Celebrate the Feast of St. Michael and Autumn Equinox ~ A love note from your online abbess
Dearest monks and artists, Included in your love note today is a short excerpt from our current Sacred Seasons mini-retreat for the Autumn Equinox and the Feast of Michaelmas (register here to receive materials all year long to celebrate the turning of the seasons) written by your online Prior John Valters Paintner: “Do not fear, Daniel,” […]
The Call to Savor + Join us for Coming Home to Your Body ~ A love note from your online abbess
Dearest monks and artists, Our upcoming online retreat for women Coming Home to Your Body starts on Monday, September 21st. I have been offering you very brief excerpts to ponder your own ways of contemplative embodiment. Here is the last installment: Only by welcoming uncertainty from the get-go can we acclimate ourselves to the shattering […]
Monk in the World guest post: Linda Lyzenga
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Linda Lyzenga’s reflection on the practice of hospitality in the face of illness. I had no idea when I signed the Monk Manifesto here at Abbey of the Arts three years ago how a broadened, deepened practice […]
Monk in the World guest post: Gerry O’Neill
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Gerry O’Neill’s poem about ways to practice the sacrament of Communion. Strange Communion No altar, No bread or wine, No priest, No word spoken To stir the dangerous memory of Jesus (John Baptist Metz) The […]
Love note: Writing as a Spiritual Practice
Dearest monks and artists, I am delighted to share an article of mine published in the most recent issue of Network Ireland Magazine on Writing as a Spiritual Practice. Read on for more insight into how I approach this work: I am deeply inspired by monastic tradition, one of the great contemplative and mystical strands of […]
Sing a Rededication of Your Life (a love note)
Now it is time to sit quiet alone with You and to Sing a re-dedication of my life in this Silent and overflowing joy. —Rabindranath Tagore, “A Moment’s Indulgence” Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, I offer you this excerpt from my new book The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Inner Journey. These […]
Monk in the World guest post: Jacqui Avery
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jacqui Avery’s reflection on the living as a monk in the world in the midst of anger: Despite numerous attempts over the years to create a more dramatic and exciting persona, the two words most […]