Her finely touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs. These are …
Patti LaCross’ Homily from Aug. 23, 2026
Maybe you sensed the urgency in the query Jesus raised to his disciples. He needed these companions to understand who he is. They must know him, first to learn, then, to inherit, his mission. That is: to Bring Good News to the poor and vulnerable of the land now called Palestine.He needed followers who would surrender their present lives to this mission; believers who would ” Be not conformed but transformed”.Scripture scholar Don Senior believed this passage of Matthew was the first explicit prediction of Jesus’ passion. He was ‘seeking the pulse’ of his followers’ understanding at that moment. Jesus …
Summer Intern Reflection by Isaac
Before arriving at Holy Wisdom, I already knew that I loved environmental conservation work, but I hadn’t had a real, solid working experience in land management. As endlessly discussable and loveable a prairie is, there’s only so much learning that I can do in a classroom. This has been a summer of rapid growth for me as I built my hands-on skills. Thanks to this community’s support, I now know the buzzy, bright rush I feel when I’m waist-deep in the prairie, different species popping out as I scan the landscape for their unique shapes and shades of green. I …
Summer Intern Reflection by Benjamin
When I started at Holy Wisdom this summer, I had a lot of ‘I don’t know’s. I didn’t know any prairie plants. I didn’t know how to use a single tool. I didn’t know if I would like working outside or if it would be a long slog through the summer. In our world, ‘I don’t know’ can be scary place. We are, of course, supposed to know how to do things, to know what comes next, to know why we want something. In that regard, to admit that we don’t know is to express a failing. This summer, I …
Colleen Hartung’s homily from July 19, 2026
We all know the parable of the wheat and the weeds. And Matthew’s Gospel conveniently provides an interpretive guide. So it’s easy to skim this teaching, and to float along its surface … assuming the meaning is obvious. So obvious that AI can give you an instantaneous interpretation and I quote “God allows both good and bad to coexist in the world for a time. Because human judgments are flawed, hastily attempting to root out all evil or false believers (the weeds) could result in harming the innocent.” There is however ultimate justice: “Evil (the weeds) will not go unpunished …
Wayne Sigelko’s homily from July 12, 2026
Jesus sat beside the sea and he told them many things in parables “Listen! A sower went out to sow…the reign of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in the field; but while everyone was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds…the reign of heaven is like a mustard seed…like yeast…a treasure hidden in a field…a merchant in search of fine pearls…a net thrown into the sea…” Between now and the end of the month as we move through the 13th chapter of Matthew we will be as inundated with parables about the reign of God …
David McKee’s Homily from July 26, 2026
Her finely touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs. These are …
Holy Wisdom, Holy Grief by Eric Hannem
Submitted by Erin Trondson (she/her),Executive Director Dear Holy Wisdom Community, I wanted to introduce you to another community member and friend who has become part of our community. I met Eric Hannem at one of our programs over a year ago at Holy Wisdom. He was in a period of deep grief and shared that he found healing in the land, the sisters, and our hospitality. We have struck up a correspondence over the months, see each other whenever he is on retreat, and he recently shared a poem he wrote that I absolutely wanted to share with the full community. …
What would the bunny do?
Submitted by Everline Jeruto, OSB (she/her), Sisters’ Community This year, I’ve noticed something strange. Bunnies. Everywhere. I don’t know if they got a group discount on my neighborhood or if Zillow listed our yard as “Ideal Bunny Community,” but they’re multiplying. I can’t walk outside without seeing one. And here’s the thing – they’re not even trying to hide. They’re just sprawled out under bushes like they pay property taxes. The other day it was ridiculously hot. I walked outside, and there was one bunny lying under a shrub. Not hopping. Not eating. Not doing bunny things. Just…marinating. I thought, “Is it okay?” So, I walked a little closer. …
Community of Joy: Christina Roberts
Where is the closest monastery? While that probably isn’t the top Google search when moving to a new city, when I moved to Madison in 2009, that question was at the top of my list – right alongside practical questions like the nearest bank and grocery store. I had just begun exploring contemplative spirituality, and little did I know what a lifeline Holy Wisdom would soon become. Shortly after moving, we began the long and stressful process of adopting our second child and I knew that I needed something deeper than my once a year “self care” retreat at the …