Living Contemplatively in the World
As a monk in the world, I am always seeking support for this path. Yesterday I just started reading The Contemplative Heart by James Finley which is about how to live contemplatively in the world beyond the monastery and already in the first forty pages is a great deal of wisdom. Finley describes three aspects to contemplative living in the midst of […]
Monk Manifesto – Reflections and Musings
The idea for the Monk Manifesto emerged several months ago while I was away on a retreat. Last spring was a very full season of my life and I was claiming a few days of silence to listen. I was in a threshold space, moving into my own work more fully, and I knew my call […]
Monk Manifesto
Sign the manifesto! Want to join us in starting a monk revolution? For a PDF version of the Monk Manifesto click the link to download a printable file. The Monk Manifesto is also available in Spanish, German, and Norwegian translations. Click here for PDFs of Manifesto del Monje, Mönchs Manifest, and Munkemanifestet. We invite you to. . . Sign the Monk Manifesto below (scroll all the way to the […]
Visual Meditation: World Congress of Benedictine Oblates
A visual meditation with images from my travels during the World Congress of Benedictine Oblates in October 2009. The photos were taken in the Vatican City, Rome, Subiaco (Benedict’s Cave), Monte Cassino (Benedictine monastery), and Sant’Anselmo (Primatial Abbey). The music is by Hildegard of Bingen. © Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts: Transformative […]
What is a Monk?
There is a story from the Desert Fathers where one asks another “what is a monk?” And the response was “someone who asks ‘what is a monk?’ everyday.” Laurence Freeman, OSB at the World Congress of Benedictine Oblates in Rome began his talk on contemplation with this image and invited us as Oblates to consider […]
Journey Into the Beating Heart of the World
I have been feeling very introspective lately, probably the result of having some sort of virus with a rash and fever that caused me to retreat to my bed for the last four days (the prescription-strength Benadryl helped that along quite a bit!) Or maybe it is because summer is waning, and while I am probably […]
Give Me a Word: An Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year
Nov 30, 2025 – Jan 6, 2026 @ 4:00 pm GMT – 5:30 pm GMT –
with Christine Valters Paintner and Guest Teachers
Since 2008 we have posted an annual invitation to listen for a word to guide them in the year ahead. We would share a few short and simple practices with hundreds of people participating. Now Christine has published a book about the process and this retreat is a companion to it, providing additional guidance and support to contemplate what holiness is birthing within your soul. Each day there will be a different practice offered to inspire, challenge, and support you in listening for the word that wants to be spoken to your heart.