THE FOOL ON THE HILL
We who do believe can seem like fools. Sometimes our own thoughts try to tell us that we are foolish. Worse, that we are fools. We live in a world in which so much is diametrically opposed to the values of the Gospels, and we can’t help but be infected to some degree with the world’s values. How do we counteract it?
THE VIRUS OF FEAR In this time of pandemic, most of us take great precautions to avoid catching Covid-19. Yet we can’t help but worry. So how do we combat this virus of fear, or how do we at least seek to cope with it? Summer 2020 Newsletter in PDF format (1.1MB)
Forgetfulness seems to be a regular part of my life these days. I’ve simply forgotten that deeper, more important reality in the midst of the daily work and responsibilities. Mindfulness, or remembering, is a major understanding in the Benedictine tradition, and in early Christianity, as well as in Buddhism and other religions. Fall 2022 Newsletter…
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? Summer 2021 Newsletter…
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
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,…
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…
