St Hildegard was highly gifted by the Lord. Among her many gifts was music. In this one-day retreat, we will look at some of Hildegard’s music and her vision of music: Its mysterious, divinely inspired nature, and its function and power within the liturgy. This will serve as a springboard for a general discussion on […]

This retreat will explore how the Eucharist opens our eyes to the sufferings of this world and gives us hope to challenge the structures of injustice, confident in God’s promises. Based on the book by Margaret Scott of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we will connect seven themes from eucharistic texts which […]

This preached retreat is for oblates of St. Andrew's Abbey or anyone interested in Benedictine spirituality. The focus for the retreat is the Rule of St. Benedict and the liturgy of Pentecost. 

Spend a weekend getting back to the key that unlocks the 12-Steps for those who follow them. We will take slightly different approach to these conventional steps and traditions. Recovery can be a traumatic shock to the system, as are all experiences of God. We find God in adversity and weakness; in our common disease […]

Our modern culture places a high value on non-fiction, deeming it to be the “reality,” while largely minimizing or dismissing the rich source of meaning that can be found in fiction, myth, and parable. Through a psycho-spiritual lens, we will explore how the human psyche can experience significant growth through deep interaction with certain forms […]

Discernment is an essential theme in the spiritual life. As we progress through our life, we constantly need to make practical decisions within the context of our values. These values are founded on our belief system, our culture, our understanding of and relationship with God. St. Benedict in his Rule is concerned that monks (actually […]

Cinema Divina uses the form of Lectio Divina with film. It is a time of prayer, reflection, and conversation to dive deeper into our story and recognize our call. This unique experience takes the participants on a journey through a film as we reflect together on our common human experience and the ability to live […]

God has not abandoned us in our weakness, struggle, or sickness. The Lord has promised that he will be with us always. Scripture tells us that Jesus, “sent them out two by two” to heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘“The kingdom of God has come near to you.” Jesus also said, […]

The Rule of Benedict emphasizes two forms of prayer, in particular: the Liturgy of the Hours and Lectio Divina. Benedict presupposes, without legislating, that monastics enter into silent prayer within these daily hours of communal and solitary prayer and reading. Monastic spirituality presupposes a reverence for and a practice of silence so as to be […]

Also available via Zoom The notion of “divinization” has traditionally been associated with Eastern Christian spiritual theology, particularly the Byzantine understandings of the sacraments and spiritual progress. In this workshop, we will encounter early Christian descriptions of theosis/divinization, and we will discover how both the Rule of Benedict and Gregory the Great’s Life of Benedict […]

As retreatants drawn to the desert, we often seek to cultivate the practice of silence, quieting ourselves to hear the voice of God. Yet the desert monastics were deeply attentive to the sounds around them: the wind, the raven, the thunder of a desert storm. They cultivated the practice of deep listening–– not to silence […]

Come unfold and glide through your dance of life that has been informed by dear friends, family members, and companions. Some may be present with you now; others may be felt and known only in spirit. All are your angels who continue to dance with you.