Trappist Monastery Retreat

[Joey1976]

Anyone ever gone to a Trappist Monastery or other monastery for a weekend for a personal retreat? Someone told me they did it and i can’t remember which one they went to, some where in the southern states i think. I was wondering if anyone here has done this and also anyone have a lit of Trappist Monateries in the US or a link to a list? Thanks

 

[The_Catholic]

Anyone ever gone to a Trappist Monastery or other monastery for a weekend for a personal retreat? Someone told me they did it and i can’t remember which one they went to, some where in the southern states i think. I was wondering if anyone here has done this and also anyone have a lit of Trappist Monateries in the US or a link to a list? Thanks

i would be interested in this too.

 

[J_G]

Here is a link to the OCSO regional list of monasteries for the US:
US Trappist Monasteries

Many people love the feeling of tranquility they get while at a monastery. In a busy world, it is nice to be able to listen to God. I’m discerning a vocation with the Trappists, at Our Lady of New Melleray Abbey. I would highly suggest a retreat at a Trappist (or any order’s) retreat center. I know that at New Melleray, they have a program called the monastic center where you share in the life of a monastic community .Here’s a link to that: Monastic Center
Look around on the website, and you’ll see they have personal retreats, vocational retreats, and even themed retreats.

 

[I_Believe]

The Abbey of Gethsemani is a Trappist monastery that has weekend and weeklong retreats. It’s in the heart of Kentuckys “Holy Land”. On the retreat page there is a mileage chart and directions. If you go, don’t forget to visit St Joseph proto Cathedral, just up the road in Bardstown. It has been designated a minor basilica by Rome
monks.org/aloneingod.html

 

[Joey1976]

Here is a link to the OCSO regional list of monasteries for the US:
US Trappist Monasteries

Many people love the feeling of tranquility they get while at a monastery. In a busy world, it is nice to be able to listen to God. I’m discerning a vocation with the Trappists, at Our Lady of New Melleray Abbey. I would highly suggest a retreat at a Trappist (or any order’s) retreat center. I know that at New Melleray, they have a program called the monastic center where you share in the life of a monastic community .Here’s a link to that: Monastic Center
Look around on the website, and you’ll see they have personal retreats, vocational retreats, and even themed retreats.

Hi, i was looking at the Trappist monastery in Georgia and on their website they do hold retreats but it said they have classes on Yoga for Christians. That seems kind of shady to me and may border on some centering prayer and new age things that we should stay away from. Since you are discerning a vocation do you know anything about this or what to think of it?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Anyone ever gone to a Trappist Monastery or other monastery for a weekend for a personal retreat? Someone told me they did it and i can’t remember which one they went to, some where in the southern states i think. I was wondering if anyone here has done this and also anyone have a lit of Trappist Monateries in the US or a link to a list? Thanks

I’ve been going to St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA, every year for the past 8 years.
spencerabbey.org/

You must make a reservation and reservations are only accepted on the 1st day of the month, six months in advance.

So, in other words, tomorrow, you could reserve for May.

The 3rd week-end of every month is for women.

They only take 12 people at a time, so you must reserve early.

Essentially, the retreat begins Friday evening with Vespers,(evening prayer) followed by supper. The retreats are silent for the most part, and there is no talking during meals. However, everyone helps to do the dishes so there is talk at that time. Also, you can go to the living room if you want to socialize, but the retreat master will tell you to quiet down, if it gets too loud. Most of the men respect the silence.

You have the option of attending all the hours of the Divine office, beginning with Vigils at 3:15 AM. Laudes,(morning prayer) followed by Mass is at 6:40AM. Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, the retreatants are allowed in the back of the Abbey Church. The little ours, you go to the visitors chapel on the side.

Its a wonderful retreat and I look forward to it every year. My wife has also been making the retreat.

Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Hi, i was looking at the Trappist monastery in Georgia and on their website they do hold retreats but it said they have classes on Yoga for Christians. That seems kind of shady to me and may border on some centering prayer and new age things that we should stay away from. Since you are discerning a vocation do you know anything about this or what to think of it?

I visited the Abbey in Conyers GA. Its a beautiful place and the Trappist Monks are very contemplative.

