Care of the Land: Philosophy of Land Use

In 1993, the Sisters finalized a Philosophy of Land Use as a way to articulate a common understanding of what it means to own land. The Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude promotes  an interconnectedness with the land, recognizing a responsibility to reverence and care for the resources it provides. All decisions made concerning the land flow from this philosophy:

We, the Benedictine Sisters of the Monastery of St. Gertrude, have been entrusted with the gift of land by our loving God and Creator. Through the years our community and this land have been bonded together. With humility we recognize the earth (humus) as the source from which we (humanity) receive our life and sustenance. Our inner spirits are renewed by the contemplative environment it provides. Listening with the ear of our heart to the wisdom expressed through creation, opens us to the deeper reality of God in our lives. As a source of food, water and firewood, the land has nourished and healed our bodies even providing the stone for the building which shelters us and the flowers and trees that decorate our home. This interconnectedness is ultimately realized at the time of death when our bodies return to the earth.

“A spirit of reverence for all creation permeates the Rule [of St. Benedict], together with a sense of oneness with the land, the days, and the seasons. Such conscious respect for all created goods makes it impossible to pollute land, water or air, to waste resources or to forget about the children who will one day inhabit the earth.” (All Good Gifts) This challenge of the American Benedictine Prioresses is a call to inner conversion so we might become leaven for change in our world.

In order to live in harmony with the earth and to promote responsible stewardship, the Center for Benedictine Life encourages a commitment to:

• choosing a life-style that will give witness to love of the earth;
• joining with other people who are endeavoring to heal the wounds that have been inflicted upon our planet;
• providing on-going education in ecology so that decisions regarding the use of the land will respect the balance and interdependence found in nature;
• using the land for financial profit in a responsible manner, always seeking to maintain the quality of soil, air and water and the healthy balance of animal and plant life;
• keeping in mind that the atmosphere of peace and prayerfulness provided by these surroundings is to be shared with all who come to seek God.