A Monastery without Walls: Exploring Benedictine Spirituality
One of Saint Anselm College’s defining characteristics is that we are a Benedictine College. In ways both obvious and subtle, Benedictine spiritualty permeates all that we do on this hilltop. In our new series, “A Monastery without Walls” we will explore how people who don’t live in monasteries can incorporate aspects of Benedictine spirituality and the Benedictine wisdom tradition into their lives. Bruce Davis the retreat leader at Silent Stay Retreat and Meditation Center in San Francisco has written, “The calling is in each of us. Our lives are only different in form, not in substance. We need at least one foot or one hand into something sacred! Life must have purpose and real joy. The monastery without walls for each of us may look different but every monastery of the heart has much in common.”
Drawing from the document Education within a Benedictine Tradition we will explore the core values animating the life of Benedictines – love, prayer, stability, conversatio, obedience, discipline, humility, stewardship, hospitality and community. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but rather an invitation to “listen with the ear of our heart” to what God is calling and asking us to be no matter if we live in a monastery or not.
Please find a list of past features below.
Benedictine Hallmarks: Prayer
Prayer and Benedictine Spirituality Part Two: Living in the Presence of God
Prayer and Benedictine Spirituality Part One: Prayer in Common
The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 49: On the Observance of Lent
Advent and Christmas in the Monastery
Love
Abbot Mark's November Remembrance
Advent: What are you waiting for?