Suburban Hermit
“In Every Man There is a Monk and an Explorer” Ben Stauffer
An Evening Prayer
From the Anglican tradition O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto your servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our [...]
Emily Dickinson: A Kind of Hermit
Emily Dickinson's Home with her room illuminated A reminder that there are those with a hermit's heart who are not Catholic and have never taken vows. Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – [...]
Mt Athos
The Holy Mountain - Mount Athos is the premier monastery--or collection of monasteries in the Eastern Orthodox faith. Located on a peninsula in Northeastern Greece... Mount Athos has been inhabited since the ancient times [...]
Abbey Church of St Philibert, Tournus, France
Cloister, St Philibert, Tournus, France St Philibert in Tournus is one of the most perfect examples of French Romanesque architecture. My discovery of this church was one of those serendipitous experiences you [...]
On the Necessity of Reading
One of the gifts of the Benedictine tradition is the form of prayer called Lectio Divina or Holy Reading. In a world where speed reading is expected, skimming is required and glancing through summaries is [...]
Benedict’s Ninth Through Twelfth Steps of Humility
Here is the final segment of my comments on St Benedict's twelve steps of humility. The other segments can be located under the tags "Benedictine Way" and "Rule of St Benedict" The ninth degree [...]