Strahov Abbey, books

Not only memories

How to live a like a Premonstratensian. The book explains that it is one of religious, spiritual and monastic way of life. The text follows the work of Augustine and the life and work of St. Norbert, who is the patron saint of the Premonstratensians. The book fills out the authenticity of life in times when the order had to be underground and when times, due to the liquidation of monasteries, must have been very difficult for the religious and priests.

The graphics follow the function. It is clean, modest, simple, nothing extra. We don’t even bring anything in color, just a few black and white photos to complete the text.

Spiritual director

The Spiritual Directory is a book for the internal needs of the monastery. This edition has been newly created since the last version in 1949. Originally, the first edition was entrusted to the abbot Emmanuel Gisquière. It deals with the safe journey of the Premonstratensian life. It’s a guide and a mentor on the path of the religious who wanders with Christ. What is interesting about the book still feels fresh and relevant to readers outside the religious community today. We find chapters that seem to speak from another world — “About the Meaning of Poverty in Religious Life,” About the Conscience,” or “About Conscientiousness and Silence” — where reading them almost chills one with ideas that are not meant for a secular way of life. Maybe if these thoughts were a part of our lives, our world around us could be a better environment for everyone. As the current Premonstratensian abbot Daniel writes at the end of the preface to this edition, may the book be an inspiration to a deeper and more grateful experience of one’s own vocation — meaning both religious and secular.

The book graphic design is traditional with a black spine and a picture on the front cover depicting St. Norbert in a situation where he receives a vow from St. Augustine. The typesetting is entirely in Trivia Humanist and Trivia Sans. The book has only text, with no illustrations.