New Skete Monasteries News

By Brother Theophan I’d like to offer a few observations on our practice of group Scripture sharing at the monastery. Rooted in ancient monastic traditions, lectio divina —meaning “divine reading”—involves reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating sacred Scripture in a manner that allows the text to speak directly to the heart of the believer. While often practiced individually, group lectio divina offers a unique opportunity for communal transformation, where the presence of Christ becomes central to the practice, and the relational dynamics of the group help to deepen the understanding of God’s Word. This collective engagement with Scripture mirrors the early Christian communities, where the shared experience of Christ through the Word was foundational to their lives and growth.             Imagine a group of people gathered around a flickering campfire. As they each share their stories and listen carefully to one anoth...

By Brother Luke Once again I have fallen asleep with some lights on in my room. Then a strange crunching sound arouses me. Struggling to see what's causing the noise, I look toward my armoire, and there is my five-month-old puppy, Pyrena, chewing on the wooden handle of a lower drawer. I cry out NO! and spring into action as she dashes away and hides under the bed. I pull her out from under the bed and lead her over to the crate where she will spend the night. She actually has been very good in my room overnight, but she is still teething and learning what is and what is not OK to chew on. She is not the first or the last puppy or dog to do this in my room. Yes, I am frustrated by her destructive behavior. But I also have to remember that taking on the task of raising a puppy will inevitably include episodes like this. So the puppy tests my patience.             It is often thought that being so intimately involved with an...