What’s It Like Inside a Trappist Monastery?
What does life inside a Trappist monastery offer to those of us on the outside? In “A Matter of the Heart,” Brother Paul Quenon shares over 50 years of journal entries from his quiet life of prayer and contemplation. With a poet’s touch, he reflects on life’s mysteries and a spiritual calling shaped by solitude, stillness and the pursuit of inner peace — insights that resonate well beyond the cloister.
Six Reasons Why I Keep a Journal
Journaling is more than just a way to document your day — it’s a powerful tool for spiritual growth and self-reflection. By slowing down and writing honestly before God, you create space to confront your fears, express your gratitude and see the truth of your journey in a new light. This practice grounds you, helping you to notice where God is at work in your life, both in the struggles and the blessings.
Grappling With the Trouble
By learning to write our own psalms, we gain a new tool for our faith-life tool bags. Writing mine allowed me to notice and give voice to my fears, hopes and gratitude.
The Most Beautiful Questions to Ask God
There were seasons when turning my attention to God had a rhythm that was regular but anything but predictable. When the kids were at school, and the house was quiet for a few hours, I would lay on the floor, my hands pressed to the wood, my knees on the carpet. I’d place my journal near me because I found that transcribing our conversations–words too kind and intensely loving to be my own–helped me hear them. It became an exercise in discernment. I was learning the sound of his voice in my heart; I was learning to trust that the words weren’t just thoughts of my own.