Beverly Lanzetta

Beverly Lanzetta is a theologian, contemplative scholar, and teacher of new traditions of contemplative wisdom, and the author of many groundbreaking books on emerging universal spirituality and new monasticism, including Radical Wisdom: A Feminist Mystical Theology, Emerging Heart: Global Spirituality and the Sacred,  Nine Jewels of Night: One Soul’s Journey into God, The Monk Within: Embracing a Sacred Way of Life, Foundations in Spiritual Direction: Sharing the Sacred Across Traditions, and most recently, A New Silence: Spiritual Practices and Formation for the Monk Within. Dedicated to a vision of theological openness and spiritual nonviolence, her work has won praise for its wisdom, eloquence, and mystical insight and is considered to be a major contribution to what theologian Ursula King called “a feminine mystical way for the 21st century.”

Dr. Lanzetta is also a vowed monk of peace living in the world and an interfaith chaplain. She has formed a community of new monks—single, married, partnered, celibate, etc.—dedicated to the universal mystical heart and to the spirituality of nonviolence. She has devoted much of her life to mentoring people who seek a deeper contemplative commitment and who wish to take personal monastic vows. She has taught theology at Villanova University, Prescott College, and Grinnell College.