Submitted by Hannah Keziah Agustin

In the beginning of our day, there is silence. We center ourselves on the presence of God in the basement of Holy Wisdom Monastery’s main building at 7:30 in the morning, our chairs facing toward each other as we pray. Outside of the windows, the prairie sprawls with the bloom of a Wisconsin summer – bergamot, coneflowers and butterfly milkweed decorate the fields in the day’s early sun. Here, Benedictine sisters, retreatants and community members gather for the hearing of the liturgy, the singing of worship and the reading of God’s word. Here, we come expectant.

I signed up for the Summer Steward experience to get a glimpse of monastic life. I’m curious about learning the contemplative rhythms of work and prayer as a young adult who is new to the 9-to-5 and who wants to be faithful to Christ in my job. I live on the other side of Lake Mendota, working on the editorial team for InterVarsity, an interdenominational campus ministry that serves colleges across the nation. I visited the monastery on a retreat day organized by the spiritual foundations department at our workplace. Since I attended, I have felt compelled to return. So, when I saw that they had put together a retreat where we could learn about ecospirituality, Benedictine values and creation care, I knew it was something I didn’t want to miss.

For one week, six women came together to live communally. We ate together, prayed together and slept together. We harvested vegetables from the garden, weeded out invasive species in the prairie and washed dishes in the kitchen after every meal. Most importantly, we learned together what it means to listen – to God, to nature, to our community and to ourselves. “Listen, O child,” says St. Benedict in his Rule. First and foremost, he teaches the importance of heeding to the call of our surroundings, to attend to them with the ear of our heart.

This act of listening connects us with the Divine, our neighbors and our world. This is our beacon in a society that is rife with racial injustice, colonial wars and environmental degradation. It is inescapable. We arrived at the monastery with the smoke from the wildfires in Canada filling the air. But every day, in prayer, we remember those affected by worldly evils and choose to put our hope in Christ. In every meal, we remember those who do not have enough and expect miraculous provisions to come their way. In every reading of Benedict’s teachings, we learn the value of simplicity, hospitality and justice. The spiritual disciplines we did in community helped us to remember the call to rest in God amidst the trials and tribulations we face in our world.

Monasticism taught us to consider the essentials of life – to hold close to our hearts the things that matter most. It taught us to be in a posture of acceptance, which is required when one truly listens. Whether we were discussing an article about ecospirituality and womanist theology or spending our time outdoors during our holy leisure, we saw the beauty of openness. In addition to that, monastic life taught us to be attuned to the connectedness of all things.

When polarization divides us, we are reconciled by our ability to see one another as beloved. Living in the monastery showed us how integrated our humanity is to one another. This is something we should never forget. I cannot help but meditate on this whenever we bow our heads to pray.

In the beginning of our day, there is silence. But at the same time, there is also the clear and compelling voice of Jesus saying, “Behold, I make all things new.” His icon hung on the wall of the prayer room with these words written on the scroll in his hands. These are the words that I pondered in my heart as the week went on. The Summer Stewards retreat gave me an assurance that it is possible to have faith because Jesus is making all things new – amidst the terror of living. I am reminded of this when I look at the flowers that bloom in the prairie, signaling the genesis of this newborn hope.

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By Grace Vosen

“Holy Leisure?”

These were the first words out of my mouth as I read the Summer Stewards program schedule. I wasn’t familiar with that item – and I was unsure if I should take it seriously. Was it a cute joke, or a solemn Benedictine tradition?

I soon learned that the sisters had chosen this phrase to help us see the benefits that leisure could offer. We could use this time for anything, and it didn’t have to refresh us spiritually. But sometimes it might. All we had to do was be open to whatever happened: walking, swimming, meditating, reading or resting.

The three of us in my cohort were open to all of these possibilities. While we came from different backgrounds and had different goals for the week, we shared a desire to grow. We wanted to live more intentionally and deepen our spirituality. Our paths had converged at Holy Wisdom. The community welcomed us with kindness and a sincere interest in our stories.

For the next week, we were immersed in monastery life. We attended prayer, ate meals with the sisters and other retreatants, and shared in chores. The fresh vegetables we harvested in the morning became the dinner we enjoyed in the evening. We helped with restoration efforts on the prairie and in the pines. Everyone had a part to play, and it seemed that everyone worked together well.

Similarly, we learned how the buildings work with the landscape to support a Benedictine way of life. The property seemed like a world in itself. It caused me to think about how I could continue using my talents to serve this community.

