Suburban Hermit
“In Every Man There is a Monk and an Explorer” Ben Stauffer
Why the Psalms?
Benedictine Monks Singing the Psalms Even a quick look at the monastic life will reveal how important the psalms are to the spiritual life. In choir, singing the psalms is the major [...]
St Mary Magdalene and Vezelay
Today it was announced that the memorial of St Mary Magdalene is to be raised to a Feast in the Church's calendar. The ancient legend from the Eastern Church, and recorded by St Gregory [...]
Elijah at Horeb
I see that the Suburban Hermit has been silent since the middle of February. Readers have asked, "What has happened to the Suburban Hermit? Have you closed that blog?" The answer is that I [...]
Penitential Progress is Pendular
The American Alpha Achievement culture sells us the idea that success should be one quick upward spiral from glory to glory until we are the perfectly successful person with a perfect tan, perfect teeth, [...]
What is Perfect Contrition?
If you go to confession just because you feel it is your duty and you scrounge around to find a few things you think might be a "sin" but you're not really sure and [...]
Lent with Thomas Merton – 1
Thomas Merton was a hermit at the Trappist Monastery of Gethesamani in Kentucky. His autobiography The Seven Story Mountain is one of the best tales of God getting hold of a man and that man's true [...]