“All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ….”
Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 53
The monks of St. Bernard Abbey welcome guests for private retreats and visits. There are a limited number of guest rooms in the Abbey for men and women as well as the St. Bernard Abbey Hospitality Center (Boniface Hall). The guest rooms located in the monastery building are outside the Cloister (private area of the monks). The private guest rooms for men are air conditioned with a common bathroom. The rooms for ladies and married couples are air-conditioned and have private bathrooms. Monastery guests are welcomed to pray the Hours of the Divine Office and celebrate Mass with the monks in the Abbey Church.
Monastery guests take their meals with the monks at the guest table in the refectory (monastery dining room). Breakfast is eaten in silence, lunch is an informal buffet, and the supper meal is a formal monastic meal with public reading while the community eats in silence. A guest’s visit is limited to three nights because of the limited facilities, but for special circumstances a visit can be extended with the permission of the Abbot. There is no fee for visiting the Abbey. Guests may make a free-will offering according to their means to help defer expenses.
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