Contemplation in the Midst of Chaos, Joan Chittister
In her message, Contemplation in the Midst of Chaos, Sr. Joan Chittister, O.S.B., Executive Director of BenetVision in Erie, Pennsylvania, reflects on what it means to be spiritual, to be contemplative, in the midst of the private chaos that sometimes clutters our lives. She says that the illuminated, contemplative life asks us "to go inside ourselves to clear out the debris of the heart rather than to concentrate on trying to control the environment and situations around us.”
Sr. Joan Chittister is one of the most articulate social analysts and influential religious leader of our times. A best-selling author of more than 50 books, columnist and noted international lecturer, she has received numerous honors for her work on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues and church renewal. She currently serves as co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, a partner organization of the UN. She is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA, and the executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality.
This archived 30 Good Minutes program first aired in January 2002
“Spirituality is about the hunger in the human heart. It is a commitment to immersion in God, to the seeking that has no end.”
The question that has dogged Joan Chittister her entire life is: What does it mean to live a spiritual life today?
It is the question that drives her prolific writings, her teachings and her public conversations with both church and society. As part of that search she founded Benetvision: a research and resource center for contemporary spirituality.
An outreach of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA, Benetvision has served people internationally for over 25 years with publications, retreat offerings, book discussions, a ministry to prisoners, and a store where Joan Chittister’s books, newsletters and recorded teachings are available to all.
It is also the question that led her to focus her greatest spiritual passion on the plight of women worldwide. A fearless advocate for women’s rights, she has consistently confronted the patriarchal church on its sin of sexism and championed equality for women in all of society. A strong feminist, she has insisted that feminism is necessary to ensure the healthy spiritual development of both men and women. A visionary leader, she has shown the connections between justice for women, for world peace, and for the environment As co-chair of the Global Initiative for Women, Sister Joan has traveled the globe to weaken reactionary forces and campaign tirelessly for increased religious access for women in all religions.
As theologian Chung Hyun Kyung noted, “Joan Chittister showed us how a woman with integrity could reconcile faith and feminism and thrive in one’s own religious tradition no matter how oppressive it is. She taught us how to own our power and act from that power for greater justice, peace, and democracy."
