The Benedictine Experience is not a conference or a retreat but a carefully planned, unique attempt to bring together in community men and women, lay and clerical, to study and experience that balanced way of life as the Rule of St. Benedict envisaged it, giving due attention to body, mind, and spirit. A balanced Benedictine day is spent in prayer, study, work and leisure. Prayer is at the very heart of the spiritual life, Each day begins with Morning Prayer and a period of meditation. At most programs, the Eucharist is celebrated before lunch, in late afternoon Evensong, and Compline to end the day. Mornings are devoted to lectures and discussions and each day, following lunch, time is set aside for rest, study and work.
Evenings provide time for further talks and discussions or music.
The Friends of St. Benedict continues to develop material on the Benedictine Way which provides parishes and prayer groups with a means to grow in faith and commitment. A Friends of St. Benedict newsletter will be a channel for sharing information about experiences, as well as reflections by faculty and participants, and it will serve to give notice of Benedictine programs or pilgrimages sponsored by the Friends of St. Benedict as well as other organizations. We hope you will join us by becoming a Friend of St. Benedict. Friends of St. Benedict.