Oblate School of Theology

s a monastic community, we thank you for the years you have accompanied and assisted us with the Retreat House and the Bookstore.

The Retreat House and Bookstore are now closed. This will enable the brothers to carefully focus their time and energy, personally and communally, on the needed next steps in our closure process.

Liturgical services will remain open to the public, and visitors are welcome to attend until further notice.

We continue discerning with our Order where to live our Cistercian monastic life, keeping you informed as this process unfolds. Please know that at this stage, there are still many questions we are not yet able to answer. Any updates will be noted on our website at: www.snowmassmonks.com

We want to thank our many friends, neighbors, retreatants, and associates who have accompanied and assisted us through the years. Your continuing prayerful understanding and support is an invaluable consolation to us at this time. ✜

Gratefully,

—The Brothers of St. Benedict's Monastery

• For the schedule of Masses please see the Liturgical Schedule.

Thomas Merton's Snowmass

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N 1964, the superior of St. Benedict’s Monastery, Joachim Viens, invited Fr. Thomas Merton of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky to create an information booklet for those interested in the monastic life. As Merton himself briefly described it, Come to the Mountain was “a meditation on monasticism in its twentieth century context,” composed of five brief chapters focused on its essential qualities and observances.

After more than half a century, Merton’s characteristically clear and concise description of monastic life speaks of the ideals, values and principles which it continues to offer today. “The monk is not so different after all,” Merton writes, “and has a very definite role to play in the modern world.”

Photographers Ferenc Berko and David Hiser provided the illustrations which accompany the text, and preserve a visible record of life at St. Benedict’s Monastery. Although all of the monks who appear at work and prayer have since passed on into the kingdom of god whom they loved and served at St. Benedict’s Monastery, their legacy continues to motivate and inspire those who follow them today. Read more. ✜