Benedictine Spirituality

The Benedictine life is, “…simply living the Gospel without fanfare…The mainspring of everything in [the Rule of] Saint Benedict is the love of Christ — in Himself, in the poor, in the monastic community, in the individual brethren…This is the key to the monastic life and spirit.”
Fr. Thomas Merton, OCSO

People come to monasteries to seek God. 
Cardinal Basil Hume, O.S.B

Spirituality is our response to the Holy Spirit, a synergy of things we can discern and others that only God knows.  St. Benedict provides a set of fundamentals for this lifelong journey: the Rule of St. Benedict, The Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, and the Eucharist.

St. Benedict points to a path to God in his, “little rule for beginners,” creating a fertile ground for and an openness to the Holy Spirit.  To understand the practice of Benedictine spirituality one must allow it to work within, to percolate and purify.  The Rule of St Benedict is also used by laity, not just monks and nuns, as means to sustain and deepen their relationship with Christ.  The Rule in its entirety is available at: rule.kansasmonks.org.

The purpose of The Liturgy of the Hours is the sanctification of time by extending the Pascal Mystery in the Eucharist over the course of the hours of the day. It is central to Benedictine spirituality.  The structure of The Liturgy of the Hours is devised to cover all the hours of the day and night.  Click Here for The Liturgy of the Hours.

Lectio Divina is an ancient practice of sitting with the Word of God, praying with and over the Word of God, and being formed by the Word of God.  In practice it involves four steps: reading the Word of God, ruminating on a word or phrase, speaking to God using words, ideas, or images, and simply resting in His loving presence.  Click Here for Lectio Divina.

Each of St. Emma’s nuns spends quiet, reflective time each day practicing Lectio Divina.  Time spent with God’s Word is always fruitful. At times that fruit cannot be articulated; at times the fruit is personal; and some fruit given St. Emma’s nuns is shared with you each day.  Click Here for the fruit of St Emma’s nuns Lectio.

Need a short, crisp, thought for a moment of spiritual reflection? Benedictines, and other monastic authors, publish books on a wide array of spiritual topics.  The Daily with Benedictines section provides you a new spiritual thought each day that is appropriate for your reflection.  The books selected are available for purchase at St. Emma’s on-line Gift & Book Shop or, sample them yourself when you visit St. Emma.  Click Here for Reflections from Benedictine & Monastic Authors.