Sister Le Nghiem came to the practice after the death of her brother, and typically does solo retreat at the monastery for a few weeks a year. "So the practice gives me the greatest happiness. And this practice gives me being with others. Being with friends on retreat. Being with my siblings. Spending time each other. So when I practice it gives me…

Send us a text Today I am joined by Graham Stevens author of our 2024 Advent devotional. We discuss the spiritual practice of pilgrimage alongside explaining a little more about our devotional which is available now. Links British Pilgrimage Trust Journeys- An Advent Devotional www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetrea…

Sister Sr. Trung Chinh left Vietnam as a refugee and has been a nun for over fifty years. "The aspiration of a monk or a nun is that we have to arrive to the most peaceful place, the happiest place in ourselves. And there's only the daily practice. The daily practice only helps us to arrive to that place, that aspiration. It's the daily practice of…

Brother Minh Nhan, one of the only monastics in the Plum Village tradition of Mexican descent, is a monk of many interests: music, mushrooms, math, and more. "To join a community that maybe looks different, maybe don't see others like myself in it, let's say. Yeah, I mean, that's one way to look at it, but look at it as also, you're the one enterin…

Send us a text In today's episode I share an interview I recently did with Paul Hammond from UCB radio. In this episode we discuss the benefits of going on a retreat as well as talking about how Monastic Retreats came to be. I pray it is a blessing to you. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/…

Sister Boi Nghiem studied nursing before being ordained, and works regularly as a nun with the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and teen communities. "I think I have a very healthy relationship with myself. Very healthy mental dialogue with myself. There were times I comforted myself. There were times I'm very firm with myself, tell myself to stop thinking that wa…

Brother Phap Dung is a Vietnamese refugee who worked as an architect in Los Angeles before finding the practice, healing his relationship with his father, and changing the course of his life. "Now you get to choose, and it's deliberate. That is a monk. I choose to be in this intimate way with the community, with this path. I choose not to be in a r…

Send us a text In today’s episode I am joined by Dave Ward to discuss the enneagram. The enneagram is a self understanding tool that can be used to give us insight into our gifts, vices and personality traits as well as giving us insight into how spiritual practices can help best to nourish our unique individual souls. - Dave's Instagram - The Esse…

In this episode, we have a roundtable discussion of spiritual issues with educator Carla Burns. In Part I, we talk about how to slow down and make the ’space’ to hold complexity in our society. In Part II, we discuss the film The Martian and what it has to say about humanity and humanity’s needs. And in Part III, we explore the idea of our planet’s…

Sister Kinh Nghiem, one of the funniest and most stylish nuns in the world, was ordained when she was only 14. "Get rid of all of your ideas of what monastic practice is. You know, you come here, I mean, the practice is wonderful. And it's for you to come and see for yourself. But if you start getting ideas of what you expect monastic life to be li…

Brother Minh Luong was raised in Laguna Beach, California, and went to NYU, where he read a book that changed his life. "I realized recently that there really is no separation between the practice and everything we do in our daily life. Either we're creating conditions for a practice space, like an internal practice space, or we're taking condition…

Send us a text Our podcast series on prayer concludes with this reflection by Father Martin on praying with the Psalms. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreatsAf Monastic Retreats

In this episode, Netanel plays hooky, and Daniel is joined by Deepa Patel, a teacher of Inayati Sufism, partner of the Charis Foundation, and recurring guest, to share poems close to each of their hearts. In the course of reading and reflecting on the poems listed below, they explore coping with harrowing world events, honoring the preciousness of …

Send us a text Br Jarek speaks in this podcast about the importance and centrality of Lectio Divina - 'Divine Reading' - in the monastic life. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreatsAf Monastic Retreats

Send us a text Explore finding renewal through prayer in everyday life and on retreat through this personal reflection from Kemi Bamgbose. Kemi is the Project Lead for global, ecumenical prayer movement Thy Kingdom Come and is also a writer & journalist with a passion for retreats. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRe…

Send us a text Today’s reflection explores how to find replenishment in God, living in a way that brings health to body, mind and spirit. Dr Roger Bretherton is Programme Director for the Professional Diploma in Positive Health in the Centre for Positive Health Sciences at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He conducts extensive training, co…

