Seasons of Faith

Religious and Spiritual Poetry

by Peter Menkin, Obl Cam OSB

Formats

Softcover

£12.95

Softcover

£12.95

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Book Details

Language : English

Publication Date : 07/06/2011

Format : Softcover

Dimensions : 6x9

Page Count : 93

ISBN : 9781462880683

About the Book

"Seasons of Faith: Religious and Spiritual Poetry" By Peter Menkin, Obl Cam OSB MILL VALLEY, Calif. – (Release Date TBD) – “Poetry, on the other hand, offers us deep riches of meaning with a remarkable economy of words. This was an art of wisdom often chosen by the mystics of the West and popularized by the hymnodists. In this sense, poetry — and particularly Christian poetry — continues to offer a counterpoint to the dry, wordy explanation that often stupefies the human spirit more than it edifies.” From these lines, poet and author Peter Menkin, Obl Cam OSB, takes readers on a contemplative and inspiring journey and adventure through his collection of meaningful poems, Seasons of Faith: Religious and Spiritual Poetry. In this collection of contemplative poems, readers will uncover a very old challenge to the people in the 21st century – a challenge not unlike that penned by some favorite Anglican poets across the ages. Through this moving and distinctive anthology that also depicts the poet’s colorful character, they will find a blend of humor, personality, poignancy, spiritual reflection, and popular culture. Seasons of Faith: Religious and Spiritual Poetry captures readers’ senses and give them a reflective experience – allowing them to boost their spirit and inspire them to live a meaningful life. Spiritually inspiring, filled with insights, and life altering, Seasons of Faith: Religious and Spiritual Poetry is an engaging poetry read that everyone will surely enjoy.

About the Author

Peter Menkin, Obl Cam OSB, has been a Religion Writer for eight years, as of 2013. His work appears Church of England Newspaper, London; Religious Intelligence, London; and, San Francisco Examiner.com. Mr. Menkin is an Oblate of Immaculate Heart Hermitage, Big Sur, California and has been associated with the monastery for 16 years. He can be addressed as Brother. He attends religious services regularly as a member of Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Mill Valley, California where he is parish poet. He attended the Episcopal School for Deacons in Berkeley, California. At 66 years of age, Peter Menkin thinks the series illuminates the lives, but mostly the work, of selected Christian poets, both male and female., It includes some examples of their poetry. Though he is not a critic, the interviews in the book titled, Interviews with American Christian Poets as Appeared Church of England Newspaper, London is a work of journalism by him. Those interest in Christianity, poetry especially, and even students will find the book interesting and maybe special in its unique way of interview.

Customer Reviews

"Book Review

Book Title: Seasons of Faith

Author: Peter Menkin, Obl Cam OSB

Reviewer: Paula Huston

Contact information: paulahuston@earthlink.net

The monks of New Camaldoli Hermitage, where Peter Menkin is an oblate, practice a monthly ?collatio? during which they gather together to read and savor great poetry. Disciplined in the practice of ?lectio divina,? or holy reading, they know--perhaps even better than professional literary critics--how to get at the heart of a poem. They know when to be silent, how to listen, and what to listen for; they understand that the best poems are almost always prayers.

In Seasons of Faith, Menkin writes out of the same monastic identity--that is, as one who has vowed to spend his life in praise of God. His poems are in this sense liturgical. He is not in engaged in Romantic self-expressivism, modernist angst, or post-modern language games. He understands that words are holy, and he treats them with the reverence they deserve. In the best of these, he touches on the ineffable.

In one, for example, he begins, ?Usually, one waits when there is a coffin in the church.? However, clearly in the midst of a spiritual crisis he never describes, he slips inside the sanctuary while a stranger?s funeral goes on around him. ?I got to my knees,? he says. ?Sisters of Charity, too, were praying. I think that this helped, their gracious simplicity that night time in a city at a neighborhood church.? What better way to capture the sustaining presence of the Body of Christ than in this small, bold act of a man in need of immediate prayer?

In ?One Word Prayers,? he relies on a practice he has been taught by a trusted spiritual mentor: ?short prayers are good while traveling.? Yet, like the rest of us when we try to focus, he is soon thinking of other things. ?I know the dist

Paula Huston
"Poet Peter Menkin says a few words on his new book of religious & spiritual poetry

The work on preparing the manuscript began in March, 2011 and the work was published by Xlibris June 6, 2011. Juliana Jensen, a friend from Church, was editorial consultant. We met at the local Starbuck's a number of times to decide what poems to use, and their sequence in the book. She was wonderfully helpful. Most of the poetry in the book, ""Seasons of Faith,"" was written around 1999 to 2002, with some poems of contemporary writing. We decided to start the book with a direct, feet on the ground, ""secular"" poem that indicates a meditative, even contemplative experience. It is local in locale, at the beach in a popular Marin County location at evening time. Though I have many poems written, given the time with which the poetry writing spans, there is much to do and I remain inspired to continue the work. Some poems have been revised over a period of years, and as one poet said, We live with a poem and its themes in our hearts and minds sometimes for years before finishing the individual work. That is so true for me. Here is some text from the Public Relations announcement written by the publisher Xlibris, with the hopes people will find ""Seasons of Faith: Religious & Spiritual Poetry"" to their liking. I believe it makes a good gift book. It is a pretty book, and the inside type attractive, too. Editors at the publlisher helped with the typographical design and layout, though some seminal concept for the cover design was made by Church friend Bill Reiser, a professional designer. Sally Brower took the cover picture, and it is a live photograph--not enhanced by photoshop. I think the colors are terrificly attractive. Here is that text from the Press Release: ""Poetry, on the other hand, offers us deep riches of meaning with a remarkable economy of words. This was an art of wisdom often chosen by the mystics of the West and popularized by the hymnodists. I

Peter Menkin

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Seasons of Faith

Religious and Spiritual Poetry

About the Book

About the Author

Customer Reviews

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