Benedictine Women of Madison builds on a monastic tradition that has welcomed people of all religious backgrounds for decades at Holy Wisdom Monastery. The community lives its Benedictine spirituality by weaving together prayer, hospitality, justice and care of the earth. A strong sense of hospitality is present, encouraging all to join in the various offerings of communal prayer. more

Learn more about:
Sunday Assembly
Liturgy of the Hours and Taizé Prayer
Centering Prayer
Lectio Divina

 

           I haven't met a kindred spirit since a wannabe nun in The Sound of Music inspired a rousing rendition of "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" So a radio interview with a 17-year-old recording artist from New Zealand made my day. Hayley Westenra's music, called "classical crossover," includes classical, easy listening, gospel and more. Yet when asked about the eclectic selection of styles, Hayley replied impatiently, "I choose songs I like, regardless of the style."
            I chuckled at Hayley's sprickly response. As a "crossover" Catholic, a variety of religious ideas and practices inform and invigorate my faith. Few, if any, of these can be found in a single tradition or style of worship. Be it sacrament or sacred dance, meditation or mass, clapping or confessing, I feel God's pleasure when I pray.
            Prayer comes most naturally to some by being outdoors. Others write out their prayers in a journal. Many prefer traditional prayers such as what is often called The Lord's Prayer. I particularly relish the inclusive language of our Sunday Assembly version called The Prayer of Jesus. more
 

 

"Weaving prayer, hospitality, justice and care of the earth
as an ecumenical Benedictine community"
 
            This mission statement of Benedictine Women of Madison is the guideline for all significant decisions the community makes, including the design of the new monastery building.
            As the building's design evolved, it became evident that every place in the building had a function related to the mission of the community. Likewise, every space has a close inter-relationship with the land and buildings that make up Holy Wisdom Monastery. 
           For Benedictines, all daily activity encompasses prayer. The oratory is the space where the sisters and guests pray the Liturgy of Hours and Centering Prayer several times throughout the day and the assembly room is where the worshipping community, Sunday Assembly, prays. Other places, including the meditation chapel, are set aside for individual prayer. Informal prayer may take place at any time and anywhere in the monastery. The outdoor gathering and meditation areas, the trails and benches in the prairie and Lost Lake are all places conducive to meditation and private prayer. more

           "Baptism by fire" . . . That's how Lynn Lemberger describes her debut as a church organist. Lynn was only 13 years old when an elderly Franciscan sister, the organist at St. Michael's Parish in Whitelaw, Wisconsin, was transferred leaving the parish organ duties to three grade school girls. Since Lynn was the best of the three, she inherited the job and began her career as a church organist . . . during Holy Week services. more

 
           In April 2009 the bells were silenced at Holy Wisdom Monastery. The three bronze bells, forged at the beginning of the 20th century at the Stuckstede Foundry in St. Louis, were removed from the bell tower and shipped to Cincinnati to be cleaned and refurbished in preparation for installation in the new monastery building.
           The neighbors commented on the absence of the bells and yearned for their return. And return they did. On June 17 the sound of the bells, that mark the hour, half-hour and call the monastic community to prayer, was again heard from the hilltop. more