And indeed, our “holy leisure” time complemented the scheduled activities. I spent much of it sitting outside and gazing across Lake Mendota, and just as much napping in my room. Although it felt unproductive, the quiet let me process my thoughts in a way that wouldn’t have been possible if the whole day had been scheduled.

It was clear that my housemates also valued these times. Often, in the space between leisure and an activity, we would walk to or from Anna’s House in silence and let the beauty of the land speak to each of us.

Another time when we were encouraged to be open was during Centering Prayer, which was held in the mornings and evenings. We each chose a short word that represented our openness to what God might have to tell us. My word was “still”, as in quiet. I greatly appreciated the chance to be still along with other people who understood stillness.

It is in the stillness, in the moments of silence between psalms, and in the unscheduled times that some of the greatest revelations come our way. It was hard for me to quiet my mind, but not all of the thoughts that intruded were unwelcome. Some have transformed the way I view myself, my relationships, and my role in the world. I simply needed to be open to it.

Grace Vosen was part of the July 2022 Summer Stewards program. She is a naturalist and writer living in Spring Green. Read her blog at DriftlessGrace.com.

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How do you imagine one becomes a monk? Is it something you plan or something you discover? Do you have to be religious your whole life before joining a monastery?

Truth be told, there is no one answer. Our own sister’s community at Holy Wisdom Monastery have an array of unique stories that led them to their lives here in Middleton.

In this episode, we sit with Sister Denise West and listen to her journey from a non-secular home in Tennessee to her life in New York as a teacher and eventually, through her search for spirituality, becoming a sister at our monastery.

Sister Denise’ story is a beautiful example of the unexpected turns in life that can lead us to our place in the world. Listen in to this episode and tell us in the comments below: What are the unexpected parts of your journey that have led you to where you are today?

Where to Listen?

You can listen to The Holy Wisdom Podcast at any of these online locations:

Our Blog, under the “Podcast” Category

Anchor.fm

Apple Podcasts

Breaker

Google Podcasts

Spotify

RadioPublic

PocketCasts

The post How Did You Become a Sister?, Ft. Sister Denise West appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

If you are interested in becoming a Benedictine Sojourner, please contact Sister Lynne Smith, 608-831-9305.

The post Integrating Prayer into Community Life appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

• 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 and the heart.  His Rule begins: “Listen, child of God… with the ear of your heart”.  We are called to listen to Scripture; to the Spirit’s movement in our hearts; to our communities, friends, and the wise guides in our lives.

Benedictine’s listen to Scripture in the practice of lectio divina, a prayerful reading of Scripture. As we practice reading slowly and savoring the words, the Word may stir us, challenge us or move us to new ways of being and behaving. Benedictines are immersed in Scripture throughout the day at the Liturgy of the Hours. If you are discerning the next step in your life, spending time reading and praying with Scripture each day can help you become sensitive to God’s longings for you.

Psalm 4:5 says: “Attend to your heart.” (International Committee on English in the Liturgy translation)  Attending to our hearts is an important aspect of discernment as we seek to know God’s desire for us. God’s basic desire is to give us abundant life. Benedict knows that God’s call to abundant life is marked by joy, persistence and desire. He describes God’s call in the Prologue: “What is more delightful than the voice of the Lord calling to us?” In discernment, you may ask yourself, does this choice give my heart joy? Does it lead to abundant life?

Finally, discernment cannot be done in isolation. We need the wisdom and feedback of others who know us well such as family members, good friends, a pastor or spiritual guide. They can help us see those places in us where we are yet free to make a choice. We need their help to perceive where our gifts may best be used. A wise guide can also help us attend to God’s movement in our hearts.

Discernment takes time and patience, prayer and support.  These lines from a prayer by Thomas Merton are often a comfort and inspiration at times of discernment:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Perhaps you would like to explore further. You might consider coming for a visit or spending time with us as a Benedictine Sojourner. We would be happy to walk with you in your discernment.

The post The Benedictine way of discernment appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

“A New World Order” is how the media sees it. “Welcoming women of all Christian traditions” is how we talk about it. “It is a gift to be welcomed into a community” is how a recent Volunteer in Community experiences it.

The history that brings us to this day is rich and deep, as Sister Mary David Walgenbach recalls:

The first steps were inspired by the decrees of the Second Vatican Council and the Community of Taize, France. In the mid-60’s our local sisters and brothers of various faith traditions asked us to become an ecumenical place where all could pray together, meet and listen to each other and see that we are all on a similar journey – if not the same journey. Ecumenism became a part of the core of our community.

In the early 1990’s with the wisdom of many friends and a lot of prayer together, the path became clearer to us. We, as a community, felt the call to deepen our commitment to ecumenism. This commitment involves being a Benedictine community open to Christian women where all are equal and all support each other in our quest for God. An Ecumenical Board was formed to guide the creation, growth and formation of this ecumenical monastic community.

