Joan D. Chittister is an internationally known writer and lecturer, and the executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality. She is the past president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. She is the author of ‘In the Heart of the Temple, ‘ ‘Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope, ‘ and ‘Wisdom Distilled from the Daily.’ She lives in Erie, Pennsylvania.