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  Dear Friend,
  
  Welcome to Assumption Abbey by means of this website.  May our efforts through this electronic means be a blessing for you and for your life with our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are Benedictine monks, both priests and brothers, living a monastic tradition that goes back to St. Benedict who lived and died in Italy in the mid-500s.  What is called the monastic way of life has been lived in many political and economic situations.  What is essential has been distilled and is constantly being carried forward into new centuries, new cultures, and new situations. 
  
  
  Your exploration of this website will reveal to you what we do, our history, and some of the aspects of our way of life centered upon Jesus Christ, our Lord.  The basic form of our life is shaped by the Gospel, the Rule of St. Benedict and the three vows we take, Obedience, Conversatio, and Stability. 
  
  Obedience is given to God and is a hallmark of the life of Jesus Christ.  We each are obedient to God by living our faith according to our state in life.  In daily monastic life, obedience to God is expressed in a monk’s obedience to the Rule of St. Benedict, to the abbot, to other monastic officials, to fellow monks and guests. Obedience to a person’s way of life is an important factor in fostering freedom to be who God created us to be. The monk does this by giving respectful attention to his heart wherein the promptings of the Holy Spirit are attended to. 
  
  
  Conversation is a vow to live according to the monastic manner of life.  This way of life is based on the Gospel and includes communal prayer, the reading of and meditating on Scripture, private prayer, silence, community life, and work.  “The love of God must come before all else”, St. Benedict says.  He adds: “Place your hope in God alone,” and “never lose hope in God’s mercy”. The purpose of each monastic practice is to help a person live for God and remain well-grounded in the real world. 
  Stability binds a monk to a particular monastery located in a particular place, with a particular group of fellow monks. It is a vow made in response to the utter reliability and faithfulness of God. It expresses the monk’s commitment to persevere in the monastic life at Assumption Abbey, whether residing at the Abbey or on mission outside the Abbey. 
  
  
  Other aspects of the monastic tradition flow from these three vows: celibacy, community, simplicity of life, complete dispossession (not owning any private property), work, prayer and silence. Each of these in their own way flavors monastic life. Our way of life is ancient and well tested, and thrives in countries and cultures that cover the globe. It has proven valid for every age and circumstance. 
  
  We pray that this website enlightens you on our strivings to follow Jesus and live the monastic life here at Assumption Abbey.  May God bless you, give you peace and strength to live in his love, which will help you live in peace with others. God prosper you in this grace wherever you are.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  Abbot Valerian Odermann, OSB