Send us a text This week is national retreat week and we are sharing some of their wonderful resources here on our podcast. Today Danny Curtin shares on ‘renewal of the church. For more information on renew all visit their website at www.renewall.org.uk www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/mon…

From Deer Park Monastery, it's Meet the Monastics. As monastics, the most common question asked of us is, you guessed it, why did you become a monastic? I'm Brother Minh-An, a Buddhist monk in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. And this podcast is for anyone who's ever wanted to ask that question. Each week, we'll bring you m…

Send us a text A reflection on renewal from Muyiwa Olarewaju OBE for National Retreat Week - renew:all. Find more reflections and retreat resources, places to retreat and more at www.renewall.org.uk. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreats…

Send us a text National Retreat Week - renew:all runs from the 21-28 Sept and is new initiative for individuals, churches and groups to promote contemplation, prayer and retreat in a variety of Christian traditions. National Retreat Week is managed and coordinated by the Royal Foundation of St Katharine in East London and supported by The Retreat A…

Send us a text Father Henry talks in this podcast about the link between communal and private prayer, highlighting devotions such as the Rosary, Stations of the Cross and Eucharistic Adoration. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreats…

Send us a text In this episode Fr William talks about how the cycle of prayer in the monastery gives shape and rhythm to our day, to our year, and to our lives. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreatsAf Monastic Retreats

The Venerable Dr. Pannavati Bhikkuni is the founder of Heartwood Refuge, an intentional spiritual community in North Carolina, and abbess of Embracing Simplicity Hermitage, a 21st century trans-lineage Buddhist Order. A former Christian pastor, the Venerable Pannavati is often thought to be the only fully-ordained African-American woman in the Ther…

Send us a text In a noisy and busy world, times for at least some quiet in the day are essential. Br Justin talks here about the importance of silence in our lives. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreatsAf Monastic Retreats

Send us a text Praying isn't always easy. In this podcast, Father Columba from Glenstal Abbey continues our series on prayer by sharing about various difficulties we can encounter in prayer and he then offers some advice on how to overcome them. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticret…

In this episode, we do a retrospective on a dialogue that took place in 1974 during the first summer session of the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. The dialogue was called “Psychology East and West” and explored a number of differences in understanding and approach to the notion of ego between so-called “Western psychology” and what were the…

Send us a text What does it mean to pray continuously? Abbot Brendan talks about making our lives into a prayerful, frequent and deep connection with God. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreatsAf Monastic Retreats

Send us a text Father Fintan talks in this podcast about our 'inherited instinct' for prayer, recognising how all creation is capable of praising God. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreatsAf Monastic Retreats

In this episode, we have a roundtable discussion of spiritual issues with psychotherapist, Lisa Chatham. In Part I, we talk about the complex legacies of brilliant spiritual teachers, like Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who are associated with inappropriate behavior or scandals. In Part II, we explore the spirituality of our most distant past in Europea…

Send us a text Today we are continuing our new series entitled ‘teach us to pray’. Father John from Glenstal Abbey shares some thoughts on different styles and ways of praying. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreatsAf Monastic Retreats

Send us a text Today we are starting a new series here on our podcast entitled ‘teach us to pray’. With current world events and a growing sense of helplessness in the midst of global turmoil, this series again from our friends at Glenstal Abbey is both timely and important. Today Father Christopher starts this series by considering how the act of …

Send us a text The Jesus Prayer is a simple prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The tradition of the Jesus Prayer goes back to the “prayer of the mind,” recommended by the ancient monks of the Egyptian desert. It was continued as the “prayer of the heart” in Byzantine Hesychasm, a monastic system that seeks to achiev…

Born in Aotearoa (New Zealand), Grandmother Arapata is a healer who holds the indigenous lineages of both the Maori and Samoan ancestral bloodlines. In this episode we talk about Grandmother Arapata’s upbringing with traditional teachings, the stigmas of colonization, the different challenges of indigenous peoples in the United States and New Zeala…

Send us a text This is the final part in our series on ‘The Rule of Saint Benedict’ led by the monks of Glenstal Abbey. In today’s episode Br Oscar gives an interesting take on sustainability and the stewardship of goods in the monastery according to Benedict's Rule. I would like to say a huge thank you to the community at Gelnstal Abbey for their …

