The Church celebrates the life of Saint Benedict on July 11. My life has been enriched by Benedictines in a variety of ways.
My earliest exposure to the Benedictine way of life came from the monks of Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City, Colorado. Then, I had the chance to be connected with Conception Abbey in Missouri when I was serving as Vocation Director for the Diocese of Pueblo. Finally, Saint Meinrad has been influencing diaconate formation for many years now. I am grateful to each of these institutions for their witness to the faith.
My closest connection to the Benedictines currently is with the nuns at the Abbey of St. Walburga in Virgina Dale, Colorado. They have touched my life immensely over the last 15 years. I have had the privilege of leading numerous retreats on their beautiful campus. These retreats always provide the opportunity to pray the Divine Office with the sisters. What a tremendous blessing it is to be in that sacred space praying with the sisters.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to the sisters. It is my understanding that someone from the parish where I serve as a deacon put me on the prayer list at the Abbey of St. Walburga. The intercessory prayer of the sisters is always welcome. After going through surgery for colon cancer, I waited (somewhat) patiently for three months to pass to conduct another series of scans and blood tests to see if there was any sign of cancer. Thankfully, those recent tests revealed no sign of metastatic disease. Being on the prayer lists of many different parishes, as well as the sisters at the abbey, brought a great deal of peace and comfort into my life during what would have otherwise been a very stressful time.
I extend my prayers and greetings to all of the Benedictines across the world. Thank you for your witness to the faith.
