Marmion Abbey

Marmion Abbey The life and activities of Marmion Abbey Rooted in Christ, we pray and work as brothers—faithful to Saint Benedict’s call to holiness.

09/06/2026

How do you actually begin to pray when your mind is filled with everything else going on in your life?

Fr. Michael continues his practical advice for developing a daily habit of prayer.

Begin by becoming still. Take a few slow breaths and recognize that you are entering into time with God. From there, prayer does not need to be complicated.

You might begin with the Jesus Prayer. You might open Scripture and practice Lectio Divina, slowly reading until a word or passage speaks to your heart. You might spend time thanking God specifically for the blessings in your life, bring Him your petitions, or ask a favorite saint to pray with you.

Most importantly, allow the Holy Spirit to lead the conversation.

What begins as five or ten minutes can slowly become something you look forward to every day. The more time we intentionally spend with the Lord, the more natural that relationship becomes.

And if you are a young man discerning whether God may be calling you to a life centered on prayer, community, and service, we invite you to experience Benedictine life at Marmion Abbey.

Schedule a visit and learn more at www.benedictinemonks.us.

09/02/2026

How do you actually build a daily habit of prayer?

Fr. Michael hears this question often from students and parishioners, and his advice is refreshingly simple: start small and be consistent.

Find a time of day that works for you. Find a quiet place where you can step away from distractions. Create a simple prayer space with a crucifix, sacred image, icon, or candle that helps turn your attention toward God.

Then begin.

You do not need to start with an hour of prayer. Start with five or ten minutes. What matters is creating the habit of showing up each day and making yourself available to God.

Like any relationship, our relationship with God grows when we intentionally make time for Him.

Five minutes today can be the beginning of a lifetime of prayer.

And if you are a young man discerning whether God may be calling you to a life centered on prayer, community, and service, we invite you to come and experience Benedictine life at Marmion Abbey.

Schedule a visit and learn more at www.benedictinemonks.us

08/31/2026

A 1,500-year-old tradition is more than history. It is an inheritance.

On his journey home, Fr. Antony stopped at Saint John’s Abbey in Minnesota, where he reconnected with Br. Eric and had the opportunity to explore the Abbey archives and the Saint John’s Bible Gallery.

Walking through that history was a powerful reminder of the lineage every Benedictine monk becomes part of.

For 1,500 years, generations of monks have prayed the same Psalms, lived according to the Rule of St. Benedict, served their communities, and passed this way of life on to those who came after them. Every Benedictine monastery has its own history and traditions, but all of us are part of something much larger.

We inherit what others faithfully built before us, and then comes the question: What will we pass on?

That is a question worth asking whether you are a monk or not. God has placed each of us within a story. How is He asking you to carry that story forward for the generations still to come?

If you are discerning whether your own story might include the Benedictine life, come and see.

Visit [www.benedictinemonks.us](http://www.benedictinemonks.us) to schedule a visit.

08/28/2026

Sometimes, when you are far from home, God gives you a little piece of home along the way.

On his journey back to Marmion, Fr. Antony stopped at Assumption Abbey in Richardton, North Dakota, where he was warmly welcomed by his fellow Benedictine monks and given the opportunity to celebrate Mass.

Though separated by hundreds of miles, Benedictine monasteries share something much deeper. A common Rule. A common rhythm of prayer. A common desire to seek God. Fr. Antony even found a familiar devotion to Our Lady of Einsiedeln, making this unexpected stop feel that much more like home.

That is one of the gifts of the Benedictine family. Wherever the journey takes you, you are reminded that you are part of something much larger than yourself.

Thank you to the monks of Assumption Abbey for their hospitality.

And wherever your own journey is taking you today, may every mile bring you a little closer to God.

If you are discerning where God may be leading you, come experience Benedictine life for yourself.

Visit [www.benedictinemonks.us](http://www.benedictinemonks.us) to schedule a visit.

08/27/2026

Sometimes the road God has planned for us is not the road we planned to take.

At Devils Tower in Wyoming, Fr. Antony reflects on an unexpected detour. A tragic accident closed his planned route, leaving him unsure where the journey would take him next. Please join us in praying for everyone involved in that accident.

That detour eventually brought Fr. Antony to Buffalo, Wyoming, where a search for the nearest Catholic church led him to St. John the Baptist and an unexpected welcome from Fr. Bryce and Fr. Seth.

