RELAXING
When we think about trying to follow the Gospel directives, or in old-fashioned terms, the practice of virtue, we normally associate this with a lot of effort. Suppose that what is needed is not more will power, or muscle power, or major inner strategies? Suppose we might need to relax. Relax?
CHANGE “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” runs an old folk wisdom saying. This saying has never seemed so profoundly true as today. So many things change today: a new president in the White House, the seasons, the death of Pope Francis, and the new pope, Leo XIV. Is there anything…
GENTLENESS It is beyond evident that this long lingering pandemic has us all stressed in many ways. We react in different ways: irritability, withdrawal, escapism etc. I suggest there is still another way: the way of gentleness. Winter 2021 Newsletter PDF
Recently we hosted a weekend preached retreat here at the Hermitage. In setting up times for lectures and discussions with Sr. Donald Corcoran, our presenter, it happened that we left long blocks of free time for people. There were long stretches of free time early Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, again in the evening, and also…
The second annual of Feeding The Soul at Elks Lodge, Maine held on October 22nd 2017. Theme: Listen to The Spirit Featured Speakers: – Gary Crocker (Maine humorist and storyteller) – Ken Parker (Maine’s own Garrison Keillor) – Sr. Elizabeth Wagner ( Benedictine hermit, retreat leader, spiritual director and author of Seasons in My Garden:…
RCIA is the reason why I am a contemplative nun. When one is baptised as an adult, one cannot help but come to the realisation that one’s life has been very uneventful, and also of many previous unruly and false conceptions. Letting the Saviour into my life made for a complete turnover and drastic changes,…
For some time now, during my morning hour for prayer and lectio, I sit and wait, in emptiness. Perhaps idleness? I don’t know. And yet it doesn’t feel ‘dry.’ Fall 2025 Newsletter in PDF (1.5MB)
