BUCKLER, REGINALD

Dominican spiritual writer; b. London, Feb. 14, 1840; d. Grenada, West Indies, March 18, 1927. Both Buckler's father and grandfather were topographical artists and architects of distinction. His three elder brothers became Catholics, two of them Dominicans, before he entered the Church in 1855. The following year he entered the Order of Preachers at Woodchester and was given the name Reginald (he had been called Henry at birth). He was ordained in 1863, and during the 63 years of his priestly life he was stationed at various Dominican houses and assigned to various duties. In 1903 he received Robert Hugh Benson into the Church. He received his last assignment at the age of 71 when he volunteered for the mission in Grenada in the West Indies. Twice he held the office of novice master at Woodchester (1895–98, 1908), during which times he wrote two works on the religious life. His first and most important book, The Perfection of Man by Charity, a spiritual classic, was published in 1889. This was republished under the title Spiritual Perfection through Charity (1912), but was later published again under the earlier title (London 1954). His other principal works were A Spiritual Retreat (London 1907 and 1924); Spiritual Instruction on Religious Life (London 1909); and Spiritual Considerations (New York 1912), which was later republished under the title An Introduction to the Spiritual Life (London 1957).

Bibliography: c. m. antony, Father Reginald Buckler O.P., 1840–1927 (London 1927). w. gumbley, Obituary Notices of the English Dominicans from 1555–1952 (London 1955).

[s. bullough]