Abbey of the Arts

Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

  • Welcome
    • Prayer Cycle
      • Introduction to the Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle
      • Day 1 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Cathedral
      • Day 2 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Scriptures
      • Day 3 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Saints
      • Day 4 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Spiritual Directors
      • Day 5 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Icon
      • Day 6 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Sacrament
      • Day 7 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Liturgy
      • Prayer Cycle Leader Resources
    • About the Abbey
    • About Christine Valters Paintner
    • About John Valters Paintner
    • About the Wisdom Council
    • Monk Manifesto
    • Join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks
    • Subscribe to Our Love Notes
    • Website privacy notice
  • Books
    • Sacred Time:
      Embracing an Intentional Way of Life
    • The Wisdom of Wild Grace: Poems
    • Earth, Our Original Monastery:
      Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature
    • Dreaming of Stones: Poems
    • The Soul's Slow Ripening:
      12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred
    • The Wisdom of the Body:
      A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women
    • Illuminating the Way:
      Embracing the Wisdom of Monks and Mystics
    • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
      Eight Practices for the Journey Within
    • Eyes of the Heart:
      Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice
    • The Artist's Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom
    • Desert Mothers and Fathers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Annotated & Explained
    • Lectio Divina–The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart-Centered Prayer
    • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements
    • Awakening the Creative Spirit:
      Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction
    • Lectio Divina: Contemplative Awakening & Awareness
  • Poetry | Art | Music
    • Music + DVD
    • Poetry by Christine Valters Paintner
    • Poetry Videos
    • Dancing Monk Icons
    • Other Art Collaborations
      • Monk in the World art series by Kristin Noelle
      • Saints & Animals art series by David Hollington
      • Sacred Time art series by Alexi Francis
      • Mary block print art series by Kreg Yingst
  • Programs
    • Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color Book Club
      • God Alone is Enough: A Spirited Journey with Teresa of Avila (Book Club – February 2021)
    • Community Online Retreats
      • The Spiral Way:
        Celtic Spirituality and the Creative Imagination
      • Journey with the Desert Mothers and Fathers (Lent 2021)
      • Dancing with Fear in Troubled Times
      • Novena for Times of Unraveling
      • Sacred Time: Embracing an Intentional Way of Life (Spring 2021)
      • The Two HT’s-Harriet Tubman and Howard Thurman-on Being Free
      • Writing Into Bloom
        with Christine Valters Paintner
      • Revelations: The Mysticism of Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe
      • Poetry and the Sacred Garden of the World:
        An Online Writing Retreat
    • Self-Study Online Spiritual Retreats
      • Creative Flourishing in the Heart of the Desert:
        An Online Retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen
      • Dreaming of the Sea:
        A women’s discernment journey through the story of the Selkie
      • Earth, Our Original Monastery
        A Companion Retreat to the Book (SELF-STUDY)
      • Exile and Coming Home:
        An Archetypal Journey through the Scriptures
      • Eyes of the Heart:
        Photography as Contemplative Practice
        (Companion retreat to the book)
      • Honoring Saints and Ancestors:
        Online Retreat for the Season of Remembrance
      • Lectio Divina:
        The Sacred Art of Reading the World
      • A Midwinter God:
        Making a Conscious Underworld Journey
      • Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea & Stone:
        A Creative Retreat with the Elements (SELF-STUDY)
      • Sacred Seasons:
        A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
      • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
        Eight Practices for the Journey Within
        (a companion retreat to the book)
      • The Soul's Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seekers of the Sacred (a companion retreat to the book)
      • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire
      • Watershed Moments
        in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures
      • Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist:
        A 12-Week Companion Retreat to The Artist's Rule
      • The Wisdom of the Body:
        A 10-Week Online Companion Retreat to the Book
      • The Wisdom of Mary and the Sacred Feminine
    • Live Programs: Pilgrimage & Retreats
      • Writing on the Wild Edges (Ireland)
      • Hildegard of Bingen (Germany)
      • Awakening the Creative Spirit: Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts (Northwest)
  • Calendar
  • Reflections
  • Contact

Monk in the World Guest Post Series

Monk in the World Guest Post: Pat Leyko Connelly

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Pat Leyko Connelly's reflection, "Cleaning as a Contemplative Practice."

My husband and I retired and moved from Northern New Jersey to Weston, Vermont seven years ago. I had spent most of my career in parish ministry and my husband was a teacher. After almost 40 years of visiting and making retreats at Weston, Priory, a Benedictine Monastery in Southern Vermont, we knew in our hearts that this was where we wanted to retire.

Our friendship with the Monks had grown over all those years of visiting and we felt very blessed. That blessing of friendship and sharing of spirituality led to what now seems an inevitable next step, to become Oblates, promising stability to this particular monastery and to follow the Benedictine way of life. We both have celebrated out fifth year as Oblates.

