Br. Mark 
Writings of Br. Mark Dohle, OCSO, a monk of Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers Georgia. Br. Mark is formerly Prior and is currently guestmaster for the Monastery, His writings relate to those he works with in his ministry, particularly the elderly and dying.
Who is good?
I do not consider myself a ‘good’ person, but perhaps one who struggles with being good and have never succeeded. Without Christ Jesus and his grace I would be not even close to someone who struggles to be good. His mercy and love is truly astounding and when pondered is overwhelming. I do believe that… Read More ›
Blessed are the poor (in spirit)
For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor… Read More ›
It is in giving that we receive
notes on the second part of the prayer of St. Francis O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are… Read More ›
Interior awareness
When people take seriously their interior life, they slowly become aware of how quickly they can react to outside stimulation. In trying to become a more approachable human being we over time become aware how we can keep that from coming true. So that is when conversion begins in earnest, especially if we also seek… Read More ›
All of those I will meet today
This is my best day. I live to serve you, God. I will pray for all of your children who will not get out of bed today because they died or they are sick, or they are sad. Please help me to be kind to and to love all of those who I meet today…. Read More ›
The Spirit at work in prison
How God is teaching me through these men Writing prisoners as I have said before was something I just fell into. I really am not a letter writer, in fact the letters I have written to friends and family are very few, probably less than 20. So being 68 you can see how few they… Read More ›
To be seen
The more the life of Jesus is contemplated, I believe the broader our understanding of what it was about deepens. To enter into one of the stories and see how differently Jesus related to others can be an eye opener. The Samaritan woman for instance with whom Jesus talked to at the well. It is… Read More ›
Life does talk to us, do we listen?
The inner world of each human being is vast, deep, and more often than not unavailable to our rational mind. We come in contact with it through our dreams, moods, fears and anxieties, as well as our experiences of joy and love of others. Our positive emotions are also often aspects of our unconscious as… Read More ›
Soul’s memory
Its memory long and deep, remembrance of things past abuses done when it was innocent; physical, mental, sexual, actions also committed the cycle continued, in a dark inner room hidden shivering in its dread of pain received and agony delivered awaiting it’s judgment feared. Crying out in its pain not understanding the why of it… Read More ›
Around and around we go, the way off the merry-go-round is prayer
There is a tendency when talking about prayer, mediation and simple mindfulness, to try to reduce it to one technique. I find this interesting, since I do not really know anyone who actually prays that way. The word prayer for me incorporates just about all that tries to connect us with a deeper reality. As… Read More ›