Advent Retreat--Benedictine Midwifery: Helping Us Give Birth to Meister Eckhart’s God in Our Hearts

Benedictine Midwifery: Helping Us Give Birth to Meister Eckhart’s God in Our Hearts

Advent is a time of waiting, a time of expectation, a time of listening. The German Dominican Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) saw Advent as a time of giving birth to God. He once said: “What good is it to me that Mary gave birth to the Son of God fourteen hundred years ago, and I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my time and my culture? We are all meant to be mothers of God. God is always needing to be born.”

How do we give birth to God? Do we need a midwife? The Rule of Benedict may offer assistance. In this Advent retreat, we will consider the possibility that Benedict provides a kind of spiritual midwifery that can help with the birthing of God, in our lives, that Eckhart discusses.

The birthing of God for Benedict, though, takes place in the heart.

Retreat Leader: Brother Denys Janiga, OSB

Originally from Canada, Brother Denys Janiga is a Saint John’s Abbey monk in Collegeville, Minnesota. He is a part-time student at the graduate School of Theology and Seminary at Saint John’s University engaged in priesthood studies. Denys works as a Benedictine Fellow at SJUfaith, presents at Theology on Tap events, and coordinates creation care activities. He also holds graduate degrees in environmental studies, public policy, and administration. Before monastic life, he had careers in developmental disabilities, social policy, and labor relations. He also brews craft beer and makes hot sauce.

St. Paul’s Monastery and The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. All contributions are tax deductible under IRS tax code section 501 (c)(3). Tax ID #41-0724050