This retreat will provide a general overview of Saint Hildegard’s life. Still, it will focus especially on her music, particularly through studying her viriditas, or ‘greenness’ concept, and its influence on her music. In addition to listening to some of her music, there will be an opportunity to discuss liturgy and chant. Finally, we will form […]

St. Benedict begins the prologue to his rule with the admonition, "Open the ear of your heart".  At this moment in our journey together as Church, we are called more than ever to listen deeply to the Spirit - the quiet whisper of our God speaking within our hearts.  The centerpiece for this retreat will […]

Lectio divina, the ancient Christian art of praying the scriptures, allows the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God. In other words, through lectio divina, reading sacred scripture becomes the gateway to contemplative prayer. In this workshop, ancient and modern approaches to the practice of lectio divina and its application […]

Designed for the beginner and offered during Lent, this Quiet Day will explore the history and purpose of Contemplative prayer practices, how contemplative prayer differs from meditation, what contemplative prayer is and isn’t, and offers the space to actually practice several contemplative prayer modalities. An extrovert by nature, Lisa discovered the value of contemplative practices […]

This preached retreat is for the oblates of St. Andrew's Abbey or anyone interested in Benedictine spirituality. The focus is the Rule of St. Benedict and the liturgy of Pentecost.   Presenters: Monks of Valyermo   *If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting […]

Imagine standing in C. S. Lewis’s personal library as he tells how books enlarged his vision, captured his imagination, and pointed him to Christ. In this workshop, Lewis’s story and the growth of his library are traced, beginning with his first book and early collecting through his academic and writing career, until his library is […]

St. Luke, Rembrandt, and Henri Nouwen are our human guides as we examine and discern the different spiritual states revealed in Holy Scripture's parable of The Prodigal Son. Art, writing, and personal experience combine to help us realize the broader implications of this narrative and how they apply to our lives. Careful attention to art, […]

This intensive icon painting workshop will provide an opportunity to experience the process of icon painting. Participants will learn traditional iconographic techniques, working with egg tempera on gesso and the Byzantine four-color (tetrachrome) palette. This practical instruction will be combined with theoretical instruction in the history of iconography, iconographic composition, and the theology of icons. […]

St. Andrew’s Abbey monks invite retreatants to reflect deeply on the Rule of St. Benedict. Individual monks will offer personal reflections and insights on selected passages of the Rule to further enrich our understanding of the Rule of St. Benedict, explore aspects for daily application, and deepen our Christian commitment to live out the Gospel.   […]

Angels are real, spiritual beings who exist as messengers and servants of God. This retreat will provide a general overview of angelology while looking at the writings and teachings of St Thomas Aquinas, Church Tradition, and the Scriptures to “flesh out” these mysterious beings of pure intellect. Utilizing the question/answer format from Dr. Peter Kreeft’s book […]