Invitation to Photography: Return to Me with Your Whole Heart
Welcome to this month’s Abbey Photo Party! I select a theme and invite you to respond with images. We began this month with a Community Lectio Divina practice with our reflection on the first reading for Ash Wednesday. I invite you for this month’s Photo Party to hold these words in your heart as you go out in the world to […]
Community Lectio Divina: Return to Me with Your Whole Heart
We are returning this month to our weekly invitations to community contemplation and creativity. The season of Lent begins next Wednesday, so we invite you into a lectio divina practice with the words from the first reading for Ash Wednesday from the prophet Joel: Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole […]
Feast of St Brigid + Free Mini-Retreat ~ A love note from your online abbess
Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Brigid, one of the most beloved saints in Ireland. In late April I have a new book being released titled Illuminating the Way: Embracing the Wisdom of Monks and Mystics in which I explore 12 monks and mystics through the lens of archetypes, those […]
Creativity and Social Transformation
Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, Last week I shared that 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of Abbey of the Arts’ existence as a virtual monastery. I will be reflecting back on some of my reflections from the Archives and tracing the development of the Abbey this year. From the beginning, my heart has been sparked […]
3 Spaces Left in our Vienna Pilgrimage
Join Christine & John Valters Paintner and an intimate community of dancing monks November 12-20, 2016 in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria where we will stay in a Benedictine monastery guesthouse right in the heart of the old city. Imagine days spent reflecting and immersed in contemplative practice, visiting other gorgeous monasteries in the area, and wandering […]
Abbey of the Arts celebrates 10 years in 2016 ~ A love note from your online abbess
Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, I have been savoring some time of reflection over these midwinter days. Now is an especially ripe opportunity for looking back and forward because in 2016 Abbey of the Arts celebrates its 10th anniversary of ministry and service. In many ways the Abbey began years before 2006, as the seeds were planted in my years of teaching high school and working as a campus […]
Embracing a Surplus – A love note from your online abbess
Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, Last year my word was “dwell” – an invitation to root myself even more in this place I call home. I keep falling more in love with Ireland, the landscape, the stories, the people, the seasons. It was a wonderful year of deepening friendships and widening community, and even more of a sense […]