Benedictine monk and spiritual authority, Author of Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer
David Steindl-Rast was born in Vienna, Austria, where he studied
art, anthropology, and psychology, receiving an MA from the Vienna
Academy of Fine Arts and a PhD from the University of Vienna. In 1952,
he followed his family who had emigrated to the United States. In 1953,
he joined a newly founded Benedictine community in Elmira, NY, Mount
Saviour Monastery, of which he is now a senior member. After twelve
years of monastic training and studies in philosophy and theology,
Brother David was sent by his abbot to participate in
Buddhist-Christian dialogue, for which he received Vatican approval in
1967. He co-founded the Center for Spiritual Studies in 1968 and
received the 1975 Martin Buber Award for his achievements in building
bridges between religious traditions. Together with Thomas Merton,
Brother David helped launch a renewal of religious life. From 1970 on,
he became a leading fi gure in the House of Prayer movement, which
affected some 200,000 members of religious orders in the United States
and Canada. For decades, Brother David divided his time between periods
of a hermit's life and extensive lecture tours on fi ve continents.
Brother David has brought spiritual depth to the lives of countless
people whom he touches through his lectures, workshops, and writings.
Currently, he serves as founding advisor to A Network for Grateful
Living.