early eighth century.In contrast to the familiar and magnificent icons of later history, these early icons have a haunting simplicity and unfamiliar spiritual power. They come to us from a time closer to that of Christ, when faith was still alive with wonder and possibilities, and these images, a vehicle for prayer, can truly convey his real presence. Prayerful and heartfelt, Real Presence engages with the spiritual imagination of the early church, giving insight into all the emotion and drama of early Christianity and, in so doing, deepens our understanding of faith lived out today.

A collection of spiritual letters to young religious on the spiritual life, always laced with sound common sense and good humour.Apart from her celebrity status as 'the art nun', generated by her television programmes, Sister Wendy has been approached throughout her life for counsel on the spiritual life and the life of prayer. Here, for the first time, are collected some of the finest of her responses in the form of letters, kept and treasured by their recipients over the years.Sister Wendy herself has written a charming and very personal autobiographical preface in which she sets these letters in their context. This little book is a treasure trove of wisdom and sound simple advice.