I am a Benedictine Oblate with St Scholastica Priory in Petersham Massachusetts, USA. That is a twin community with St Mary's Monastery. Each has their own house, sisters at St Scholastica, brothers at St Mary's, and they share a Church and a Cemetery.
I live about two hours away, in Massachusetts. And grew up in Massachusetts, Protestant. Episcopal, then Anglican as an adult. At 48 I became Catholic, in 2002. Greatly influenced by Dorothy Day, I became an Oblate (once I found this community) at 53, in 2017.
Petersham is a tiny town, and the Petersham Benedictines have become my earthly, spiritual home.
Thank you so much for sharing, Almut. Joined last Weekend an online Retreat with the Nazareth companions in Norwich in Julians Cell. Sending Love and blessings 🙏🏽🕊️❤️
I was lead by our clergy Team. The retreat was based on the book "I Julian" by Claire Gilbert. This Video from St Pauls Cathedral about "I Julian" you may like, too
I have been to St. Benedict's Abbey, though not in a long time (pre-CoVid) and am an Oblate of St. John's Abbey, not far from there. Both places are beautiful and timeless in their daily rounds of prayer and hospitality.
Thank you for your gift of voice, word and pictures. It was wonderful to see the pictures from the Gathering Place at St. Benedict's. I felt myself standing in that quiet and calming space. One of these days, I will get back to my spiritual home. Impending knee surgery prevented my driving the distance and walking about. And COVID prevented me from being online...drat!
There are spaces where the noise of the world is held at bay, where we have a reprieve from pressures that can be all consuming, where we feel like we are going it alone. There is word and song or chant that bring us back to the Divine and the Divine within. I am grateful you brought all of that to me today.
Numerous spiritual retreats at Benedictine monasteries have renewed and deepened my sense and presence of Spirit over the years. One is Christ in the Desert, in northern NM, another longer there was Nova Nada in Nova Scotia, their home base at Nada in Crestone, Colorado. Others were not Benedictine but linked to other orders of a contemplative nature.
Thank you, Gary, for sharing your monastic experiences. Isn't Christ in the Desert just a gorgeous place? We only drove out for a day, it must be mesmerizing to actually spend some days there.
Just listened and it was divine! So lovely to hear your beautiful speaking voice and singing voice, as well as the nature around you in the park. This was a blessing to me on a rainy day full of doctor's appointments and chores!
I am so glad to hear this, dear friend. When I listened to my recording I surely wanted to do it again, but it is quite a hassle with substack. So I decided to let it go and post something truly imperfect, just as our prayers are, with background noise, airplanes above, stumbles, and all :-)
I have never been in Montana. I am sure there are some lovely monasteries. Also just to visit if you can drive with some one :-) Also, there is a lovely FB group called "the dancing monks," in case you do FaceBook. They belong to an international online Abbey, they do very good work. And I hope that we will grow into a community where you can feel some sense of home when entering :-)
I am a Benedictine Oblate with St Scholastica Priory in Petersham Massachusetts, USA. That is a twin community with St Mary's Monastery. Each has their own house, sisters at St Scholastica, brothers at St Mary's, and they share a Church and a Cemetery.
I live about two hours away, in Massachusetts. And grew up in Massachusetts, Protestant. Episcopal, then Anglican as an adult. At 48 I became Catholic, in 2002. Greatly influenced by Dorothy Day, I became an Oblate (once I found this community) at 53, in 2017.
Petersham is a tiny town, and the Petersham Benedictines have become my earthly, spiritual home.
Thank you for sharing your spiritual home with us, Beverly 🙏
Thank you so much for sharing, Almut. Joined last Weekend an online Retreat with the Nazareth companions in Norwich in Julians Cell. Sending Love and blessings 🙏🏽🕊️❤️
Thank you, Katja, that retreat sounds so intriguing!
I was lead by our clergy Team. The retreat was based on the book "I Julian" by Claire Gilbert. This Video from St Pauls Cathedral about "I Julian" you may like, too
https://youtu.be/GMghWBjH0m0?si=ykl9ypC3F8a38AWc
Such a lovely meditation.
Thank you, June, and thank you for being here.
I have been to St. Benedict's Abbey, though not in a long time (pre-CoVid) and am an Oblate of St. John's Abbey, not far from there. Both places are beautiful and timeless in their daily rounds of prayer and hospitality.
Jan, you are so right, we love both places, too :-)
Thank you for your gift of voice, word and pictures. It was wonderful to see the pictures from the Gathering Place at St. Benedict's. I felt myself standing in that quiet and calming space. One of these days, I will get back to my spiritual home. Impending knee surgery prevented my driving the distance and walking about. And COVID prevented me from being online...drat!
There are spaces where the noise of the world is held at bay, where we have a reprieve from pressures that can be all consuming, where we feel like we are going it alone. There is word and song or chant that bring us back to the Divine and the Divine within. I am grateful you brought all of that to me today.
So grateful to hear this, Kathleen, I am glad I could bring the cloister to you :-)
What a bummer that Covid got you! Sending you much viriditas to restore your health and also your knees 🙏
Numerous spiritual retreats at Benedictine monasteries have renewed and deepened my sense and presence of Spirit over the years. One is Christ in the Desert, in northern NM, another longer there was Nova Nada in Nova Scotia, their home base at Nada in Crestone, Colorado. Others were not Benedictine but linked to other orders of a contemplative nature.
Thank you, Gary, for sharing your monastic experiences. Isn't Christ in the Desert just a gorgeous place? We only drove out for a day, it must be mesmerizing to actually spend some days there.
A wonderful place and great spot to have a solo retreat. You can make your own schedule or join theirs or have n o schedule at all,
thank you, Gary, that sounds truly lovely. I think we visited before we had a little one :-)
Just listened and it was divine! So lovely to hear your beautiful speaking voice and singing voice, as well as the nature around you in the park. This was a blessing to me on a rainy day full of doctor's appointments and chores!
I am so glad to hear this, dear friend. When I listened to my recording I surely wanted to do it again, but it is quite a hassle with substack. So I decided to let it go and post something truly imperfect, just as our prayers are, with background noise, airplanes above, stumbles, and all :-)
Thank you and Julian both
Thank you Pat and for being here.
Thank you, Almut!
Thank you for being here, Jean 🙏
Thank you, especially for singing. I'm filled with peace.
Judy, so good to hear from you again. And so good to hear about the peace :-)
That was lovely. I long for a place like that.
Thank you, Linda! Have you looked up the next monastery where you live? Might be an interesting place waiting for you :-)
I actually found one close by (sort of) but don't think it's finished yet!
Ha! how interesting :-)
I live in a town of under 1000 and Zi no longer drive but I'm going to look anyway. ❤️
I have never been in Montana. I am sure there are some lovely monasteries. Also just to visit if you can drive with some one :-) Also, there is a lovely FB group called "the dancing monks," in case you do FaceBook. They belong to an international online Abbey, they do very good work. And I hope that we will grow into a community where you can feel some sense of home when entering :-)
Thank you Almut.
Beret
You are so welcome, dear Beret. Thank you for being here 🙏