Sister Wendy's Book of Meditations

Maybe that is Sister Wendy's biggest contribution. She turns art (and even Art with a capital A) from something "out there" into something that belongs to every viewer. Almost every two-page spread follows the same format: text left, image right. The meditations are loosely grouped as silence, peace, love, and joy - topics on which a contemplative nun can speak with certainty. Her discussion of love even includes the physcial (Klimt's Kiss and Rembrandt's Jewish Bride), as a transcendant act for both partners. Wendy often chooses from well-known artists, and often chooses little-known pieces. Her selections from Mondrian and Manet, especially, may surprise some readers, since they draw from generally unfamiliar parts of the artists' careers. Monet's Camille on her Deathbed is another surprise, stylistically familiar but remarkable in its content. She also chooses discussions that give a thinking reader room to roam, mentally. For example, her thoughts on Hokusai's Great Wave center on the storm-tossed seamen. Yes, nature will have its way with people, but the picture says more to me about the eternal constancy of Mount Fuji. There it stands, something grand and quiet, riding out whatever transitory troubles man and nature may experience. The moment may scream for attention, but something infinite keeps on whispering in the background. The reproductions of paintings are beautifully printed, though I might wish for a larger format. It's an easy book to pick up and thumb through, since every page is self-contained. The organization of the whole adds something to the collection of pages, as well. It's any easy book to enjoy. //wiredweird

I truly enjoyed the Book of Meditations so ordered several others. Meditations on Silence, Meditations on Love and Meditations on Joy. When they came they were the exact same things that were in the larger Book of Meditations. Had I known this I would not have spent and additional 7.00 per book for something I already possessed.Please let others know the smaller books are just parts of the larger book. Nothing new here....very dissappointing......

I recently read this terrific book from the wise Sister Wendy. After all, a woman who spends her life in contemplitive prayer should have much to share with us! The joy of this book, especially for art lovers, is that each devotion is based upon a beautiful painting or art work. While one reads the devotion, the eyes travel back and forth to the picture. I have been challenged by Sister Wendy's loving words, and use it in the mornings to include in daily devotions in worship. Perhaps the best section (perhaps because it's the first and it catches one unawares), is on silence. Living in such hectic times, it is refreshing to be encouraged to seek silence -- silence within one's self and silence with God so that he can speak to us and we can hear him - in that beautiful silence. Thank you, Sister Wendy, for a very lovely book.

I heard an interview with Sister Wendy on NPR's Fresh Air, and found it hard to believe a person could be so intrinsically good. I was skeptical, but curious too, since she had spent years in a Carmelite Order in which silence is the rule. Still, I remained skeptical until I looked over Sister Wendy's books in a bookstore--they were hard to find, and found that her Meditations had a great deal of wisdom in it--on silence, peace, love, and joy. Each meditation was based on a dozen or so works of art (Sister Wendy is best known her books and PBS programs on art appreciation), and all reflect the essence of Christianity--the Christianity that has become so rare in this era of the religious right. I am happy to recommend it to anyone; her words are consistent with all the great world religions. As with all of them, there are no easy answers, but there are many solid things to work on--for a long time, for most of us.