PLEASE NOTE!
This retreat will be conducted on Zoom with Fr. Francis.
- Monday 7:00pm
- Tuesday 9:30am, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm
- Wednesday 9:30am, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm
- Thursday 9:30am, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm
- Friday 9:30am
St. Andrew's Abbey Retreat Office
661 944 2178
retreats@valyermo.com
THE CALL OF THE BEATITUDES: Living the Call of Jesus
Monday, July 27 - Friday, July 31, 2020
The first word of each of the beatitudes is beati/makarios which may be translated as happy, rich, or blessed. Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount to his most faithful followers, not to a crowd. The eight beatitudes begin Jesus' Sermon in the Gospel of Matthew, Ch. 5. They provide a summary of the teachings of Jesus and encourage followers of every age on the path to a virtuous and abundant life. Each of the beatitudes is given in the Gospel without a narrative explanation. Together, we will explore what the beatitudes offer us today. Recommended reading: Jim Forest, The Ladder of the Beatitudes [Orbis Books, 1999].
Fr. Francis Benedict has been a monk of Valyermo since 1967. He earned an MA in Philosophy from Loyola-Marymount University and an MS in Theology from Mt. Angel in Oregon. He was ordained a priest in 1976. He served as the Abbey's abbot for 16 years. His special areas of ministry include spiritual direction, preaching retreats, and working with 12-step recovery groups. In addition to many responsibilities at the Abbey, he now serves as the Director of Oblates.
Audrey Spindler is an oblate of Valyermo and a presenter and facilitator of Centering Prayer under Contemplative Outreach. Having earned her Ph.D. and RD, she is a former professor of Foods and Nutrition and Director of the Didactic Program of Dietetics in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at State University. She received over 10 teaching awards and published more than 40 refereed papers.
