Patrick Barry

A Cloister in the World Patrick Barry

This book is the true story of a lay Catholic Movement in Chile (known as the Manquehue Apostolic Movement) which is deeply involved in education and in the opportunities and problems today of living the gospel in charity in the midst of the confusions of contemporary cultures and counter-cultures. The early narrative chapters tell the story, which must be of lively interest to any Christians dealing with the young, living with the handicapped, seeking to bring the wonder of gospel truth into the everyday life of the laity in families, in workplaces, in their hopes and dreams for the future. In the later chapters the author links all this experience to the vision of Vatican II for the laity of today, showing its vital relevance to everyone, not only in South America but wherever Christians are truly seeking their own role for the laity in bringing the gospel to all mankind. Vital to all, this story is the role of Benedictine spirituality in the development of this Chilean Catholic Movement. In the life of this lay Movement Saint Benedict's Rule has played a vital role. The story of how it has come about, not only in this Movement but in other lay Movements and groups throughout the world, is explained by the author before he ends with living examples of how many young people have been affected by the Rule and the Manquehue Movement.