pictures

Nameday

At Conception Abbey, it is our house custom that we do not do much to celebrate birthdays.  However, what we celebrate is a monk’s nameday.  A “nameday” is the feast day of a saint after whom a person is named. In monastic life, the Abbot gives a new name to the monk at profession.  It…

Sunshine

This is the best time of year to snap photos of the sunlight illuminating the buildings and streaming in through the windows.  It turned out to be another beautiful day; not a bad way to start December. The seminarians in our college return this evening from Thanksgiving break. Tomorrow is business as usual, but we…

Prepare Yourself

Beginning with Evening Prayer on Friday, the monks were on a Day of Recollection in anticipation of the season of Advent.  A Day of Recollection is a day of silence and reflection where no speaking or common recreation is permitted.  Rather, the monks are encouraged to read, spend more time in prayer, and practice lectio…

Thanksgiving

“I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you” (Phil 1:3-4). Happy Thanksgiving!  The monks of Conception Abbey have many reasons to give thanks.  It is important for us first to recognize the little blessings of each day, like a beautiful…

Faithful Witnesses

We honor our jubilarians this evening with a special “Gaudeamus” (Let us rejoice) celebration in the monastic refectory.  It is a house tradition that the younger members of the monastic community put on some form of entertainment to honor and recognize the jubilarians.  In the last few years, there has been everything ranging from humorous to…

Sacred Reading

I have always enjoyed making movies.  I am in the process of creating a series of informative videos about monastic life, which should attract the interest of anyone who wants to learn more about the Benedictine tradition, or may be considering a monastic vocation. This video focuses on the monastic practice of lectio divina, which is…

Another Reason to Smile

The seminarians have cause for rejoicing, as they depart today after their last morning class for Thanksgiving break.  I am sure they have been looking forward to some relaxing time with their families, and a little time away from studies, as the end of the semester concludes on December 20.  As they are leaving for…

Let Us Give Thanks

Thanksgiving week at the monastery is a special time for the community for several reasons.  It is a time when the “monks on mission” return home.  The monks on mission are our confreres who are serving in parishes throughout the midwest.  Currently, there are ten monks on mission, and they will return to join us…

New Beginnings

For some time now I have thought about creating a blog to give others insight into our way of life as Benedictine monks at Conception Abbey.  Our lives as monks, offered to Christ, encounter many great joys and blessings, which I hope to share and communicate with all who access this blog.  It will serve…

The Printery House Celebrates 60 Years!

The Printery House is one of Conception Abbey’s many apostolates, and this year they’re celebrating 60 years of spreading the word through Christian greeting cards and gifts. To learn more about The Printery House and their work watch the video above or click here, Gospel and Greeting Cards, to read their recent article in Rural Missourian!