MONK LIFE On the cover: Br. James Jensen, OSB, is given the sign of peace by Archabbot Justin DuVall, OSB. FEATURES 2.....................................................From the Vocation Director 3...........................................................Honor Your Inner Monk App 4-5......................................................................Vocation Narration 6 .........................................................Benedictine Perspectives 7 ......................................................................Monk Spotlight 8 ..................................................................Ministry Spotlight Produced by the Vocations Office and the Communications Office of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Vocations Office, Saint Meinrad Archabbey 100 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577 vocations@saintmeinrad.org, www.saintmeinrad.org (812) 357-6318 © 2014
From the Vocation Director Br. John Mark Falkenhain, OSB Greetings from the Office of Monastery Vocations at Saint Meinrad Archabbey, and welcome to the first edition of our newsletter, Monk
Life. For the last couple of years, I have wanted to begin a regular newsletter aimed at keeping our friends and contacts up-to-date and informed on the goings-on, the ideas, the beauty and the meaning that are constantly unfolding in the course of our monastic life on the Holy Hill. This year, I have been blessed to have the assistance of Br. Peduru and Br. William, two of our monks in 2
temporary vows, whose assistance, enthusiasm and technological expertise have moved several projects forward, including this publication, which Br. William will be heading up. In each issue, we hope to introduce you to one or two more of our monks, to highlight some of the ways we are laboring to serve the Church around us, and to share with you some of the insights, perceptions, and experiences of God that grow out of our unique perspective as monks living in the United States in the 21st century. We think that as our world continues to grow increasingly more complex and challenging, the voices of monks and nuns – men and women who move a little to the
side in order to perceive the world through the lens of the Gospel – become especially important in their capacity to teach, support, remind, and encourage the young adults of our Church as they, too, labor to build up the Kingdom of God. We hope that you will find in each of these issues something that intrigues you, something that challenges you, something that amuses you and something that inspires you to live more fully the Gospel life, and maybe even the Monk Life! ✢
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