As part of the extended community at the Priory, we help with the Benedictine charism of extending hospitality… My husband is there five days a week, helping with snow removal or lawn care. He LOVES it after over 30 years in a class room, especially keeping the grounds beautiful for everyone who visits. Guests are always grateful.

My duties entail helping to keep the Priory’s front parlor and rest rooms vacuumed and clean for the visiting guests. Some days I am tired and feel sorry for myself and say. "This is not a very glamorous job!" And then I recall the monks who continue to work despite old age, mobility problems and other infirmities. One of the eldest monks, who is now in his 90’s still helps with chores even some gardening etc. He truly is an inspiration to me in dedication and helping in community daily life!

It is also a good way for me to work on my humility. For me doing these weekly cleaning chores reminds me of a few things that our Oblate director shared with us: He reminded us that the Latin root of the word humility, (humble) is humus…meaning the ground or the earth. Pretty lowly isn’t it? Yet, the Divine Potter continues to mold us from the clay of the earth and calls us to be more. Humility doesn’t call us to be less than we are but reminds us to look at how we might compare ourselves to others. Or as Ken Blanchard, author of “The One Minute Manager” puts it, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Our Oblate director also pulls the word humor form this word humility … can I have a sense of humor while doing these simple chores? I don’t always find that easy to do but I do have a good sense of humor!

Aside from having a sense of humor while I do these chores I also try to keep light hearted. Sometimes it is just a matter of humming a hymn or keeping one of the Monk’s songs in mind as I work that helps me feel joyful about the gift I am giving and receiving.

My cleaning days are also a good time to practice what St. Benedict calls “esteem for silence.” It is usually peaceful and quiet at the Priory. Occasionally as I work, a monk will pass by and greet me with a smile or engage in a short conversation. Then I go back to my sweeping and mopping in the beauty of silence.

These moments of silence can keep me centered and focused on a more quiet mind. I can use this time as a contemplative practice. Looking at each gesture, or motion of my cleaning, whatever chore it is it can be a form of prayer.

I was inspired to reflect on all of this after reading an article in Parabola Magazine on “The Art of Cleaning” by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee. What drew me in to this article was where she says,“The art of cleaning is a simple spiritual activity that is often overlooked. The image of the monk sweeping the courtyard," referring to a picture in the article,  "has a deep significance, because without the practice of cleaning there can be no empty space, no space for a deep communion with the sacred. Outer and inner cleaning belong to the foundation of spiritual practice, and as the monk’s broom touches the ground, it has a particular relationship to the Earth. We need to create a sacred space in order to live in relationship to the sacred within ourselves and within creation.”

I personally can relate to what the writer says here. In my spiritual practice of cleaning I create that empty space for communion with the sacred!

At the end of my chores, I’m usually a bit tired, but also happy — filled with a sense of accomplishment. I have left the place pleasantly in order for the soon-to-be arriving guests. When guests see me, they often say hi thinking I’m the “cleaning lady." (I guess I really am!) There’s a smile of recognition later when I see them at Liturgy, where my husband and I serve as Ministers of the cup at the Lord’s table. In those times, we come together as one community. In those moments, I feel blessed to be able to sweep, mop, clean and dust, pray and serve – a simple gift of service I can give others and the Lord. I pray I do this with a peaceful and happy heart!


Pat Leyko Connelly is a Benedictine Oblate at Weston Priory in Weston, Vermont. After 28 years in Parish Ministry; Music, Religious Education and Retreat Work, she is now retired with her husband in Weston Vermont. Her new ministry and Spiritual practice has become writing Haiku prayers with photo's and poetry and reflections. This seems to have come naturally to her as she enjoys her walks in beautiful Vermont!

Pat still enjoys singing and playing guitar and hopes to return to writing music and recording again. Meanwhile, she lives a peaceful life here in Vermont. She is grateful to enjoy the simplicity of everyday life.  Pat tries to incorporate all of these gifts into her daily practice as a Benedictine Oblate.  As Fr. Richard Rohr says, "It all belongs."

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Leave a Comment April 22, 2020

Upcoming Programs

The Spiral Way:
Celtic Spirituality and the Creative Imagination

Hosted by the Rowe Center
February 1-21, 2021
with Christine Valters Paintner, PhD

Journey with the Desert Mothers and Fathers
Retreat for Lent 2021

February 17-April 1, 2021
with Christine & John Valters Paintner and Betsey Beckman

Recent Reflections

  • Celtic Spirituality and the Spiral Way ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Hildy Tales 3: Ní heolas go haontíos ~ by John Valters Paintner
  • Humility + Join us today for live prayer! ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Hildy Tales 2: Tús maith leath na hoibre – by John Valters Paintner
  • New Book Club for 2021: Lift Every Voice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

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