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A Different Kind of Fast Part II: Embrace Vulnerability

* This is the second part of a seven-part series we will publish weekly during this Lenten season. In 2003 my mother became seriously ill quite suddenly and died a few days later in the ICU. I was only 33 at the time, she was my second parent to die and I had no siblings. I was left with a profound aloneness, even with my beloved husband’s faithful companionship. I coped at first in the way that had always served me well. By being strong and holding everything together, keeping busy when I could so that I could distract myself

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Discover the Sacredness of Life with the Desert Mothers and Fathers

Christine has written an article on the desert mothers and fathers which is published with US Catholic! An excerpt is below. The desert mothers and fathers have much to teach Catholics about contemplation and prayer. In the third- to sixth-century desert landscape of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia, a powerful movement was happening. Christian monasticism began flowering in response to a call to leave the world behind. Christians withdrew from a society in which the misuse of human relationships, power, and material possessions ran counter to their sense of the sacredness of life. Their journey into the desert was a

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Monk in the World: Jennifer Trently

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jennifer Trently’s reflection on finding and extending hospitality in the midst of death. Having committed myself to be a Monk in the World for the past seven years, I have found that at various times, parts of the manifesto are harder to carry out than others.  I like living by the cycle of seasonal liturgical rhythms and for the most part, enjoy a less hurried life. However, as spring began earlier this year and Lent was ending,

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Monk in the World: Work 6 – Reflection Questions and Closing Blessing ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle. Principle 5: I commit to bringing myself fully present to the work I do, whether paid or unpaid, holding a heart of gratitude for the ability to express my gifts in the world in meaningful ways. This week we offer you questions for reflection on the principle of being fully present to your work. What is the

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A Different Kind of Fast: A Seven-Part Series for Lent

This week we enter the long desert of the Lenten season. If you participate in a liturgical service, most likely you will be marked with the sign of ashes and the words “from dust you came and to dust you shall return” will echo through the sanctuary space again and again. St. Benedict writes in his Rule to “keep death daily before your eyes” and Amma Sarah, one of the desert mothers said, “I put my foot out to ascend the ladder, and I place death before my eyes before going up it.” The word for desert in Greek is

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Featured Poet: Julie Cadwallader Staub

Last spring we launched a series with poets whose work we love and want to feature and will continue it moving forward. Our next poet is Julie Cadwallader Staub whose recent work is centered on the intersection of human experience, nature, the marginalized, and sorrow in the world. Read her poetry and discover more about the connections she makes between poetry and the sacred. “Lister to her read “Trees” below. Jesus Buys a House in South Burlington, VT I live in a lovely neighborhood or at least it used to be, before he moved in next door. Now there’s a stream of

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Monk in the World: Work 5 – Suggestions for Practice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle. Principle 5: I commit to bringing myself fully present to the work I do, whether paid or unpaid, holding a heart of gratitude for the ability to express my gifts in the world in meaningful ways. Consider the ways you might bring more presence to the work you do.  Arise each morning and take time for gratitude

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Elaine Pope

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Elaine Pope’s reflection “Looking and Seeing.”  Christine Valters Painter calls photography “the practice of cultivating our capacity to see things as they really are” in her book, Eyes of the Heart: Photography as Christian Contemplative Practice, (Notre Dame: Sorin), 2013. 48]. I have been practicing this new spiritual discipline for a couple of years now, ever since I came across it in one of Abbey of the Arts’ online retreats. I love the idea of walking slowly

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Monk in the World: Work 4 ~ Guided Meditation by Christine + Audio ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle. Principle 5: I commit to bringing myself fully present to the work I do, whether paid or unpaid, holding a heart of gratitude for the ability to express my gifts in the world in meaningful ways. Read the meditation or click below to listen to an audio version.   Find a comfortable seated position in a place

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Featured Poet: Arianne Braithwaite Lehn

Last spring we launched a series with poets whose work we love and want to feature and will continue it moving forward. Our next poet is Arianne Braithwaite Lehn whose recent work is centered on prayer with strong themes of acceptance, surrender, intention, and trust. Read her poetry and discover more about the connections she makes between poetry and the sacred. Watch and lister to her read “When I Need Perspective at the Start of the Day” below. When I need perspective at the start of the day In this day, O God, May I be alert. May I be kind. May I

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