St. Teresa of Avila founded convents of cloistered contemplative nuns. However, she knew that to be fully alive as humans the sisters needed intentional time in community together – not just in quiet prayer. So…

Macarius, one of the pillars of early Christian monasticism was once approached by a younger monk who sought his guidance: "Abba, how should I pray?" Abba Macarius took the young monk to a well in the desert, drew some water and…

Community and family life is hard. I don’t care who you are.

One time in the monastery, I was particularly struggling with one brother for…

Our external environment – rooms, offices, outdoor spaces – impacts how we feel, our spiritual awareness, and how we act. A cluttered physical environment can create chaos internally. Similarly, clutter in…

From the time I entered the monastery, questions and doubts about my call to the monastery often surfaced in my mind like wood down a river. How could I be patient with these random monks I never chose to live with?

During a layover while returning from a 30-day silent retreat in a hermitage nestled in the Colorado mountains, I stopped and stood still as hundreds of people swirled around me, rushing to…

Community and family life is hard. I don’t care who you are.

One time in the monastery, I was particularly struggling with one brother for months. There always seemed to be…