Vacate et Videte...

"Be still and know that I am God."
—Ps 45:11
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who achieves understanding… She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.” (Proverbs 3:13)
A contemplative monastic community in full communion with the Holy See, Our Lady of Whitestone Monastery lives according the the Holy Rule of St. Benedict and is founded on the ordered pursuit of truth according to the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Through discipleship to the church’s greatest teachers, a monk seeks wisdom, the highest intellectual virtue, and through this pursuit, draws ever closer to Christ. By knowing God more clearly, a monk desires to worship Him more profoundly, and this desire culminates in liturgical worship using the ancient Roman and Monastic rites.

Madonna of the Book, Sandro Botticelli, c. 1480–1481

Mary, Mother of the Word

"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.'"'

While the Blessed Virgin Mary is rightly praised for innumerable reasons, we look to her especially as she is the Mother of God's Word.

Pope St. Leo the Great teaches us, "Even though Mary is preeminent in the dignity of motherhood, nevertheless, if she had not conceived Christ in her mind through faith, her motherly closeness to Him would have been worthless for her salvation.  For she is more blessed in conceiving Him in her mind than in her body, and for this reason is it said to her, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it."

The guiding star for Whitestone Monastery is this "more blessed" motherhood of Mary.  To understand more about our life and why we were founded, one must first learn about Mary as the Mother of the Word.

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Vade et Vende...

"Go, sell...” - Matthew 19:21
To find God a man must empty himself of everything else.

Jesus Christ teaches us, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

The Benedictine monk leaves everything for that "treasure in heaven" which is God Himself.
BECOME A MONK

Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart...

OPENING LINE OF THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT

The Roman Road

Jesus Christ said, “I am the road,” and this road leads infallibly to happiness. The road map is found in the intellectual and liturgical traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.

“The Roman Road” is a powerful and accessible path to follow Christ and grow in holiness and happiness. To help you benefit from the wisdom of the Church and the prayers of Her liturgy, we are developing a twin series of complementary emails that offer short video lessons, "steps", if you will, on the road to happiness in Christ.

You will follow the order of St. Thomas step by step, and discover ancient gems from the yearly liturgical cycle, a most powerful means for living what you learn. Best of all, you will benefit from the daily prayers and sacrifices of the monks along your way. Let us help you achieve eternal happiness, join us along the Roman Road.
TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP