Catholic Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog with inquirers discerning their religious calling to monastic life.
Posted in Silence on Sep 13th, 2011
This article appeared in our most recent issue of Connecting Point. Email Sr. Sheila at smcgrath@smmsisters.org if you’d like to be on our mailing list! We all crave signs from above from time to time. Whether we are looking for guidance, a cure, assistance with a problem or something as specific as a new job, [...]
Posted in keating on Aug 15th, 2011
Peace cultivates a sense of quiet knowing when we are rooted in God. Even when our lives are chaotic, painful, fearful and anxious, we can maintain interior peace. How? By practicing Centering Prayer.
Posted in Benedictine Prayer, Benedictine practices, retreat on Jun 10th, 2011
Parting the clouds like water, the sun shone brightly this morning for the first time in 2 days. As we gather now for our conference, it slips behind the clouds, dimming the diamonds in the grass. From the top of a nearby sapling, a cherry red cardinal calls out. No answer. He tries again. Below, [...]
Posted in Benedictine Prayer, Benedictine practices, prayer, spirituality on Mar 12th, 2009
When a desert abba once said, “Watching means to sit in your cell and be always mindful of God,” he could have been talking about Centering Prayer. An ancient practice that may lead to contemplation, Centering Prayer helps practitioners, through silence, learn to rest in God – and know God. It is stunningly simple. Learn [...]