Abbey Of The Holy Spirit

The Monastery of the Holy Spirit, officially the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, is a Trappist monastery located near Conyers, Georgia in the United States.

As of 2022 the monastery is a community of twenty-eight monks spanning several generations, who live, work and pray at the abbey. They were founded from the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky in the spring of 1944. The monks in Georgia are now self-sustaining, running a multitude of businesses on site.

The monastery and grounds are a part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area and also serves as the southernmost point on the Arabia Mountain Path.

History

Monastery of the Holy Spirit was founded on March 21, 1944, by twenty monks from the Abbey of Gethsemani. On of land donated by the Archdiocese of Atlanta and silent film star Colleen Moore, these first monks lived in a barn while they built (by themselves) what would become known as the "pine board" monastery. They then lived in this monastery from December 1944 -1959 while they hand built the present Monastery, a concrete structure complete with a retreat house and cloister. In 2005, the pine board monastery which housed their carpentry and stained glass businesses was destroyed in a fire.http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1547 New Georgia Encyclopedia Some previous abbots have been Augustine Moore, Armand Veilleux, Bernard Johnson, Basil Pennington, and Francis Michael Stiteler. The present abbot is Augustine Myslinski who received the abbatial blessing on August 15, 2016, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Prayer, confession and spiritual direction

The main work of the monks at the monastery is prayer. The monks begin their day of prayer at 4 A.M. with vigils and a half hour of contemplation. They break at about 5:30 and return at 7 A.M. for Mass. Throughout their day of work in their many businesses and chores, the monks break for prayer at midmorning, midday (12:15), evening (vespers at 5:20) and compline (night prayer at 7:30). Grand silence for both monks and guests is required after 8 P.M. Retreat house guests are allowed and encouraged to pray with the monks in the Church.

At least half of the monks at Holy Spirit Monastery are priests who rotate in administering the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) at the retreat house. Monks are also available for spiritual direction and welcome people of all faiths, including those of no faith.

Retreats

The monks at Holy Spirit operate a self-sustaining retreat for people who wish to seek a religious retreat. On the premises and adjoining the church is their dormitory style retreat house where separate floors for men and women accommodate individual and groups of guests for retreats scheduled almost year-round. Food is served to the guests, and classes and retreats are offered on a variety of relgious topics.

Lay associates

The Lay Associate movement began with a small group of people associated with Monastery of the Holy Spirit and led by Fr. Anthony Delisi, former abbott and current prior. These are groups of lay people who form a prayerful community that forms its members in Cistercian spiritualty. These groups make annual retreats to the Monastery. Holy Spirit is now motherhouse to five different groups of Lay Cistercians. This movement has grown in popularity over the years and now there are Lay Cistercians all over the world who are affiliated with monasteries near their groups.http://www.trappist.net/ Holy Spirit Monastery web site

Monastery businesses

Following the precept of self-sustainment in the Rule of St. Benedict, the monks of Holy Spirit manufacture and sell bonsai supplies either online or at their monastery bonsai garden store. They also operate a green cemetery located in a secluded section of the vast monastery property. Stained glass windows and doors are created onsite and sold online and the monastery also operates a fruitcake and fudge business. Their fruitcakes are sold both through their own religious store and also through Honey Baked Ham stores.

Visitor Center

New visitor center

The monks began construction in January 2010 on a new phase of their business featuring a public gathering place/Visitor Center. The barn, where the monks first lived when they began the monastery, was transformed into a museum.

The Visitor Center was officially opened to the public in May 2011.

Additional images

File:Abbey of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, GA.png , Interior view of the Church
File:Holy Spirit Monastery at daybreak.jpg , Holy Spirit church facade at daybreak
File:Holy Spirit Monastery Church interior cropped and orientated.jpg , Holy Spirit Monastery monks at prayer in the main Church
File:Interior of Monastery of the Holy Spirit at Conyers, Georgia.jpg , The interior of the Church at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit
File:Holy Spirit Monastery, monks graveyard behind the Church.jpg , Monks graveyard behind the Church
File:Holy Spirit Monastery, front lawn.jpg , Front Lawn
File:Holy Spirit Monastery road to the welcome center.jpg , Road to Monastery Welcome Center
File:Welcome Center.jpg , Monastery Welcome Center and Museum offers tours, history and videos.
File:Gardens near retreat house of Holy Spirit Monastery.jpg, Retreat House gardens
File:Cloister Garden at Holy Spirit Monastery.jpg, Statue of Jesus in the Cloister garden
File:Chapter Room.jpg, The Chapter Room at Holy Spirit Monastery. Usually the monks meet together in this room for daily religious instruction and meditation but this photo shows a ceremony with the abbot and guests.
File:Abbot Francis Michael and Prior Anthony Delisi.jpg, Abbot Francis Michael and Prior Anthony Delisi (on the left)
File:Cloister gardens and walkway.jpg , A view of the Church from the cloister garden
File:The Cloister Garden.jpg, Another view of the cloister garden
File:Jesus statue in the cloister garden and walkway.jpg, The statue of Jesus in the cloister garden viewed from the walkway near the Church
File:Monastery gift shop, exterior view.jpg, Exterior view of monastery gift shop
File:Gift shop interior.jpg, Interior view of monastery gift shop
File:Interior view of monastery gift shop.jpg , Interior view of monastery gift shop; books, CDs and video section
File:Monastery of the Holy Spirit.jpg, Front of the Church
File:Church at Monastery of the Holy Spirit.jpg, Side view of the Church
File:Lake at Monastery of the Holy Spirits.jpg, Lake at Monastery of the Holy Spirit
File:Rockdale River Trail Bridge.jpg, Rockdale River Trail Bridge near Monastery of the Holy Spirit

See also

*Cistercians
* Catholic Church
*Rule of Benedict

References

''Portraits of Grace: Images and Words from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit''
by James Stephen Behrens, OCSO

External links

Holy Spirit Monastery's website (trappist.net)Holy Spirit Monastery online Garden CenterHoly Spirit Monastery GiftsPATH Trail Map at Monastery of the Holy Spirit

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holy Spirit, Abbey Of The
Christian organizations established in 1944
Trappist monasteries in the United States
Catholic Church in Georgia (U.S. state)
Buildings and structures in Rockdale County, Georgia
Tourist attractions in Rockdale County, Georgia