“Every great dream begins with a dreamer… you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” -Harriet Tubman Born into slavery in 1820 in Maryland, amidst the chaos and violence of the Civil War, Harriet’s dream was to cast off the yoke of slavery for…
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Maria Varsho, 2024 St. Scholastica Honoree
January 2024
In 2018, the year of their 70th anniversary, the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Paul’s Monastery established the St. Scholastica Honor. The honor celebrates the virtues of St. Scholastica (Community, Hospitality, Listening, Dignity of Work, Respect for Persons, Stability, Justice, Awareness of God, Stewardship, and Moderation), and this honor is presented…
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Humility, The Eleventh Step
“The eleventh step of humility is that you speak gently and without laughter, seriously and with becoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising your voice, as it is written: “The wise are known by their few words.” RB 7:60-61 Speaking is a primary way in which we communicate and interact with others. The words…
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Again We Keep This Solemn Fast
The hymn “Ex more docti mystico”, attributed to Gregory the Great (d. 604) is a classic reflection on the meaning and practice of Lent. The translation in our hymnal at St. Paul’s Monastery, “Again we keep this solemn fast,” describes Lent as “a gift ... which binds us … to faith and hope and charity”.…
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A Seat at the Table
The Rule mentions a lot about how mealtimes and table rhythms should work for the Community, but here’s the deal—food and fellowship are experienced directly, and words fall a little short. When the pandemic started at the Monastery, a lot of stuff got disrupted, including meal patterns. When I started, I was half-time, and I…
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Psychological Mindfulness vs. Contemplative Spirituality
These healing words are easy to find today in descriptions for various healthcare and wellness services. This is a positive movement as researchers confirm more of what has been intuitively known- that our lifestyles directly influence our health. Teaching individuals techniques to better regulate their physiology (like heart rate and brain signaling) naturally through breathing and…
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