SBC Blog — Christ the King Priory

Dear Friends,

Our motherhouse in Germany, the Benedictine Abbey of Muensterschwarzach, located about ninety miles east of Frankfurt in Northern Bavaria, celebrates 1,200 years since its foundation. The monastery dates back to the time of Charlemagne and considers Benedict of Aniane its first abbot, who united all monasteries of the vast Franconian Empire under the Rule of St. Benedict. The Benedictines of the Abbey experienced many heights and depths in the course of their long history. There were good times of renewal and flourishing like under Blessed Abbot Egbert (1047-1077), but there were also dark hours of war, fire, decay and suppression. Yet the monks returned to their home time and again, for 1,200 years.

Since 1913, Missionary Benedictine monks have lived at Muensterschwarzach. Combining a communal monastic life-style with missionary and apostolic activity, we work in twenty-two countries around the world. Among other things, the one hundred monks who currently live at the Abbey run a junior high and high school with 800 students, and a large retreat center. Also they house and take care of over thirty refuge seekers, mainly from the Middle-East, among them unaccompanied minors.

The oldest item that was found on the monastery’s compound is a key from the Carolingian period (8th – 9thcentury). This key was the inspiration for the jubilee year’s motto: “Be Open.” The goal is new openness of the monks toward God and toward the people in their various ministries. With this intention, the monks observed a Sabbath time of intense prayer and listening to God during the Season of Lent.

In Nebraska, there is no better place for growing in a stance of openness to God and to the people than the St. Benedict Center. - Have you ever thought of bringing a group of people from your parish, your group of friends, your Bible study group or your faith sharing group to St. Benedict Center? Would you like some input and spiritual guidance during your stay? We are delighted to offer you our half-day retreat package: a presentation by a monk or lay facilitator, time by yourself, silent reflection, sharing and a delicious home-cooked lunch, all for $ 19.95 per person, tax included. Upon request, monks are also available for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is possible to join the monks for Mass (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 11:15 a.m.; Tue, Thu 5:30 p.m.). - I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator

Dear Friends,

The Australian Trappist and well-known spiritual author Fr. Michael Casey wrote a book titled, Strangers to the City. In it he points to Chapter 4 of St. Benedict’s Rule, in which Benedict advises the monks “to make themselves strangers to the actions of the age.” Benedict himself had, as a young man, left the city of his studies, Rome, in order to seek the solitude of a cave in Subiaco. There he deeply experienced God’s presence while living in a cave for three years. Benedict also says that the monks are called to conversion, to taking on the values and beliefs of the gospel, and to viewing things with the eyes of Christ.

Not everybody can physically leave the world as monks do. But a cartoon I saw this week certainly expresses our truth: It is hard to hear the voice of the shepherd if the sheep constantly are distracted by so many other voices! This is not to say that a person necessarily should give up TV, smart phones, and Facebook (actually that’s where I found the cartoon!). Nevertheless, it is necessary to have some inner distance from what is clamoring for our attention in our modern world, to become quiet, and to listen inward in order for us to hear the loving voice of our Divine Shepherd who never condemns us, who rather seeks us out, carries us and guides us.

Going on retreat is one good way of becoming a “stranger to the city” for all of us: attending one of our scheduled retreats or just taking quiet time by oneself at St. Benedict Center of resting, arriving in the present moment, speaking to God in prayer and listening to God, may be even meeting with one of the monks for spiritual direction.

At the Center, you will meet new co-workers: Deb greets and serves you as hostess in the office; Karen and Julie have joined our kitchen team. As part of an ongoing effort to improve the Center, we have made the following amenities available to you this year: new softer pillows on all guest beds, queen sized beds in several rooms, automatic door openers at main entrance and lake side door; a cell phone signal repeater, which makes cell phone calls possible in the lobby for your convenience (please respect other retreatants’ need for silence); and two UHD smart TV’s for groups in the conference rooms.

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is our nativity scenes display, inviting you for a pilgrimage to the Center at the start of the Year of Mercy. Our Valentine's Day Dinner on February 14, 2016, begins with Mass at 5:00 p.m., followed by a delicious 4 course meal. On April 9 – 10, Dr. John Gresham from St. Louis and his wife Mary Jane will offer Spiritual Intimacy in Marriage Retreat with ideas and concrete direction for praying together as a couple.