Life Is a School for Discernment Benedictine spirituality moved from theory to practice again for me this month during the first online School of Discernment. Dr. Kathleen Cahalan taught, accompanied by familiar members of the spiritual direction team, but this time twice as many participants came together as we explored what hope and practical help…
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About: Samuel Rahberg
Sam Rahberg is former Director of the Benedictine Center and a spiritual director in St. Paul. He is author of Ice Break: A Collection of Poems (Aetos Publications, 2019), Enduring Ministry: Toward a Lifetime of Christian Leadership (Liturgical Press, 2017), and The Gospels in Poem and Image (Aetos Publications, 2016-2019). Sam has experience in parish ministry and holds a master’s degree in theology from Saint John’s University (Collegeville, MN).
Through spiritual direction, individual and group ministerial reflection, and writing, Sam companions Christian leaders as they re-discover the sense of calling and giftedness at the heart of Christ-centered ministry. In his spare time, you will find Sam tending his family’s small tree farm or fly fishing for trout in Southeast Minnesota. Learn more at www.samuelrahberg.com.
Recent Posts by Samuel Rahberg

Spilling Water Meditation
Spilling Water Meditation When our water here becomes saturated with pollution, it gets led back to the original water, the ocean. ~Rumi [audio mp3="https://www.benedictinecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/spilling-water-meditation.mp3"][/audio] . . . practicing a less anxious presence, from the sights and sounds of a water glass tipping to experiencing connection with a much wider world . . . Like…
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The Awakening: What Is the Gift of Shadow? (Part 3 of 3)
This reflection continues a three-part exploration of the unknown in our inner worlds, sometimes called the shadow. Part 1 took up the question “What Is Shadow?” and parts 2 unpacked the question “What Do We Do with Shadow?.” Third and finally, “What Is the Gift of Shadow?” The Awakening What Is the Gift of Shadow? (Part…
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The Summons: What Do We Do With Shadow? (Part 2 of 3)
This reflection continues an exploration of the unknown in our inner worlds, sometimes called the shadow. Part 1 took up the question “What Is Shadow?” while parts 2 and 3 follow the questions “What Do We Do with Shadow?” and “What Is the Gift of Shadow?” The Summons What Do We Do With Shadow? (Part 2…
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The Unknown: What Is Shadow? (Part 1 of 3)
This reflection kicks off a three-part exploration of the unknown in our inner worlds, sometimes called the shadow. Part 1 takes up the question “What Is Shadow?” while parts 2 and 3 follow the questions “What Do We Do with Shadow?” and “What Is the Gift of Shadow?”

Ice Break: Annotated Selections from a Book of Poems
Ice Break: Annotated Selections from a Book of Poems Writers too infrequently have the opportunity to witness people in the act of receiving their work. I was recently afforded that privilege as I shared a poetry reading with my friend and colleague Victor Klimoski. The experience encouraged me to annotate a handful of poems for…
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A Tool for Attending to the Inner Dimensions of Leadership
A Tool for Attending to the Inner Dimensions of Leadership The everyday and lasting pressures of ministry can take their toll on Christian leaders—and venting only helps so much. Thankfully, what we can learn from the practice of spiritual direction is that Christian leaders are not alone in their struggles and that there are ways…
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The Messy Middle: Where Change Happens
The Messy Middle: Where Change Happens In the Benedictine Center office, we’ve been talking about Brené Brown’s book Rising Strong (Random House, 2015). She makes that point that, if we want to experience real growth and change in our lives, we can’t skip the “messy middle” part of our stories. The first pass at such an observation…
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New 2018 Catalog
Download the New 2018 Catalog featuring Benedictine reflections, workshops, retreats, and other spiritual resources
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Did You Know . . . ? | 35 Quick Facts About the Benedictine Center
Did You Know . . . ? 35 quick facts about the Benedictine Center compiled by Nancy Cicero, Oblate 35. The Vision of the Benedictine Center is to be “a sacred threshold between St. Paul’s Monastery and the wider world.” 34. The Benedictine Center embodies the values of the Monastic Community by: Extending radical hospitality;…
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Recent Comments by Samuel Rahberg
- July 8, 2018 on Writing from the Center | Companioning Writers
- May 8, 2018 on Cooling Anger and Warming Sadness
- May 7, 2018 on Cooling Anger and Warming Sadness
- December 7, 2017 on Spiritual Direction: What Are You Talking About?