What first looked like an obstacle became an encounter with God's providence.

There will be moments when the path ahead suddenly closes. There will be obstacles that seem enormous. But we should never mistake an obstacle for God's absence.

"No matter how towering the devil's machinations may seem to be in our lives, the Lord will always conquer."

Have no fear. Jesus is King. Jesus triumphs.

If you are discerning where God may be leading your life, we invite you to come and see.

Visit [www.benedictinemonks.us](http://www.benedictinemonks.us) to schedule a visit and learn more about the Benedictine life.

08/24/2026

Where is the Lord calling you?

Abbot Joel invites men discerning a vocation to religious life to join the monks of Marmion Abbey for a Vocation Retreat, September 11–13.

Discernment takes time, prayer, and space away from the distractions of everyday life. Spend a weekend experiencing the prayer and daily rhythm of the monastic community, listening to the monks, and making room for the Lord to speak to your heart.

You do not need to have everything figured out. Come, listen, pray, and discover where God may be leading you.

Learn more and reserve your spot: marmionabbey.org/retreat

08/21/2026

Sometimes following God feels a little like threading a needle.

Driving through the rolling plains of Montana, Fr. Antony found himself traveling beneath clear skies while ominous storm clouds gathered just off the road. It became a fitting image for the spiritual life.

We cannot always see what lies ahead. There will be storms, wrong turns, uncertainty, and plenty of distractions along the way. But when we allow God to guide us, He continually calls us toward the path that leads to Him.

Following Christ does not mean we will never encounter storms. It means we trust Him to lead us through them.

So when life feels uncertain, keep moving forward. Keep listening. Keep praying. And allow the Lord to help you thread the needle.

Visit [www.benedictinemonks.us](http://www.benedictinemonks.us) to schedule a visit and discover a life centered on seeking God.

08/19/2026

Sometimes Divine Providence changes the itinerary.

On the latest stop in *Musings of a Meandering Monk*, Fr. Antony found himself in Buffalo, Wyoming, where an unexpected stop led to a visit with Fr. Bryce Lungren, better known as the "Cowboy Priest."

It is a reminder that some of the best moments on any journey are the ones we never planned.

The Benedictine tradition places great importance on hospitality, receiving others as Christ and making room for the people God places in our path. Sometimes we are the ones offering that hospitality. Other times, like Fr. Antony on this journey, we are blessed to receive it.

When we leave a little room in our plans for God to work, we never quite know who we might meet along the way.

Thanks to Fr. Bryce and the community at St. John the Baptist for welcoming this meandering monk to Wyoming!

08/18/2026

Yesterday, history walked through our doors.

For the first time in Marmion Academy's 93-year history, young women arrived on campus as Marmion students, joining their classmates for New Student Orientation and becoming part of the first coeducational class in our school's history.

And they entered the Marmion way.

During our annual Clap-In, the Marmion community lined the way to welcome our newest Cadets. This year, a beloved tradition took on extraordinary significance as our first female students made that walk alongside their classmates.

It was a moment we will remember for generations.

As Marmion begins this new chapter, the heart of our school remains unchanged. We remain grounded in our Catholic faith and Benedictine tradition, committed to academic excellence, leadership, service, and the formation of the whole person.

To all of our newest Cadets, welcome to Marmion. And to those who made a little history yesterday, you will always be able to say you were there at the beginning.

**The tradition expands. The mission continues.**

08/14/2026

What happens when monks from different cultures, languages, and backgrounds come together under one roof?

Fr. Conrad shares a fascinating look at Benedictine life in Guatemala, where the monastic community brings together people from El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, and several distinct indigenous cultures.

Each arrives with a different story, language, and cultural tradition. Yet each enters into something shared: a Benedictine way of life centered on Christ.

That is one of the beautiful things about monastic community. It does not erase where we come from. Instead, people with different experiences learn to pray together, work together, serve together, and seek God together.

The monastery becomes a culture of its own within the larger society, one shaped by the Rule of St. Benedict and a common life devoted to Christ.

It is a small glimpse of the universality of the Church and a reminder that our differences do not have to divide us when Christ is at the center.

If you feel called to discover this kind of life for yourself, come and see.

Visit [www.benedictinemonks.us](http://www.benedictinemonks.us) to schedule a visit and learn more about joining our community.

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850 Butterfield Road
Aurora, IL
60502

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+16308977215

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