Events

  This retreat will introduce the spiritual vision of well-known medieval monks and nuns. Highlighted individuals will include the Cistercians Bernard of Clairvaux and William of St. Thierry, alongside the Benedictine Hildegaard of Bingen, the anchoress Julian of Norwich and the Augustinian Canon Thomas à Kempis. Though not all of these individuals are Benedictines, the […]

We give them, we suffer them, our bodies hold on to them for years: Wounds. We can imprison ourselves in them and wither emotionally far too long without the transforming power of forgiveness. It is Divine Love that liberates us from resentment, self-pity and isolation. The love that forgives opens a path to inner freedom, […]

    In the Benedictine tradition the Sacred Scriptures have always been at the center.  In the whole of the Bible, and especially while chanting the Book of Psalms, Benedictines daily encounter Jesus Christ in prayer.  In this workshop we will consider the history and modern use of the ancient Christian practices of lectio divina (praying the […]

This retreat will look at what purity of heart is and how we may strive more perfectly toward it by looking at it through the lens of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We will look to our Lord and our Lady’s lives, words, and example in their single-minded pursuit of God’s will in the […]

       In the early Church, and especially in the Christian monastic tradition, the result of deepening relationship with Christ was often described as “blessedness” (sometimes translated as “happiness”) or even “divinization.”  In modern psychology and spirituality the term “flourishing” is often preferred.  In this workshop we will reflect on our personal salvation history […]

  The Rule of Saint Benedict asks us to go inward and to cultivate a gentle pace and slow rhythm, listening not to external sounds but to God’s presence with “the ear of our hearts.” In many ways, this is at odds with the understanding of progress that shapes American culture, and indeed the Western […]

Basándonos en el libro del sacerdote y teólogo católico alemán Johann Metz, "Pobreza de espíritu", este retiro explorará el significado y la importancia de la «pobreza de espíritu». Analizaremos la relevancia de los temas de la Encarnación, las diversas formas de pobreza y, en especial, lo que significa ser verdaderamente humanos como esencia de la […]

This retreat will be inspired by many writers’ reflections on spirituality for the “second half” of life, writers including Sister Joan Chittister (The Gift of Years) and Parker Palmer (On the Brink of Everything). Creative living within the season of wisdom, greater and ongoing maturation, and positive transformation of the inner life will be some […]

This retreat is open to artists at all levels, including beginners. Photographers, sculptors, and writers are also welcome to come and experience the colors and beauty of the high desert in the setting of the monastery. Escape the stress of daily life while deepening a spiritual vision in your art.   Presenter: GREGORY MICHAEL HERNANDEZ […]

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 […]

This non-directed retreat provides time to reflect on all God has given to us and to enjoy the festive celebration of Thanksgiving with the monastic community.   *If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.