St. Joseph's Abbey (Spencer, Massachusetts)
St. Joseph's Abbey is a monastery of the Catholic Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.), popularly known as the "Trappists", located in Spencer, Massachusetts. It is known for its production and marketing of Trappist Preserves, a line of jams and jellies, which partially supports the abbey.
While the monastery became known internationally as the origin of the centering-prayer movement in Catholicism and Christianity in the 1970s—and the movement's leading proponents, Fr. William Meninger, Fr. M. Basil Pennington, and Fr. Thomas Keating, were monks at the monastery, the community still lives from the daily Lectio and deep roots of the monastic life going back to the desert fathers. The abbey community lives a contemplative life, following the Rule of Saint Benedict. Weekend and week-long retreats for lay men and women and clergy are available during the year. Retreatants and visitors are welcome to pray the Psalms with the community throughout the day, - Vigils, Lauds & Mass, None, Vespers, and Compline in the two side chapels in the front of the church.
The grounds of the Abbey are open to the public except for the areas marked "Monastic Enclosure".
Read more about St. Joseph's Abbey (Spencer, Massachusetts): History, Trappist Preserves, See Also
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