The Community of the Incarnation is a new monastic community which embodies and teaches engaged contemplative spirituality in response to what Father Bede Griffiths called “the universal call to contemplation.” We affirm that intimacy with God does not belong to a special group of religious professionals but is available to all. Our practice democratizes the gifts of monastic spirituality and translates them into a form that can be lived in everyday life.
Our Community is dispersed and currently includes members from across North America. We commit to a Rule of Life and are accountable to each other in community.
Vowed members of our community go through a comprehensive process of discernment, integral spiritual formation, monastic immersion and in-depth study before being invited to take seasonal vows and commit to “ongoing conversion of life,” which eventually may result in permanent vows. Our formation emphasizes deep practice, a solid theological foundation, and an overall understanding of spiritual journey, especially the dry seasons of prayer life, the need for one-on-one mentoring, and the importance of an honest and heartful community of accountability and mutual support. We also emphasize the integration of contemplation with action and justice making, and a cultivation of aliveness, celebration, and joy as promises of spiritual life. You can see the details of the formation process here.
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page and consider joining the Exploring Way if you are curious about becoming a vowed member of our community.
Testimonials from the Community
"My involvement with the Center for Spiritual Imagination has profoundly shaped my formation as a Catholic priest and contemplative in the world. CSI offers accountability, deep friendships, and protected time in my schedule for meditation, prayer, and silence—practices that have become essential to my spiritual life. I anticipate this continued engagement will sharpen my discernment of my unique calling in the world."
"I am a novice who has finished the Benedictine year. Although I have been a Benedictine Oblate (lay associate) for 7 years, I have been enriched at so many levels by new ways of looking at the breadth and depth of the Benedictine charism. The Rule of Life of the Community of the Incarnation gave me a foundation of deepening my contemplative life. Our readings and discussions were excellent. And weaving the Twelve Steps in with it all was so meaningful. Connecting with other seekers of different backgrounds and different paths was a real gift. The leadership of the Community of the Incarnation is open, compassionate, patient and wise. Through this novice time, my spiritual life has grown immensely and being part of this community is transformational."