Recognizing that ecumenism had changed our hearts, our community began a process with the Federation of St. Gertrude to become an ecumenical community of sisters. In 2006 after fourteen years of consultations and guidance from many women and men, we officially became an ecumenical Benedictine community of sisters.

Sister Joanne Kollasch adds to the story with these thoughts:

For this community, it has been a history of much change, listening to the Spirit and to the signs of the times, consulting with spiritual friends, and resolutely making our way into an always unknown future. Throughout this process, the constant values of the Benedictine Women of Madison have been the cultivation of prayer and spirituality, providing hospitality, and caring for the earth.

And of course my story, coming from a Presbyterian background to make my profession as a Benedictine sister, is that of being the direct recipient of the determination of this community to fulfill its vision to become ecumenical. I could not have found my heart’s true home without the vision of this community.

On this anniversary day we give thanks to so many who have accompanied us along the way:

• The sisters of our founding community, Sisters of St. Benedict, who gave birth to, prayed for, and nurtured the vision of an ecumenical community from the very beginning
• Members of the Ecumenical Board who journeyed with us and helped guide our vision
• Members of the Federation of St. Gertrude who supported our vision with their faith and prayers, and their affirmation

Are you drawn to this inclusive, ecumenical community life? We invite you to explore the possibilities with us. Consider any of the following:

• Benedictine Sojourners – a 6 month opportunity to live, work and pray with Benedictine Women of Madison
• Come for a visit – a gift of time to reflect on God’s call in your life

Other experiences of ecumenical community at Holy Wisdom Monastery open to both men and women include:

• Oblates of Holy Wisdom Monastery – an intentional community of women and men who find a practical spirituality in the Rule of Benedict
• Sunday Assembly – our ecumenical worshiping community of men and women, children, youth and adults

Or contact me, Sister Lynne Smith, 608-831-9305, for more conversation.

The post Celebrating the gift of ecumenical Benedictine community appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

To be sure, one does give up some things to enter a community and there is asceticism involved in religious life. The practice of asceticism is different in each order. For Benedictines, living in community with our promises of stability, obedience and conversion of life is the asceticism. The rub of daily life and living patiently with our own and one another’s weaknesses is asceticism enough!

My aim of seeking God through Benedictine life leads me to make choices that might seem to others to be loss. For me, those choices help me be available to God and others. I find it helpful to think about entering religious life as a change of lifestyle just as marriage is a change of lifestyle. One exchanges one way of living for another. The change involves some loss as well as gain and it takes time to adjust to the new way of living.

Religious life is about pursuing your heart’s desire. It’s like falling in love. When you fall in love with someone and start spending more time with him or her, you give up some of the ways you used to spend your time. In the process, you gain the love of your life. Over time as you nurture your relationship, you discover you have gained much more than you ever gave up. So it is in religious life.

For a taste of life in community, check out our Benedictine Sojourner experience for single Christian women. Live in an inclusive ecumenical community at Holy Wisdom Monastery for a year. Pray, play, work and learn with us.

For a shorter experience in the summer consider spending two weeks to a month with us as a Volunteer in Community.

The post Gain or loss? appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Intuitively, they sense that coming to the monastery can help them discern their life choice. Their intuition is correct. Monasteries have a long tradition of helping people discern how God is active in their lives. Discernment is becoming a more common word these days though what it involves still remains a mystery to many people.

At Holy Wisdom Monastery, guests seeking to discern God’s voice find stillness to “listen with the ear of their hearts.” Here they can explore their motivations and become aware of their deepest desires, fears and resistance. In the silence they can pray and encounter the God who “know[s] the plans I have for you…plans for your welfare and not for woe” (Jer. 29:11). This is all a part of the discernment process – coming to a deep knowledge of oneself and of God.

Meeting with a spiritual guide or companion can help people  in discernment listen to their life, sort out their motivations and come to an  inner freedom from which to make their decision. Some people might walk in the  prairie, dance or sing their way into clarity.

If your heart is asking “What shall I do with my life?” we invite you to come to Holy Wisdom Monastery to get in touch with yourself and the God who loves you. Come pray, talk, cry, walk, draw, write, imagine and listen for the plans God has for you.

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To listen to the podcast, follow this link: Ask Sister: nun and reverend?

Since this podcast was focused on discernment, I also shared the following prayer from St. Benedict:

Gracious and Holy God,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate on you,
and a life to proclaim you.

Through the power of
the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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