Our History & Witness--- In One Volume

On the occasion of our 25th anniversary, we published a book called Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks. A paperback with a quality color cover, the book not only details the history, but provides pictures, letters and essays about St. Benedict's Farm. The back cover makes this summary statement:

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD MONKS share with you their colorful 26-year history-how they pioneered their small monastic community founded in 1956 in South Central Texas. Years of struggle on the edge of penury are traced through an agricultural odyssey to a final coming to terms with 20th century technology. Their principle of self-support has been successfully implemented through creative photography, audio-recording, purebred beef cattle and computer-programming. Daringly new, yet based on authentic, ancient traditions, this lay community of both men and women forges its solid Scriptural spirituality through challenges to hallowed traditional concepts, and traces the development of total prayer in their lives naturally integrated with the demands of modern life. These friendly neighborhood monks are as much at home with computer as with theology manuals. This book along with their published religious albums and songbooks is the next best thing to a personal visit.

STYLE OF THE BOOK

You can get the flavor of our book, Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks from the following two paragraphs:

Our Farming Odyssey

"I farmed until I lost $1000," the Black man told his friend on the Assembly Line. The story of this part of Texas, (if not of America), is people wanting to make a living farming and not being able to. We have participated generously in this broken dream. We have tried raising and selling pigs, vegetables, grain and milk, and now beef. The modest and occasional success we have enjoyed in these ventures makes us truly appreciate all the farming jokes that commonly surface on this cactus-dotted land. Like, "As soon as I get out of debt, I'm gonna quit sellin these watermelons." Or the one about the man who stole cattle during the 97 drought, sold them and lost money. Some seem to "get the combination" and make a few bucks, but most turn to a trusty "sideline."

Into Photography

Our "sideline" business is photography. We quickly found out that people will pay more for producing pictures than for pork, melons, corn, milk or meat. Those who sell and package farm products can "send the kids to college," but not so much those who grow farm products. Like Noah's Ark in the wilderness, our photo studio is a full-time operation. We make as well as take our own pictures. A large part of our business is wedding photography. We try to confine our work to within 50-mile radius of our home. That way almost everyone who sees our distinctive uniforms recognizes us as "your friendly neighborhood monks"! Clothing all by itself would not be much of a witness, but joined to "good and faithful service," it does make our way of life shine like a lamp in the window. And... the photography work pays the rent.

ORDERING OUR HISTORY

If visiting our Web Site inspires you to want to know still more about St. Benedict's Farm, you might want to order our book, Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks. A $15 donation will help us reorder and restock -- which will need to be done very shortly. E-MAIL: themonks@stbenedictsfarm.org

Other Written Works by St. Benedict's Farm

Most of the topics addressed in these writings are specifically Christian, but some are historical and philosophical. None of these works, save our history, Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks, has been formally published. They are presently available either in individual sheets or 3-ring notebooks. E-mail inquiries welcome: themonks@stbenedictsfarm.org

BOOK-Length Essays (In 3-Ring Binders)

The Word Made Flesh... Three-year program of spiritual formation, generated jointly with Fr. Mike Boulette for Assumption Seminary in the early 1980's. Also available in Spanish as El Verbo Hecho Carne.

What Is Truth?... Fundamental principles underlying Faith & Truth.

Pilgrimage To Jerusalem... Relates to the rediscovery of Hebrew thought patterns, esp. how they differ from the Greek (which we of Western European cultural descent are more familiar with)... in relation to Christianity. PTJ published together with: 'Another Gospel'... On the origin & rise of various forms of Liberation Theology.

Serving Mammon... Economic principles in relation to Christian theology and social doctrine. SM published jointly with: Fixing the Ancient Landmarks... Manifest dangers and pitfalls in modern Biblical criticism.

Blurred Distinctions Coming Down From On High (January 1994)... Reflections occasioned by the recent papal encyclical, The Splendor of Truth, which is itself an unqualified espousal insisting that there is an objective content to moral right and wrong. BD packaged jointly with: God's Preference for the Poor... large essay examining the view that Yahweh has "a preferential love for the poor."

LARGER ESSAYS

"Gnosticism, Pneumatology, and New Age"... with special reflections on: Hermeticism, Theosophy, and Anthroposophy, in connection with, and in contrast to, authentic Christian Mysticism (with related printed material). A Beroean project. [Gnosticism]

"Survey of Developments in Devotion Towards Mary, the Mother of God"... a paper prepared by SBF (July 1981) for use in ministerial ecumenical discussions. [Mary]

"The Art of Speaking On Any Topic 'As One Who Utters Oracles of God"... On putting the rich odors of Holy Scripture back into the language and vocabulary of Catholic Christians [Oracles]

"On Blind Guides Who Strain Out The Gnat And Swallow The Camel" (Mt.23:24)... Essay written prior to Landmarks book relating to modern Biblical criticism, and how slipshod scholarship can hurt more than help. (Blind Guides]

"The Fathers, Fundamentalism, and Factoids: A Clash of Titans - Augustine and Jerome - Analyzed"... Discussion of a major theological rift between Sts. Jerome & Augustine, and how it all bears on contemporary Fundamentalism and thought. Some copies hole-punched for 3-ring notebook. [Clash of Titans]

"Modern Biblical Scholarship: the Frumious Bandersnatch"... On the perils of building one tenuous position on top of another; intellectual house of cards. [Frumious Bandersnatch

"On the Natural Law"... An extensive history and evaluation of the origin and place of the Natural Law in the Christian Tradition. Puts us on guard against too simplistic a view of Natural Law, as the complexities of its development are traced. [Natura1 Law]

SMALLER ESSAYS

Preaching The Triduum - Prepared with Fr. Mike Boulette, for a clergy-day symposium on the title subject; includes sample homilies for each day of the Triduum.

Confrontation and Challenge - A method of Spiritual Direction used by St. Benedict's Farm in imitation of St. Benedict and Jesus.

Facing The Many Faces of Ignorance - An earnest appeal to Catholic Christians to recover familiarity, use and employment of Holy Scriptures in our spirituality, teaching and preaching.

On The All-Pervasive Will of God: An essay that squarely faces the fact that God is in charge of EVERYTHING, and that nothing, absolutely nothing happens without his say-so.

Also: Copies of ONE-PAGE CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTERS from ST.BENEDICT'S FARM, published each Christmas, dating back to 1978 and on up to the present are available.