Retreats and Faith Formation
An important part of the Benedictine experience is providing students with opportunities to step back and reflect on some of life’s deep questions and offer resources they can use to grow and develop spiritually.
Faith formation is a broad term that includes such activities as praying, worshiping, bible study, retreats, service and other faith-based activities that help to facilitate students’ spiritual growth during their time at Benedictine.
Retreats and Faith Formation
An important part of the Benedictine experience is providing students with opportunities to step back and reflect on some of life’s deep questions and offer resources they can use to grow and develop spiritually.
Faith formation is a broad term that includes such activities as praying, worshiping, bible study, retreats, service and other faith-based activities that help to facilitate students’ spiritual growth during their time at Benedictine.
Catholic Community Group
The Catholic Community Group meets weekly to discuss topics and support each other in living a Catholic life. No registration required, come when you can! Contact [email protected] to learn more and for meeting times.
Benedictine Moments Resources
Join Christians around the world in the same prayerful readings below.
The Scripture readings for Catholic liturgy follow a specific schedule. Click here to read today’s selections.
Join Benedictines around the world as they read selections from The Rule of St. Benedict.
Use the lectio divina steps below with your reading for a more prayerful experience.
What is Lectio Divina?
“Lectio divina” are the Latin words for “divine reading.” It is a way of prayerfully reading scripture developed by the Benedictine order and used all over the globe. It consists of four steps. Each of the steps are reflected in our “Lectio Divina Question” that accompanies the quote of the day in the Benedictine Moment.
- Lectio (reading). Choose the passage you want to use in prayer. Shorter passages often work better. Read your passage slowly and carefully, paying attention to any word or phrase that sticks out to you. The Rule of St. Benedict starts with the line, “Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.” That word or phrase that stands out might be God speaking to you.
Lectio Divina question: What word or phrase stands out to you? - Meditatio (meditation). Read the passage again, this time allowing yourself to go slower and deeper. Perhaps you need to stop after a certain word or phrase and think about why it is relevant to you. Maybe you need to imagine yourself in the scene, one of the characters. Let your mind land on whatever is calling to you and spend time there.
Lectio Divina question: Why does this resonate with you? - Oratio (prayer). Bring what you gained from your meditation to God. Ask God to be with your thoughts and to lead you where God wants you to go. You may need to read the passage again, or you may need to journal or speak out loud. Remember to listen to what God is saying to you through the words in scripture and the promptings of your heart.
Lectio Divina question: What does this inspire you to ask of God?
Lectio Divina question: What does God want you to learn from this quotation? - Contemplatio (contemplation). This is the natural evolution of your prayer: a space that is just you and God, no need for words or images. This is the place where you can rest in God’s loving embrace. Lectio divina and contemplation are not about achieving a goal. Contemplation is not the goal of lectio divina; it is a gift freely given from our loving Creator. Sometimes God needs us to experience this silence, and sometimes God needs us to go back to our activity. Embrace either calling as part of your continuous, lifelong journey to unity with God.
Lectio Divina question: Sit with this message and God in the quiet.