Your Online Monastery for Your Spiritual Practice

Abbess love notes

Pentecost + Monk in the World podcast (Creative Joy)

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] “What is serious to men is often very trivial in the sight of God. What in God might appear to us as ‘play’ is perhaps what He Himself takes most seriously. At any rate the Lord plays and diverts Himself in the garden of His creation, and if we could let go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear His call and follow Him in His mysterious, cosmic dance.” —Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Dearest monks and artists, We now have morning and evening

May 23, 2021

Monk in the World Guest Post: Tom (TA) Delmore

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Tom (TA) Delmore’s reflection taken from the introduction to his book Crossing up River. A children’s story which is only enjoyed By children is a bad children’s story. ~ C. S. Lewis I have been a shy searcher for a relationship with God most of my life. Different paths have taught me much. This is God and I walking together. St Ignatius of Loyola taught me something about story. He said: “put yourself in the gospel story, imagine what it

May 19, 2021

Awakening the Creative Spirit + Monk in the World podcast (Conversion) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

[siteorigin_widget class=”WP_Widget_Media_Image”][/siteorigin_widget] [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Dearest monks and artists, Today we release Day 6 Morning and Evening prayer of our Monk in the World audio podcast on the theme of conversion! Conversion is very much a monastic principle that has less to do with the idea of “being converted” as a one-time event and more of a commitment to a lifetime of growing and deepening. We are very much committed to the practice of conversion here at Abbey of the Arts, believing that none of us is done growing and transforming during our lives. There is always more to discover and

May 16, 2021

Monk in the World Guest Post: Carol Delmonico

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Carol Delmonico’s reflection, “The Child’s Way.” The More Than Human World is my Abbey. The sense of our sacred interconnectivity is awakened as I contemplate and cultivate reverence for all living beings. Our tan 1984 Volvo wagon pulls into the dirt parking lot at Shevlin Park. It’s early May,1994. My three year old daughter Phoebe is sitting in the backseat, beginning to unbuckle herself from her carseat. I open the back door and scoop all twenty five

May 13, 2021

Monk in the World Podcast (Sabbath) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] St. Julian and the Cat Stone by stone the wall grew until her cell was sealed, light blocked except for three small windows – one for sacrament another, food and waste a third to give guidance. Each day brought dozens to her praying for their sick and dead, night became time of solace and silence, she could not sleep long in the damp, pulled wool close around her as she sighed into the dark, relief at quiet moments. Then came mewing, leaping, pouncing, the cat left there to catch rats, at first annoyed at disruption she soon found

May 9, 2021

Monk in the World Guest Post: Katharine Weinmann

. I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Katharine Weinmann’s reflection “Holy Alchemy” “Praying. It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate…” ~ excerpted from Prayer in Thirst by Mary Oliver I pray. Not so often in that formal, elaborate, church going way. But when I think of Anne Lamott’s two favourite prayers, “Help me, help

May 5, 2021

Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color – May Video Discussion and Book Group Materials Now Available

Join Abbey of the Arts for a monthly conversation on how increasing our diversity of perspectives on contemplative practice can enrich our understanding and experience of the Christian mystical tradition. Christine Valters Paintner is joined by author Claudia Love Mair for a series of video conversations. Each month they take up a new book by or about a voice of color. The community is invited to purchase and read the books in advance and participate actively in this journey of deepening, discovery, and transformation. Click here to view this month’s video discussion along with questions for reflection. Christine and Claudia are joined

May 5, 2021

Monk in the World podcast (Work) + Revelations ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Dearest monks and artists, This week we are delighted to share with you the audio podcasts for Day 4 morning and evening prayer of our Monk in the World prayer cycle on the theme of Work. We hope that you are enjoying being able to pray with us in this way! On May 13th – the feast of Julian of Norwich – I will be leading a Zoom mini-retreat on Julian and Margery Kempe with Mary Sharratt whose new novel Revelations about these two remarkable women was published last month. I am delighted to share this reflection from

May 2, 2021

Monk in the World Guest Post: Roger Butts

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Roger Butts’s reflection “Thank you, God, for Everything” excerpted from his book, Seeds of Devotion: Weekly Contemplations on Faith. Give us this day our daily bread. Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew 6:11 It was a Friday night, just after dinner. I was at the hospital. My work was slowing down—most people don’t need to see a hospital chaplain after 7 p.m. unless there is a really powerful reason. Then my pager went off. A nurse on the

April 28, 2021

Abbess love notes

Monk in the World podcast (Community) + Writing Into Bloom ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! –Song of Songs 2:11-13 Spring and all its flowers now joyously break their vow of silence. It is time for celebration, not for lying low. –Hafiz Dearest monks and artists, We have our next morning and evening podcasts

April 25, 2021

Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Reflections

Filter

Pentecost + Monk in the World podcast (Creative Joy)

Monk in the World Guest Post: Tom (TA) Delmore

Awakening the Creative Spirit + Monk in the World podcast (Conversion) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Carol Delmonico

Monk in the World Podcast (Sabbath) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Katharine Weinmann

Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color – May Video Discussion and Book Group Materials Now Available

Monk in the World podcast (Work) + Revelations ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Roger Butts

Monk in the World podcast (Community) + Writing Into Bloom ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Upcoming Programs

Recent Reflections

Sabbath as a Way of Being in the World ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Elaine Breckenridge

Seven Gates of Mystical Wisdom for Lent ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Mary Francis Drake

Connect with Us