St. Benedict's Monastery, Colorado facts for kids

St. Benedict's Monastery is a monastery in mountainous country of the U.S. state of Colorado. It is located in Pitkin County, in the unincorporated community of Snowmass about 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Aspen. The monks are members of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, commonly called the Trappists.

Currently the monastery is home to about 16 monks. The monks live communally in the monastery. Their day is balanced by prayer, work, reading, and contemplation.

St. Benedict's is located on over 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of a scenic, semiarid valley in the foothills of the Elk Mountains, near the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The monastery protects a large amount of open space in a sensitive area near important wildlife migration routes. The monks manage their ranchlands, operate a cookie bakery, and offer retreat facilities for groups and individuals. The retreat house and guest hermitages are located about 1 mile from the main monastery building.

The monastery was founded in 1956 as a foundation established by the Trappist community at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. The community celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006.

St. Benedict's was the home of Father Thomas Keating, a popular writer on Centering Prayer and one of the founders of Contemplative Outreach.