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

Login Here

Reflections

Filter

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

Read More
February 22, 2020

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

Read More
February 21, 2020

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

Read More
February 16, 2020

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

Read More
February 12, 2020

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

Read More
February 8, 2020

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

Read More
February 5, 2020

Monk in the World: Work 3 ~ Reflection by Christine + Audio

Dear 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. Read on or click below to listen to an audio version of this reflection.   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.” We live

Read More
February 1, 2020

Call for Submissions – Monk in the World Guest Post Series

We welcome you to submit your reflection for possible publication in our Monk in the World guest post series. It is a gift to read how ordinary people are living lives of depth and meaning in the midst of the challenges of real life. There are so many talented writers and artists in this Abbey community, so this is a chance to share your perspective. The link to the reflection will be included in our weekly newsletter which goes out to thousands of subscribers. Please follow these instructions carefully: Please click this link to read a selection of the posts

Read More
February 1, 2020

Four New Poems from Christine at Impspired

I am really delighted to have four poems published at the online journal impspired! You can read them at this link  – “Wittgenstein in Connemara,” “Love Letter,” “Nocturne,” and “Poetry on Four Paws.” The editor also let me know that the last time they published my poems back in August, it was the most read page on their website and I am the second most read author on their site since starting. What all that means is I have an amazing and wonderfully supportive community of readers which is all a writer can dream of. A deep bow of gratitude to

Read More
January 30, 2020

Earth Monastery Mentoring Project & Peer Support (New Program)

In April 2020 Christine Valters Paintner’s book Earth, Our Original Monastery is being published by Ave Maria Press. The book explores concepts like earth as the original cathedral, scripture, saints, spiritual directors, liturgy, icon, and sacrament through wisdom of the Christian mystics and the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Like most of Christine’s books there is a rich array of experiential exercises (both contemplative and creative) included in each chapter that lends itself well to a retreat experience. We have a companion album of songs being released shortly as well and we are in the process of creating a cycle of

Read More
January 30, 2020