What is ecumenism? In the broadest sense it consists of ideas or proposals aimed at a greater unity among Christians. As a movement, ecumenism has been around for a long time. In the monastery library alone, I counted over fifty titles dealing with ecumenism and the ecumenical movement. The earliest title, A History of the Ecumenical Movement, 1517-1948 (Ruth Rouse and Stephen Charles Neill, editors) was published in 1953. The most recent title, “Because he was a German!”: Cardinal Bea and the Origins of Roman Catholic Engagement in the Ecumenical Movement (Jerome-Michael Vereb, CP) was published in 2006.
In between these two works are titles by Robert McAfee Brown, The Ecumenical Revolution, a study of the ecumenical movement, published in 1967; Kilian McDonnell’s The Charismatic Renewal and Ecumenism, a discussion about charismatic renewal as an ecumenical force within Christianity, published in 1978; Ecumenism of the Possible, a look at the future of the Christian church, edited by William A. Norgren and published in 1994; and George H. Tavard’s Vatican II and the Ecumenical Way, a discourse on the difficulties and possibilities of the Catholic church’s commitment to ecumenism, published in 2006.
Want to learn more about ecumenism? Spend some time in the monastery library. You may not make it through all the books on ecumenism, or even want to, but you won’t go away without learning something new and interesting.
For more information about the library at Holy Wisdom Monastery contact Nancy at 608-836-1631 x 105.
Or if you wish to learn about the three different ecumenical communities created by the sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery, read the following or click the links to learn more.
Benedictine Women of Madison is an ecumenical Benedictine community for single women of any Christian tradition. We seek God through a life following the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict. Community members live, pray and work together.
The Oblates of Holy Wisdom Monastery is an intentional and ecumenical community of women and men. In a mutual relationship with the sisters, they seek God through the Benedictine tradition of a balanced life of prayer, work, leisure and study. They meet regularly to help one another grow spiritually, to nurture the “monk” in each person and to integrate Benedictine spirituality into their lives.
Sunday Assembly is an ecumenical inclusive worshiping community that gathers at the monastery at 9:00 am on Sundays to celebrate an ecumenical Eucharist (communion).