Come Follow Me: Six Responses to the Invitation of Jesus

Albert Haase, OFM, offers what is essentially an illustrated lecture on the history of Western Christian monasticism here in six easy lessons covering the Benedictines, Cistercians, Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscans, and Jesuits, backed with apt illustrations and useful graphics. Haase characterizes the approach of each order as a distinctive means of embracing Christ's scriptural call to “sell all you have, give it to the poor, and come follow me,” although all of the orders espouse elements of poverty, prayer, and service. While the series is constructed around the specified half-dozen, Haase situates the monastic movement within a larger Christian (and non-Christian) context, making brief remarks, for example, about the Egyptian desert fathers who were Eastern precursors to Benedict. One might quibble with some of Haase's generalizations and question his choice of individual members of orders whom he cites as representative. An argument could also be made that his treatment of the Franciscans is too gentle—downplaying, for example, the strenuous debate over the corporate ownership of property that divided his own order in the 14th century. But overall this is a more than competent treatment of the monastic movement in the Western church (especially given the advent of Pope Francis, whose choice of name indicates his embrace of Saint Francis's ideals) that will invite Catholics to reflect on ways of applying Jesus's words. DVD extras include a discussion guide. Recommended. [Note: also newly available at the same price is Catching Fire, Becoming Flame with Haase.] Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)