St. Benedict's Monastery, Colorado facts for kids

St. Benedict's Monastery is a special place where Catholic monks live and pray. It's located in the beautiful mountains of Colorado, near a town called Snowmass. The monks who live here are part of a group called the Trappists, who are known for their quiet and prayerful lives.

What is St. Benedict's Monastery?

St. Benedict's Monastery is a large property covering more than 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of land. It sits in the foothills of the Elk Mountains, close to a wild area called the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The monastery helps protect a lot of open land, which is important for wildlife that moves through the area.

What Do Monks Do There?

The monks at St. Benedict's Monastery manage their ranchlands, which means they take care of the land and animals. They also have a cookie bakery, where they make and sell delicious cookies! The monastery also offers a quiet place for groups and individuals to visit and pray. This is called a retreat. There's a special house for retreats and small cabins for guests, located about a mile away from the main monastery building.

History of the Monastery

St. Benedict's Monastery was started in 1956. It was founded by another Trappist community from St. Joseph's Abbey in Massachusetts. In 2006, the monastery celebrated its 50th birthday, marking half a century of its presence in Colorado.

Famous Monk: Thomas Keating

One well-known monk who lived at St. Benedict's was Father Thomas Keating. He was a popular writer and teacher about a type of prayer called "centering prayer." He also helped start an organization called Contemplative Outreach, which teaches people about this quiet way of praying.

Recent Changes at the Monastery

In April 2023, the monks at St. Benedict's announced that the monastery would be closing. A special leader, Dom Damian Carr, was chosen to help with the process of closing the monastery.

See also

In Spanish: Monasterio de San Benito (Colorado) para niños