Their monastic industry is growing and selling Bonsai trees. I have never made a retreat there, but I’m sure it would be wonderful.

The Trappist are hardly New Age, they’ve been around for hundreds of years.

Also, Centering Prayer(not a new form of prayer) was founded by the Trappist Monks, Father Thomas Keating and Father Basil Pennington(RIP). Both Monks are contemplative Monks and are very Catholic.

Jim

 

[Joey1976]

I visited the Abbey in Conyers GA. Its a beautiful place and the Trappist Monks are very contemplative.

Their monastic industry is growing and selling Bonsai trees. I have never made a retreat there, but I’m sure it would be wonderful.

The Trappist are hardly New Age, they’ve been around for hundreds of years.

Also, Centering Prayer(not a new form of prayer) was founded by the Trappist Monks, Father Thomas Keating and Father Basil Pennington(RIP). Both Monks are contemplative Monks and are very Catholic.

Jim

Not trying to argue or anything cause i don’t know much about it at all but i have read that centering prayer is dangerous.
catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9711fea1.asp

Again, i am not saying you are wrong at all cause i have no real experience and i am knew to this issue. But it just came across as strange to me that they taught Yoga for Christians at that monastery in Georgia. That is the one that i remember now that my friend went to and i wanted to go there for a retreat but i found that odd on their website about the yoga. So, i wasn’t sure about it and have been looking up things about the yoga for Christians and centering prayer and have heard bad things about it. But anyways the real reason i started this post was to find good Monasteries to go on a retreat at, and i was wondering if anyone else had any suggestions on Monasteries even if they are not Trappist, basically any type because i am looking for a good personal retreat of silence, reflection and prayer. I will definitely look into your suggestions and if anyone else has any other. Thanks!!!

 

[dixieagle]

Anyone ever gone to a Trappist Monastery or other monastery for a weekend for a personal retreat? Someone told me they did it and i can’t remember which one they went to, some where in the southern states i think. I was wondering if anyone here has done this and also anyone have a lit of Trappist Monateries in the US or a link to a list? Thanks

Hello,

My husband has been several times to the Abbey of Gethsemane near Bardstown, KY; it is just about his favorite place on earth. (He has, for years, studied and written about Thomas Merton, and Merton’s secretary is still at Gethsemane.) The Georgia abbey someone mentioned is at Conyers GA - The Abbey of the Holy Spirit.

With regard to centering prayer, here is a quote from the late Fr. Basil Pennington himself. It is clear that God must always be at the center…the be all and end all:

"In prayer we seek God. We do not seek peace, quiet, tranquillity, enlightenment; we do not seek anything for ourselves. We seek to give ourselves, or, rather, we do simply give ourselves, even without attending to ourselves, so whole is our intent upon the one to whom we give: God. He is the all of our prayer. If thoughts and images and feelings careen around in our head and in our heart, little matter. We pay no attention to them. We do not seek to get rid of them any more than we seek to entertain them. As we give ourselves in our loving attention to God, we also give them to him. And let Him do with them what he wants to do with them."

Though it is not my cup of tea, to each his own with regard to manner of prayer.

 

[Joey1976]

Hello,

My husband has been several times to the Abbey of Gethsemane near Bardstown, KY; it is just about his favorite place on earth. (He has, for years, studied and written about Thomas Merton, and Merton’s secretary is still at Gethsemane.) The Georgia abbey someone mentioned is at Conyers GA - The Abbey of the Holy Spirit.

With regard to centering prayer, here is a quote from the late Fr. Basil Pennington himself. It is clear that God must always be at the center…the be all and end all:

"In prayer we seek God. We do not seek peace, quiet, tranquillity, enlightenment; we do not seek anything for ourselves. We seek to give ourselves, or, rather, we do simply give ourselves, even without attending to ourselves, so whole is our intent upon the one to whom we give: God. He is the all of our prayer. If thoughts and images and feelings careen around in our head and in our heart, little matter. We pay no attention to them. We do not seek to get rid of them any more than we seek to entertain them. As we give ourselves in our loving attention to God, we also give them to him. And let Him do with them what he wants to do with them."

Though it is not my cup of tea, to each his own with regard to manner of prayer.

