New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia

I have this classic work bookmarked on my Windows toolbar on my computer.  Having the Encyclopedia just one mouse click away makes it easy to look up virtually every Catholic topic.

"...widely considered to be the best Catholic reference work in the English language." From New Advent Store.

 

E-Benedictines - Online Guide to St. Benedict

A good overview of St. Benedict

 

Key monastic articles from New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia:

Antiphon  

Benedict of Nursia, Saint - His life and monasticism under his Rule.

Benedict, Medal of - Many rich traditions and history.

Benedict, Rule of Saint - The Rule for monks.

Benedictine Order - Extensive history.

Compline - My favorite divine office. The last office of the day.

Divine Office - Praying the Psalms and reading through the day according to a traditional pattern.

Vigils - Night watch and prayers

Nocturns - Historical development of Vigils

Lauds - Morning Prayer

Vespers - Evening prayer

Compline - My favorite divine office. The last office of the day.

Hermits

Monasteries in England, Suppression of - Tragic history we still feel today.

Suppression of Monasteries in Continental Europe

Monasticism - A must read.  This ancient Christian practice is closely associated with deep spirituality.

Monasticism, Eastern - A general survey.

Monasticism, Pre-Chalcedonian - Must read for knowing the early Eastern practices before 451 AD.

Monasticism, Western - OK, read this too, major article.

Monk - Gives meanings of the different terms.

Mystical Theology - "extraordinary forms of prayer, the higher forms of contemplation in all their varieties or gradations, private revelations, visions, and the union growing out of these between God and the soul, known as the mystical union."

Before St. Teresa of Avila (a Carmelite) "mystics were concerned principally with ecstasies, visions, and revelations."  Part of the reasons St. Teresa is one of the most read mystics today and most admired is that St Teresa "was the first to attempt a scientific analysis of the process of mystical union brought about by contemplation."

St Teresa of Avila (another short overview)

Mysticism - Don't worry "mysticism" is not a bad word in the Catholic Church!

Throughout history monastics, (monks, nuns, and sisters) have carried the mystical traditions of the Church.

From the New Advent Encyclopedia:

"To some souls...even in the present life, God gives a very special grace by which they are enabled to feel His sensible presence; this is true mystical contemplation. In this act, there is no annihilation or absorption of the creature into God, but God becomes intimately present to the created mind and this, enlightened by special illuminations, contemplates with ineffable joy the Divine essence."

Rule of St. Benedict --- Of course you must read this, it's the Rule!