London: New monastic spirituality forum

A new monastic spirituality forum is being established at Ealing Abbey in west London. The Community of Nazareth is a spirituality forum inspired by the Rule of St Benedict, the wisdom of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, and recent monastic witnesses such as Blessed Maria Gabriella of Unity and Blessed Charles de Foucauld.

Its name arises from the words of Pope Benedict XVI, writing in 1977, that 'the Church cannot grow or prosper if we let it ignore that its roots are hidden in the atmosphere of Nazareth. Nazareth has a permanent message for the Church. The New Alliance does not start in the Temple, nor on the Holy Mountain, but in the little home of the Virgin, in the house of the worker, in one of the forgotten places of the 'Galilee of peasants', from where nobody expected anything good.' (The God of Jesus Christ: Meditations on the Triune God).

Out of this desire to recreate Nazareth the spirituality of the forum will be shaped by the following monastic themes: presence, contemplation, hospitality, simplicity, respect and friendship.

The forum plans to meet regularly at Ealing Abbey and other monasteries in the United Kingdom, focussing on lectio divina, methods of prayer and monastic crafts. Monastic communities around the world will also be participating via social media. The forum will also learn from other Christian monastic communities in London.

For more information please see: www.communityofnazareth.com