Monasticism is often thought of as religious communities on the edge of church and society. However, it has long held roles that directly respond to the challenges of various times and places. The monastic life, back to the desert mothers and fathers, was rooted in the vocation of being a critical, questioning witness to both church and society.

Positioning themselves in service to Christ and society, these groups have contributed to both the church and the world in sometimes unexpected ways. Monasticism and the Making of the Western World looks through various lenses to identify and elaborate on monastic contributions to arenas of public and private life. Each chapter takes a deep dive into a time period or group within monasticism and relates it to similar movements of other times or groups to show how the impact of monasticism was felt outside, as well as inside, the convents and monasteries.

Monasticism and the Making of the Western World highlights how the communities most central to the development of the Western Church's spiritual core helped Western culture develop in other ways too--ways that exemplify the spiritual tenets of Christianity. Christian values within monasticism speak to the core of what the modern-day church is doing--or ought to be doing.