”So well written, so simple, and quite profound too! This is the kind of practical and practiced wisdom that the world and the churches need today. William Thiele is making an art form of it–for all of us!”
–Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation, New Mexico”Throughout Christian history, monasticism has demonstrated its ability to reinvent itself time and again to make room for the highest aspirations of the human spirit. It is doing it again with The School of Contemplative Living in New Orleans, Louisiana. An immensely readable blend of personal memoir, spiritual insight into successful contemplative living, and poetry makes William Thiele’s Monks in the World a chronicle both instructive and inspiring.”
–Ephrem Arcement, St. Joseph Abbey, Louisiana

”In this book, William Thiele invites the reader into contemplative prayer in ordinary life in intentional community, and he does it through the telling of stories of himself and others in this life. His style is humble, inviting, and non-self-protective. This book is beautiful, down to earth, and utterly helpful. His poetry at the end is an added bonus.”
–Roberta Bondi, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Georgia

”This is a mature, practical, and inspiring expression of the promise of contemplatively oriented spiritual life, practices and community for ordinary people who seek to be vulnerably grounded every day in the interior loving and guiding presence of God, as they cope and care for life within our frenetic culture that is so full of false promises.”
–Tilden Edwards, Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, Washington, DC –Wipf and Stock Publishers

Throughout Christian history, monasticism has demonstrated its ability to reinvent itself time and again to make room for the highest aspirations of the human spirit. It is doing it again with The School of Contemplative Living in New Orleans, Louisiana. An immensely readable blend of personal memoir, spiritual insight into successful contemplative living, and poetry makes William Thiele’s MONKS IN THE WORLD a chronicle both instructive and inspiring. –Ephrem Arcement, St. Joseph Abbey, Louisiana

In this book, William Thiele invites the reader into contemplative prayer in ordinary life in intentional community, and he does it through the telling of stories of himself and others in this life. His style is humble, inviting, and non-self-protective. This book is beautiful, down to earth, and utterly helpful. His poetry at the end is an added bonus. –Roberta Bondi, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Georgia

William Thiele, PhD, is the founding spiritual director of the School for Contemplative Living, pastor of Parker United Methodist Church, Adjunct Professor at Loyola University in New Orleans, and a pastoral counselor in private practice.