Pro Vita Monastica

by Henry Dwight Sedgwick
subtitled: "An Essay in Defence of the Contemplative Virtues"

This small work, written in 1923, was a great jewel amongst the rubble at a local, used bookstore. The author is bold enough to state what his purpose is not, "I do not suggest the literal revival of ancient monasticism" (xii). I must add, he does not hold the reader to the negative--he indeed argues well for the return to monasticism. Instead, he states his thesis as such, "My purpose in this little book is limited to a consideration of the rift between the world and the religious spirit, as it has existed throughout the course of Christianity and exists still; the thesis being that the contemplative life, by which I mean the definite and regular practice of meditation, prayer, and the restriction of one's society to books and flowers, for certain times, is necessary for that serenity of spirit which is now and always has been the chief need of mankind; for upon serenity of spirit depends our power to see truth, to do justice, and to think no evil" (xvii).

This thesis, our humble author does well to defend. Monasticism preserved a tradition, not a culture; it preserved a way of looking at the world which was real, not material. Thus, though an optimist as only his day could produce, Sedwig ends his book with the statement which is now at the top of this blog:

"The sun is set, the moon no longer shines, no stars twinkle in the sky; we must light our candles, or we shall be in utter darkness" (155).