Exploring Monastic Wisdom for Day to Day Living

Some women point out rightly that if it had been three wise women, they would have brought different gifts to the holy child, perhaps a blanket and some food, and they might have watched the baby so Mary could sleep. But when we translate the story into our own inward journey, bringing our most precious gifts might not be so inappropriate, after all.

Jan 5
Jan 5 The 12th Day of Christmas: Reclaiming the incarnate word

Today, on the last step of our journey though the 12 days of Christmas we invite you to ponder the Divine word within.

Jan 4
Jan 4 The 11th Day of Christmas. Finding the key inside

Weary from the pilgrimage we seek refuge in some wisdom words by Kierkegaard and Rumi.

Jan 3
Jan 3 The 10th Day of Christmas. Tending your dreams

Today we invite you to tend to your dreams like you would looking at sacred art.

Jan 2
Jan 2 The 9th Day of Christmas. Resting and Deepening

As it belongs to our human condition to rest in order to grow, the same is true for our spiritual life. On this second Sunday of our journey we invite you to a sacred pause.

Dec 31
Dec 31 New Year's Eve. A Blessing for the night

With this image of the Christmas star over our home we greet you at this turn of the year. By gracious powers wonderfully sheltered is a much-loved hymn by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that is widely sung in German speaking lands at this threshold. May it comfort you walking into the new year…

Dec 29
Dec 29 The 5th Day of Christmas. Transcending sorrow

It is in holy birth, that our sufferings and joys intermingle. Come listen and see, and hold your sorrows into Christmas.

Dec 28

Dec 28 The 4th Day of Christmas. Contemplating Mary

12 Days of Christmas, practice

On the fourth Day of Christmas, take time to ponder the Mary of the stable and of the Magnificat. We invite you into a Visio Divina meditation on a ceramic Madonna and Child.

Dec 27

Dec 27 The Third Day of Christmas: Becoming virgin

On this third Day of Christmas we invite you to ponder the “virgin heart.”

Jan 5
Jan 5 Epiphany: Reading the Wise (Wo)men journey inwardly with Hildegard of Bingen

Hildegard helps us to see that we have, all along, already been traveling with the wise (wo)men on their journey. This is the journey of the heart to the place where Divine wisdom dwells, away from what we considered urgent and important and towards the living light, who wants to dwell in us.

Dec 27

Dec 27 The 3rd Day of Christmas. Pondering (with) Mary

12 Days of Christmas, practice

This first Sunday of Christmas, take time to ponder the Mary of the stable and of the Magnificat. We invite you into a Visio Divina meditation on a ceramic Madonna and Child.

Dec 24

Dec 24 Christmas Eve: A Blessing for the Night

This Christmas Eve might be the darkest and quietest night for many, one not seen in a life time. It might well be the night which brings us closest to the original Christmas. No busy church services calling for attention. No big family meals to prepare or plan. No last minute shopping in overflowing malls. Thrown back onto ourselves we walk into this night wondering, quietly, pregnant with the unknown …

Dec 28
Dec 28 The Fourth Day of Christmas: Walking into the Christmas Story

Chuck Huff

What if you, like the shepherds, kings, and other visitors long ago, were able to be there at the manger in Bethlehem? Today we invite you to walk into the story with child like curiosity…

Dec 24

Dec 24 Christmas Eve: Entering Silence

What I most long for at Christmas is silence. When the hustle and bustle fades, the people go home and the lights go off. Left alone before the flicker of a last candle, wondering, even doubting, what this is all about…

Dec 31
Dec 31 By Gracious Powers wonderfully sheltered. A Blessing at the Turn of the Year

With this image of the moon rising over the Sacred Heart Chapel at Saint Benedict's monastery, MN on New Year's Eve we greet you at this turn of the year. By gracious powers wonderfully sheltered is a much-loved hymn by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that is widely sung in German speaking lands at this threshold. May it comfort you walking into the new....

Dec 29

Dec 29 The Fifth Day of Christmas: Towards the Threshold