Thanks! I will check out the website about the one in Kentucky. I was thinking about the one in Conyers, Georgia because the weather might be better this winter going down South but i will have to decide between the one in Kentucky and the one in Georgia. Thanks!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Joey1976

Not trying to argue or anything cause i don’t know much about it at all but i have read that centering prayer is dangerous.
catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9711fea1.asp

The article unfortunately is flawed. It describes Centering Prayer as being something other than what the founder, Father Thomas Keating, teaches it as. People who have attacked Centering Prayer, base their information on New Age people or others who were involved in Eastern Relgions, and not from Father Keating.
If you want more info from Father Keating, PM me.

Again, i am not saying you are wrong at all cause i have no real experience and i am knew to this issue. But it just came across as strange to me that they taught Yoga for Christians at that monastery in Georgia.

First off, the Trappist are cloistered Monks. Its more than likely they’re allowing one of their rooms to be used for yoga instruction by some one else and they are more than likely, teaching yoga exercise, not Hindu spiritualism.

Its easy to be given flawed information, especially from neo-Catholics who practice a fundamentalism form of Catholicism.
Their main desire is to keep Catholicism different and distant from the rest of humanity.

The Trappist Monastery in Ga, was having a difficult time, financially. The late Fr. Basil Pennington went down there years ago, to help them out.

I’m sure a retreat at this monetary would be an enriching experience.

They are very Catholic, have no doubt about it.

Jim

 

[Joey1976]

Joey1976

The article unfortunately is flawed. It describes Centering Prayer as being something other than what the founder, Father Thomas Keating, teaches it as. People who have attacked Centering Prayer, base their information on New Age people or others who were involved in Eastern Relgions, and not from Father Keating.
If you want more info from Father Keating, PM me.

First off, the Trappist are cloistered Monks. Its more than likely they’re allowing one of their rooms to be used for yoga instruction by some one else and they are more than likely, teaching yoga exercise, not Hindu spiritualism.

Its easy to be given flawed information, especially from neo-Catholics who practice a fundamentalism form of Catholicism.
Their main desire is to keep Catholicism different and distant from the rest of humanity.

The Trappist Monastery in Ga, was having a difficult time, financially. The late Fr. Basil Pennington went down there years ago, to help them out.

I’m sure a retreat at this monetary would be an enriching experience.

They are very Catholic, have no doubt about it.

Jim

Here is how it is explained on their website about this during their retreats…
March 31 – April 3 (MW)
Yoga for Christians
(Jeanette Meyer, Dayna Gelinas, & Fr. Tom Francis)
Moving into Stillness & Contemplative Prayer during Mid-life and Beyond.Quieting the mind using yoga postures, the breath and silent prayer. Listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit within the deep recesses of one’s being. For those new to Yoga or the experienced practitioner wishing to further explore the fundamentals, this retreat will provide an understanding of the different practices & their context.

Again, i am not really concerned with this i was just curious. Plus i am just going for a personal retreat probably without spiritual direction. Basically, i just want to get away for a weekend with silence, reflection, and prayer. I think this would be a good way whether i go to the one In Georgia or Kentucky or whether someone suggests another monastery with a different order, it really doesn’t matter to me. I just think it would be a great retreat to go spend time in silence in a Monastery. Thanks for all your help!!! Any other suggestions would be great but at this point i think i will narrow it down between The Tappists in Kentucky or Georgia. There are also a Carmelite Monastery in Wyoming that i think would be a great place out in nature in Wyoming but i am not sure if they offer retreats. Thanks everyone. Keep the info coming if you have any more. Thanks

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Joey

Well, I’ve never gone on retreat at the other Trappist Monasteries, but at St. Joseph’s in Spencer, its very quite and not structured.
You can attend the liturgy of the hours if you wish, but nothing is mandated. The Trappist are cloistered so you’ll only have contact with the Retreat Master and the Guest House Master. I would think the other Trappist monasteries follow the same routine.

Gethsemani in Kentucky, I believe is the oldest monastery in America.

Also, there is a Trappist monastery in Snowmas Colorado, and from what I’m told, the scenery is awesome.

In all, its a win-win situation and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

God Bless
Jim