View source for Monastery of the Holy Spirit

{{Short description|Trappist monastery in Conyers, Georgia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
[[File:Church facade, Holy Spirit Monastery.jpg|thumb|300px|Monastery 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|Conyers]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. It is part of the [[Catholic Church]]. As of 2024, the monastery is home to a community of 22 monks who are self-sustaining, running businesses on site. The monastery and grounds are a part of the [[Arabia Mountain|Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area]] and also serve as the southernmost point on the [[Arabia Mountain Path]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arabiaalliance.org |title = Arabia Mountain {{!}} Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Holy Spirit Monastery.jpg|289x289px|thumb|right|The monastery at daybreak]]
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit was founded on March 21, 1944, by 20 monks from the [[Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani|Abbey of Gethsemani]] in Kentucky. The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta|Archdiocese of Atlanta]] and silent film star [[Colleen Moore]] donated {{convert|1400|acre|km2}} of land, and the first monks lived in a barn while they built (by themselves) what would become known as the "pine board" monastery. They lived in this monastery from 1944 to 1959 while they 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.<ref name="Georgia">http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1547 New Georgia Encyclopedia</ref>

The present abbot is Augustine Myslinski who received the abbatial blessing of the solemnity of the [[Assumption of Mary|Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary]] on August 15, 2016. He was re-elected in 2022.<ref>[https://www.trappist.net/news/abbot-augustine-re-elected#:~:text=On%20Sunday%2C%20May%2029%2C%202022%2C%20Abbot%20Augustine%20Myslinski%2C,term%2C%20serving%20the%20community%20as%20its%20eighth%20abbot. Trappist website, Retrieved 2023-05-04]</ref> Previous abbots have been Augustine Moore, Armand Veilleux, Bernard Johnson, [[Basil Pennington]], and Francis Michael Stiteler.

==Prayer, confession and spiritual direction==
The primary work of the monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit is prayer. The monks begin their day of prayer at 4am with vigils and a half hour of contemplation. They break at about 5:30am and return at 7am for [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]. Throughout their day of work in their businesses and chores, the monks break for prayer at midmorning, midday (12:15pm), evening ([[vespers]] at 5:20pm) and [[compline]] (night prayer) at 7:30pm. Grand silence for both monks and guests is required after 8pm. Retreat house guests are encouraged to pray with the monks in the church.

At least half of the monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit are priests who rotate in administering the [[Confession (religion)|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==
[[File:Holy Spirit Monastery Retreats.jpg|thumb|left|Retreats are offered year round on a range of spiritual topics offered by the monks.]]
[[File:Retreat House refectory at Holy Spirit Monastery.jpg|thumb|right|A meal in the refectory of the Retreat House silent dining room]]
The monks 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. Classes and retreats are offered on religious topics.

==Lay associates==
[[File:Abbot Francis Michael.jpg|thumb|Abbot Francis Michael Stiteler and Prior Anthony Delisi meeting with an affiliated Lay Cisterican group]]
The Lay Associate movement began with a small group of people associated with the Monastery of the Holy Spirit and led by Fr. Anthony Delisi, former abbot and current [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]]. These groups are composed of lay people who form a prayerful community that forms its members in [[Cistercians|Cistercian]] spiritualty. These groups make annual retreats to the monastery. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit is now motherhouse to five different groups of Lay Cistercians. There are Lay Cistercians worldwide who are affiliated with monasteries near their groups.<ref name="web">http://www.trappist.net/ Holy Spirit Monastery web site</ref>

==Monastery businesses==
The monks of Holy Spirit follow the [[Rule of Saint Benedict|Rule of St. Benedict]], in particular the precept of self-sustainment by operating several businesses. These include stained glass production and sales through an online store. They also operate a green cemetery located on the monastery property. The monks produce fruitcakes and fudge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy Spirit Monastery Gifts |url=https://holyspiritmonasterygifts.com/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Abbey Trades {{!}} Monastery of the Holy Spirit |url=https://www.trappist.net/abbey-trades |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=www.trappist.net}}</ref>

==Visitor center==

In 2011 a public gathering place and visitor center was built in the barn where the monks first lived when they began the monastery. The center features a museum that showcases the history and work of the monastery.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Abbey of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, GA.png | Interior view of the church
File:Holy Spirit Monastery at daybreak.jpg | 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
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 the welcome center
File:Welcome Center.jpg | Welcome center and museum
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. 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| 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 the gift shop
File:Gift shop interior.jpg|Interior view of the gift shop
File:Interior view of monastery gift shop.jpg |Interior view of the gift shop
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
File:Rockdale River Trail Bridge.jpg|Rockdale River Trail bridge near the monastery
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Rule of Benedict]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
*[http://www.actapublications.com/detail.html?&id=0879463341 ''Portraits of Grace: Images and Words from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit''] by James Stephen Behrens, OCSO

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
*[./Https://trappist.net/ Holy Spirit Monastery's website (trappist.net)]
*[http://www.holyspiritmonasterygifts.com/ Holy Spirit Monastery Gifts]
*[https://pathfoundation.org/trails/arabia-mountain/#lmm_73f3a8ed PATH Trail Map at Monastery of the Holy Spirit]

{{coord|33.586452|-84.065999|type:landmark_region:US-GA|display=title}}

{{Portal bar|Catholicism|Christianity|Georgia (U.S. state)}}
{{Catholicism}}
{{History of the Roman Catholic Church}}
{{History of Catholic theology}}
{{Seven Sacraments}}
{{Christianity footer|collapsed}}

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