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.
Our deepest longing
It takes a long time to become fully human A great source of suffering for me is that I often feel chained and anchored in ways of being that keep me from being fully human. That may sound silly, for of course I am human. However we are not instinct bound creatures. We have the… Read More ›
Fragility: The life that develops as we age
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Ps 23:4 Each stage of life is important; that of course is not rocket science. However, many people seem to think that each successive stage after a certain age, then life… Read More ›
My experience in talking to loving parents
The words of a loving father “All I can do is journey with my son in suffering” The older I get and the more I experience being with people who truly take their roles as a father and mother seriously, the more humbled I am. I would think that if there is a royal road… Read More ›
Our prayer changes a we age
I of course can only speak from my experience when it comes to prayer, but I believe that the inner life as we age takes on a new dimension that is unknown by most people before they reach what we called ‘old age’. People who have a chronic disease from a young age or of… Read More ›
Dealing with life
It is when we have compassion for our own humanity, that we can be able to show the same compassion to others. The bridge to others is love and knowledge of self and compassion for others. We share the same humanity, the same fragility and inner chaos, though each in their own unique way…..it is… Read More ›
The feast of the Holy Innocents
Free from moral wrong; without sin; pure: innocent children. As an historical event the killing of the innocent children by Herod in order to find and destroy the Christ Child was of minor importance. All through history the innocent have been killed, enslaved, and abused without any recourse to justice. In fact, in this world,… Read More ›
Santa and the little girl
Just another trip to the Atlanta Airport, as usual the plane would be an hour late, so I went for coffee, got a table and people watched, something I love doing. So many people, going to so many places, some rushing, others dragging by ever so slowly forcing others to rush by them, military men… Read More ›
I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: Galatians 2:20
People often speak about being rewarded for the good deeds that they do. I know that there is nothing wrong with that kind of thinking, since the bible, and other religious texts are full of this concept; but as far back as I can remember, this kind of thinking, at least consciously has not been… Read More ›
In prison or out, the struggle the same
What I have learned from writing prisoners No matter where we find ourselves we still have struggles and are in many ways imprisoned by fear and habits that keep us chained from the freedom of the children of God. In writing prisoners I am learning that as far as their everyday struggles are concerned, and… Read More ›
Advent and hope
“The season of Advent restores … a hope which does not disappoint for it is founded on God’s Word. A hope which does not disappoint, simply because the Lord never disappoints! … Let us think about and feel this beauty.” —Pope Francis There is a lot of glitter during the Advent and Christmas season. In… Read More ›