Guides

TitleDateExcerpt
When silence meets the soil: monasticism and environmental stewardshipFor more than fifteen centuries, Benedictine and other monastic communities have shaped landscapes, preserved forests, and cultivated agricultural traditions…
A community's tender care for its elder monksWithin the white walls of Mother of the Redeemer Monastery in Plaisance, Louisiana, a quiet rhythm shapes the passage of years. The Olivetan Benedictine monks…
Angels in the Benedictine tradition: heavenly companions of prayerFor fifteen centuries, Benedictine monks have walked the path of seeking God in community, work, and prayer. From the deserts of Egypt to the rolling hills of…
Understanding Monastic Profession in Benedictine LifeA monastic profession ceremony marks a decisive offering of a person’s life to God within a religious community. For an Olivetan Benedictine monk, the event is…
The Jesus Prayer Within Benedictine Monastic LifeThe Jesus Prayer is a short invocation traditionally expressed as, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Repeated quietly and…
The Importance of Community Meals in Monastic LifeA shared meal in a monastery is far more than a pause for nourishment. It is a daily expression of belonging, discipline and gratitude, bringing monks together…
Following Our Monastery’s Liturgical Calendar From AfarA monastery’s liturgical calendar offers a steady pattern for prayer, even when daily life unfolds thousands of kilometres away. For Australians connected with…
The cellarer’s work of managerial stewardshipIn a Benedictine monastery, practical administration is part of the community’s spiritual rhythm. Food must be purchased, buildings maintained, accounts…
The art of making monastery bread and its symbolismBread carries a quiet authority in Christian monastic life. It is made from ordinary ingredients, shaped by human hands and transformed through patience, heat…
How the monks celebrate the Feast of Saint BenedictAt Mother of the Redeemer Monastery in Plaisance, Louisiana, the Feast of Saint Benedict is understood through the rhythm that shapes every day: prayer, work,…