The Courageous Journey to Renewed Hope: October 16, 2021 Mary Elizabeth Ilg, Co-Director, Benedictine Center On Saturday, October 16, 2021 the Benedictine Center hosted a retreat group for a day of prayer and reflection focused on courage and hope. Christine Jurisich, a well-known retreat leader from California (retreatreflectrenew.org) spent the morning talking about courage. Courage comes…
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Blog
Waiting for What is Yet to be Born
Through the Triduum and Easter, Jesus provides a roadmap for the spiritual path of transformation. His actions model how we might live more deeply from our souls in ways that lead to service. He shows us a path from living out of the karmic self of the ego into the Kriya action of Essence.
Full of Days
Full of Days: On Retirement and Deserts I’ve always liked my feet. I thought they were quite pretty, at least as feet go. But a few months ago, after a long hike in the mountainous desert, I took off my shoes and socks and someone else’s feet emerged. Far from pretty, they looked like a…
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Praying the Psalms
Praying the Psalms O Lord, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth! My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief. Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise…
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A Reflection on the Holy Trinity
A REFLECTION ON THE HOLY TRINITY Exodus 34:4-9 John 3:16-18 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 The third chapter of John’s Gospel John proclaims that the Father loves the world and sent His Son to share eternal life with all who believe. The God, we contemplate today is present in, with and for us. The…
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Easter is a Season (Not a Day)
Easter is a Season (Not a Day) A Strange Easter The First Sunday of Easter was strange this year. Like many people, I sat in front of a computer screen to participate in communal worship. Trying to celebrate the Resurrection without physically gathering in community just didn’t feel like Easter. Many friends and acquaintances said…
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Resurrection in Relationship
Resurrection in Relationship: A Reflection on John 20-21 Growing up, I thought of “the Resurrection” as a one-time event, an event where Jesus was “raised” up out of the tomb. As a child, I thought that Jesus’ body simply floated up into the sky. I imagined that Jesus was “absent” from the tomb (and…
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Triduum: Jesus Models Essence and Service
Through the Triduum and Easter, Jesus provides a roadmap for the spiritual path of transformation. His actions model how we might live more deeply from our souls in ways that lead to service. He shows us a path from living out of the karmic self of the ego into the Kriya action of Essence.
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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Making Friends with My Body
Making Friends with My Body When I was first diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in my late 40’s, I had been having back pain, overall soreness and sometimes just feeling exhausted for several years. I had been to various doctors, orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists and athletic trainers and no one could do anything for me. I…
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