Mother Benedict: Foundress of the Abbey of Regina Laudis

Reviews

"Antoinette Bosco gives the reader a powerful profile of a pioneering Benedictine nun whose devotion to God and her vocation is evident on every page. The chapters on her escape from the Nazis and her encounters with the men who would become Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI provide fascinating glimpses into her strength of character and her single-minded dedication to serve God at every turn."
-Tim S. Hickey

"If you are looking for a good read, a spiritual banquet of delight, look no further. Following in the footsteps of thier foundress, who was played by Loretta Young in the movie, "Come To the Stable," these exquisite women reveal the true meaning of holiness in today's world. A must read for anyone trying to understand how God calls us to loving service, without taking our freedom away."
-Father John Catoir

"If you read only one book this year, make it Mother Benedict. More than a biography, Antoinette Bosco has written an inspirational epic-a fascinating look at a true Catholic heroine-Mother Benedict Duss. In this sweeping saga of faith, hardship, and courage, Bosco not only gives readers a portrait of an extraorinary woman and her struggles to found a contemplative order-the first in America-but she also captures the essence of the Abbey of Regina Laudis itself, and the captivating stories of the people, both celebrity and common man, who have passed through it's gates."
Allia Zobel Nolan

This is the dramatic and inspiring story of Mother Benedict Duss and the famous Benedictine monastery she founded in Bethlehem, Connecticut in the late 1940's-early 1950's. Today that monastery, Regina Laudis Abbey, is a large flourishing community of contemplative Benedictine nuns who fully live the ideal community life of their founder, St. Benedict.

The abbey is home to many accomplished women from all walks of life and fields of study, some who were well-known actresses, scientists, lawyers, doctors, musicians, teachers, and artists. Perhaps the most famous member of this renowned abbey is former Hollywood film star, Dolores Hart, who shocked the film world when she left a very successful and growing movie career at the age of 25 to become a contemplative Benedictine at Regina Laudis Abbey. This year Mother Dolores celebrated her 40th anniversary as professed Benedictine.

But the heart of this book is the amazing story of Mother Benedict Duss, who was born in America but went to France with her family as a child and became a medical doctor in Paris, left that profession, to became a Benedictine contemplative at the famous Jouarre Abbey, and through the liberating efforts from the terrors of Hitler's Nazi regime by General George Patton's army in France, she felt an overwhelming interior call to return to America to found the first-ever community of contemplative Benedictine nuns in America. At the young age of 35, with incredible faith, courage and the help of Popes, politicians, famous writers, and many others, she persevered in her call, and today Regina Laudis Abbey is a 400 acre community that includes a farm, dairy, pottery shop, large outdoor theater, and a glorious church where the nuns chant the office in Latin and sing Gregorian Masses that have been recorded and become best-selling CDs across the country. Lavishly illustrated with photos.