Send us a text This liturgical year we are being joined by Fr Oswald from Ampleforth Abbey. In this seasonal extra episode of ‘The Cloister’ he shares some reflections on the season of Pentecost. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreats…

Send us a text This is the penultimate part in our series on ‘The Rule of Saint Benedict’ led by the monks of Glenstal Abbey. In today’s episode Br Timothy examines what the Rule has to say about care for the brethren: nourishing the young and caring for the aged so that all may live, pray, work and die together within the community's embrace. www.…

Send us a text Join us for a conversation on spiritual journalling. To order your own copy of our 'Ora Et Labora' ordinary time journal visit https://mixam.co.uk/print-on-demand/662b91e38b90094ce52f1023? www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreats…

Send us a text This is the eighth part in our series on ‘The Rule of Saint Benedict’ led by the monks of Glenstal Abbey. In today’s episode Fr John considers the place of Work in the Rule. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreatsAf Monastic Retreats

Nataraja Kallio is a scholar-practitioner of Yoga and Hindu tantra. He is the Chair of the B.A. Yoga Studies program at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, and the co-designer of Naropa’s M.A. Yoga Studies program. In this episode, we discuss Kallio’s upbringing in an American Hindu spiritual community, his travels in India and meetings with hi…

Send us a text This is the seventh part in our series on ‘The Rule of Saint Benedict’ led by the monks of Glenstal Abbey. In today’s episode Abbot Brendan considers the subject of Food and Drink. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreats…

Send us a text This is the sixth part in our series on ‘The Rule of Saint Benedict’ led by the monks of Glenstal Abbey. In today’s episode Fr Jarek examines Saint Benedict's notion of 'Good Zeal' . www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreats…

Send us a text This liturgical year we are being joined by Fr Oswald from Ampleforth Abbey. In this seasonal extra episode of ‘The Cloister’ he shares some reflections on the season of Easter. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreats…

Send us a text This is the fifth part in our series on ‘The Rule of Saint Benedict’ led by the monks of Glenstal Abbey. If you haven’t listened to the previous episodes you may wish to start there although every episode does stand on its own. In today's episode Fr Martin talks about the place of prayer in the Rule of Saint Benedict www.monasticretr…

Send us a text This is the fourth part in our series on ‘The Rule of Saint Benedict’ led by the monks of Glenstal Abbey. If you haven’t listened to the previous episodes you may wish to start there although every episode does stand on its own. In this episode Father Christopher examines the place of Hospitality in the Rule of Saint Benedict. I hope…

Send us a text This is the third part in our series on ‘The Rule of Saint Benedict’ led by the monks of Glenstal Abbey. If you haven’t listened to the previous episodes you may wish to start there. We began the series by looking at the prologue of the Rule and then the role of the Abbot. This week Father Henry looks at Chapter 7 of the rule which i…

Send us a text We usually release episodes every fortnight but as today is the start of Lent we want to share with you the following reflections from Fr Oswald who is a monk at Ampleforth Abbey. If you have visited our website recently you will know that Fr Oswald is sharing seasonal reflections for us throughout this liturgical year. These are won…

Send us a text This week Father Patrick, a former Abbot of Glenstal Abbey, talks about the role of Abbot according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. Next time Father Henry will be sharing on Humility in the Rule. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/thecloister/ www.facebook.com/MonasticRetreats/ www.instagram.com/monasticretreats…

Send us a text For the next few months we are going to be joined by the monks of Glenstal Abbey as they share on the Rule of Saint Benedict. These shorter episodes will Explore various chapters and themes of the Rule of Saint Benedict to discover the wisdom and relevance this sixth-century document has for the twenty-first century today and not jus…

Send us a text A rule of life isn’t actually about a set of rules you have to follow, rather it is about intentionally crafting a rhythm, and pace of life that allows you to more fully reflect the person God has called you to be. At the start of this new year, why not prayerfully consider crafting your own rule of life. www.monasticretreats.co.uk/t…

Lily Fangz is a respected Colorado-based hip-hop artist and freestyle performer, who brings an authentic presence to the stage. Her lyrics are playful, introspective, and often spiritually-oriented. Lily is also a talented visual artist and public speaker with a background in science. In this episode, we explore the connections between public artis…