Discernment is a process of making a decision or finding direction in one’s life. At its very heart, discernment is a conversation – with God, with friends, with spiritual mentors and guides – a conversation which leads to more clarity about God’s call for you. Discernment brings into focus one’s deepest life questions: What is the purpose of my life? With whom do I want to live and how will I express my love? How can I use my gifts and talents and whom do I want to serve? Benedict’s emphasis in discernment is on listening with both the head …
Manual Labor in the Monastery
Saint Benedict writes that monks are really monks when they live by the labor of their hands. (Rule of Benedict, Chapter 48). Manual labor is an important part of Benedictine life. It helps to keep us grounded and in touch with all who work by the labor of their hands. At Holy Wisdom Monastery our primary manual labor during the summer takes place in the vegetable garden. Learn more about Benedictine Life at Holy Wisdom Monastery, including manual labor by visiting our website or contacting Sister Lynne Smith, 608-831-9305.
A day in our life in community
The first Benedictine Sojourners, Nancy Melin and Linda Steg, arrived at Holy Wisdom Monastery on Wednesday, August 15, 2012. They are settling into the rhythm of monastic life. In a future issue we will share some of their reflections; here we offer the daily rhythm they and the sisters follow. Our day begins with quiet time, breakfast and personal preparation for the day. Prayer sets the tone as we gather in the oratory for centering prayer and morning prayer. Retreatants, neighbors and oblates join us. Beginning the day with prayer and Scripture reading orients us to the search for God which is at the …
Ecumenism at Holy Wisdom Monastery
Sometimes visitors and guests at the monastery look at us quizzically when we say we are an ecumenical monastery. They might not ask the question outright, but they wonder: “How does that work?” We’ve held the vision of an ecumenical community for twenty years. Some people could not see the vision and others said: “It isn’t possible. You can’t do it.” Father Ken Smits, OFM Cap. who used to work with us in the area of liturgy wrote this about ecumenism here: “The ecumenism at Holy Wisdom Monastery is a practical ecumenism, grounded in hospitality, inviting development of community, which is fostered …
The Foundation of Two Ecumenical Benedictine Monasteries in the United States
by Sister Kathryn Huber, OSB Reprinted with permission from Alliance for International Monasticism, English Language Bulletin, 2011, No. 100. It is now forty years since Vatican II concluded, and Pope Paul VI entrusted the ecumenical movement to the monastic orders in a special way, because monasteries form a bridge between Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy. Monks and nuns are the heirs and direct witnesses of an undivided Church, since they existed before the East-West schism and before the Protestant Reformation. The ecumenical path of two female Catholic monasteries in the USA has led them to become non-canonical ecumenical monasteries. The first is the Monastery …
Exploring Benedictine Community Retreat Reflections
We describe our Exploring Benedictine community life retreats as a chance to: “…experience a taste of our Benedictine community life… ask questions, meet the sisters and interact with other single Christian women who are exploring their spiritual journey.” Six women attended our most recent retreat. We indicate it is to begin Friday, June 8, 2012, 7:00 pm and close Sunday, June 10, 2012, 1:00 pm. The beginning and the end clearly established. But now as I read the evaluations of the six women, along with Sister Lynne Smith’s and mine, I realize once again that the Holy Spirit’s time is different from our time. Do …
That we may all be one
The national board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) has met and issued its response to the April 18th assessment of the organization issued by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. The full LCWR response can be found on the LCWR website. Additional background is available in an article published online today by the National Catholic Reporter. We, sisters of Benedictine Women of Madison, continue to stand with LCWR and all women religious in the US as sisters in Christ. We find most striking and poignant in the LCWR response their statement: “The report has furthermore …
Honoring Hildegard of Bingen
Holy Spirit, giving life to all life, moving all creatures, root of all things, washing them clean, wiping out their mistakes, healing their wounds, you are our true life: luminous, wonderful, awakening the heart from its ancient sleep. ~ Hildegard of Bingen Illumination above by Hildegard of Bingen: Cultivating the Cosmic Tree Hildegard of Bingen was a Benedictine abbess, writer, musician and mystic. On May 10, 2012 the Vatican formally recognized Hildegard of Bingen by “inscribing her in the catalogue of saints.” Here at Holy Wisdom Monastery, she has been held in highest esteem for many years. Her …
United in Christ
An enormous controversy currently surrounds US Catholic women religious. A recent doctrinal investigation of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) concluded with the appointing of an archbishop to review, guide and approve the work of LCWR. LCWR is an association of the leaders of communities and congregations of Catholic women religious in the US, representing more than 80 percent of the 57,000 women religious in the US today. The actions of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) have stirred deep emotions throughout the US and beyond and made LCWR a familiar acronym to those who …
Keeping your house light and easy to carry
What could a children’s book, the writings of Richard Rohr, and Benedictine simplicity have in common? Barb Abbott, oblate of Holy Wisdom Monastery, helped us weave these connections today at our final Women’s Lenten Lunch. We gathered for midday prayer and a delicious meal created in part from local produce (including apples grown here at the monastery). In true Benedictine style, a meditative reading was offered during the meal, including excerpts like these from Radical Grace, by Richard Rohr: “Soul knowledge sends you in the opposite direction from consumerism. It’s not addition that makes one holy but subtraction: gripping the illusions, …