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.
Alone before God
We all carry the monk archetype in our souls A man came to me and asked me why the monastery was so important to him. He went on to say that when he is here staying at our retreat house, he feels at peace and more centered. However when he leaves it seems to go… Read More ›
People on the fringe
When speaking about people who are on the fringe we will all think of different types of individuals. People on the fringe for me are ‘normal’, just a little further out than most of us are. They can be very interesting, lovable as well as irritating and very difficult to communicate with. Yet most of… Read More ›
To seek is to find
Experience with a retreatant One day about two years ago we had a retreatant here who stood out among the others. She was perhaps in her late forties or early fifties, intelligent, with some piercings and a number of small tattoos on her arms. We talked a couple of times and I always found her… Read More ›
Two kinds of scandals
Each soul is the object of My special love. That is why I am so grateful to those who are resourceful and bringing back sinners to Me. Keep this in mind then. I gave My life for them in the most atrocious torture, for these poor beloved ones. A humble repentance and they are already… Read More ›
Light fills all it touches
On Friday, during Mass, when my soul was flooded with God’s happiness, I heard these words in my soul: My mercy has passed into souls through the divine-human Heart of Jesus as a ray from the sun passes through crystal. I felt in my heart and understood that every approach to God is brought about… Read More ›
Prisoners ask good question
Does everything happen for a reason? Writing prisoners is a deep learning experience for me. Each unique with their own struggles and of course some doing better than others. I have been writing some for quite a while and am starting to trust them more than in the beginning. I am truly amazed at some… Read More ›
Into the Spirit of Jesus
In no way do I seek perfection inquisitively, but I probe into the spirit of Jesus and fix my eyes on His deeds as summarized in the Gospel. Even if I live a thousand years, I would not exhaust what is contained there.–Sr. Faustina’s diary 510 When the reality of Jesus becomes actual, when the depth of… Read More ›
Emptiness (Growth in love)
Love fills up the abyss that exists between My greatness and your nothingness—Sr. Faustina’s diary 512 (4) ++++++++++ ‘Nothingness’ is an interesting term. Is it possible for such a state to exist? Everything that is in the Universe ‘stands out’ exists to some degree. What about ‘God’, does the term apply to that which is… Read More ›
Love, mercy, life and beginning again
The present moment is an important concept for those on the spiritual path, no matter what tradition is being followed. For it is in the moment that we are in touch with ‘now’ not worrying about the future or obsessing over the past. The concept of ‘mercy’ is also important, for it means that we… Read More ›
The experience of Gods Fire
Pentecost 2016 The Spirit God knows all hearts and in receiving the Holy Spirit the human heart is deeply wounded by the experience of God’s reality, as well as the love shown by the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is no longer an intellectual proposition only but the experience of the presence… Read More ›