Monastery of the Holy Spirit facts for kids
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, is a special place where Trappist monks live. It's a monastery located near Conyers, Georgia, in the United States. This monastery is part of the Roman Catholic Christian church.
As of 2022, about twenty-eight monks live here. They support themselves by running different businesses right at the monastery. The monastery and its land are also part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. It marks the southernmost point of the Arabia Mountain Path, a popular trail.
Contents
History of the Monastery
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit was started on March 21, 1944. Twenty monks came from the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky to begin this new community. The Archdiocese of Atlanta and a famous silent film star named Colleen Moore generously gave them about 1,400 acres (5.7 square kilometers) of land.
When the first monks arrived, they lived in a barn. They worked hard to build their first monastery themselves, using pine boards. They lived in this "pine board" monastery from December 1944 until 1959. During that time, they also built the current monastery by hand. This new building is made of concrete and includes a retreat house and a cloister, which is a covered walkway. Sadly, in 2005, the old pine board monastery, where they had their carpentry and stained glass businesses, was destroyed in a fire.
The current leader of the monastery is Abbot Augustine Myslinski. He became abbot on August 15, 2016, and was re-elected in 2022.
Prayer and Daily Life
The most important work for the monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit is prayer. Their day of prayer begins very early, at 4:00 AM, with morning prayers called vigils. They also spend about half an hour in quiet thought.
They take a short break around 5:30 AM and then return at 7:00 AM for Mass, which is a church service. Throughout their day, while they work in their businesses and do chores, the monks stop for prayer several times. They pray in the mid-morning, at midday (12:15 PM), in the evening (vespers at 5:20 PM), and for night prayer (compline at 7:30 PM).
After 8:00 PM, both the monks and any guests staying at the monastery must observe "grand silence." This means they remain quiet. Guests staying at the retreat house are encouraged to join the monks for prayer in the church.
Many of the monks at the monastery are priests. They take turns helping people with Confession, also known as the Sacrament of Penance, at the retreat house. Monks are also available to offer spiritual direction. They welcome everyone, no matter their faith or if they have no faith at all.
Retreats for Visitors
The monks run a retreat house where people can come for a religious retreat. It's located right next to the church. The retreat house has dormitory-style rooms, with separate floors for men and women. It can host individuals or groups for retreats that are scheduled almost all year long. The monks offer classes and retreats on various religious topics.
Lay Associates: Connecting with the Monastery
The Lay Associate movement started with a small group of people who felt connected to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. These groups are made up of everyday people, not monks, who want to live a prayerful life. They learn about Cistercian spirituality, which is the way of life followed by the monks.
These groups visit the monastery for retreats every year. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit is now like a "motherhouse" for five different groups of Lay Cistercians. There are also Lay Cistercians all over the world who connect with monasteries near them.
Monastery Businesses
The monks at Holy Spirit follow the Rule of St. Benedict. This rule encourages them to support themselves through their own work. So, they run several businesses right at the monastery.
These businesses include a bonsai garden store, where they sell miniature trees, and an online store for bonsai supplies. They also create and sell beautiful stained glass art through an online store. The monks also operate a green cemetery on the monastery property. In addition, they make delicious fruitcakes and fudge. These treats are sold in their religious store and also through Honey Baked Ham stores.
Visitor Center and Museum
In January 2010, the monastery began building a new public space called the Visitor Center. This center was built in the very same barn where the first monks lived when they started the monastery.
The Visitor Center has a museum that shows the history of the monastery and explains the work the monks do. It opened to the public in May 2011.
Images for kids
-
Interior view of the Church
-
Holy Spirit church facade at daybreak
-
Holy Spirit Monastery monks at prayer in the main Church
-
The interior of the Church at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit
-
Monks graveyard behind the Church
-
Front Lawn
-
Road to Monastery Welcome Center
-
Monastery Welcome Center and Museum offers tours, history and videos.
-
Retreat House gardens
-
Statue of Jesus in the Cloister garden
-
The Chapter Room at Holy Spirit Monastery. Usually the monks meet together in this room for daily religious instruction and meditation but this photo shows a ceremony with the abbot and guests.
-
Abbot Francis Michael and Prior Anthony Delisi (on the left)
-
A view of the Church from the cloister garden
-
Another view of the cloister garden
-
The statue of Jesus in the cloister garden viewed from the walkway near the Church
-
Exterior view of monastery gift shop
-
Interior view of monastery gift shop
-
Interior view of monastery gift shop; books, CDs and video section
-
Front of the Church
-
Side view of the Church
-
Lake at Monastery of the Holy Spirit
-
Rockdale River Trail Bridge near Monastery of the Holy Spirit
See also
- Cistercians
- Catholic Church
- Rule of Benedict
