Benedictine Options: Learning To Live from the Sons and Daughters of Saints Benedict and Scholastica.

This article reviews *Benedictine Options: Learning To Live from the Sons and Daughters of Saints Benedict and Scholastica* by Patrick Henry, which responds to Rod Dreher’s 2017 book *The Benedict Option*. Dreher advocates for Christians to withdraw from secular culture by forming intentional communities, drawing on the legacy of St. Benedict of Nursia. In contrast, Henry emphasizes that Benedictine spirituality is not about withdrawal but about engaging the world through hospitality, prayer, and service, rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict and the example of Benedictine monastic life. The book highlights Benedictines’ ecumenical and interreligious openness and challenges sectarian attitudes by focusing on community as a lived experience rather than an abstract ideal. Henry’s work is presented as a thoughtful meditation that benefits both those familiar with Benedictine tradition and general readers interested in spirituality and community.