About us

Our life in community

The value and beauty of the Benedictine form of Christian life which is active, productive, and at the same time humble and joyful.

Walls of testimony

Their millennial presence in these areas left a deep and indelible mark on society as a whole and was the creator and bearer of many of its development elements.

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Back in 852, Prince Trpimir founded the first Benedictine monastery in Rižinice near Solin. In the following centuries, Benedictine communities multiplied, leading in number and reputation along the Adriatic coast. Founded on the solid rock of faith in Jesus Christ, the Benedictine monasteries on the coast became a fundamental source of spiritual creativity, which was especially evident in the development of the Latin alphabet.

There is hardly any area in which the Benedictines did not stand out and make a significant contribution. Valuing theory and practice, they are responsible for shaping the religious, social and cultural life of Europe.

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Sisters of St. Benedict

The reality of contemplative life is not monotonous and rigid. She is filled with meaning, with endless horizons for herself and others; initiated and supported by God's love, and shaped by our own cooperation.

The beneficent presence of the Benedictines manifested itself in many ways. Faithful to their mission, prayer and work, both manual and intellectual, they were carriers of culture and literacy. They founded schools in their areas, taught various trades and other skills. At the same time, they were silent listeners to many who turned to them in life's doubts and difficulties, trying to offer words of encouragement and comfort to everyone with prayer.

1500

years of togetherness

The rule by which the Benedictine sisters live is the will of their founder and spiritual father St. Benedikta, who wants to awaken in a person the awareness of responsibility and the desire for creativity. To experience the feeling of sublimity and beauty of being and being called God's worker and collaborator. Benedict pays great attention to prayer, but equally to work. It predicts time for both and demands that it be respected.

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members of the order

Eight autonomous female Benedictine monasteries form the Federation of Benedictine Nuns in Croatia, which numbers around sixty members of the order. The Federation strives to promote cooperation between communities and to contribute to the formation process of each of its members, which consists of upbringing and education. It also supports and enables various meetings and exchanges of experiences between nuns from different monasteries, and the process of formation has a gradual character and lasts a lifetime.

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monasteries

Benedictine monasteries used to be present in almost all areas of today's Croatia. We know for sure that there were about a hundred of them, and unofficially much more. To date, eight women's monasteries and one male monastery have been maintained. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Adriatic Sea, the peace of cities and island towns, Benedictine monasteries are unique prayer atmospheres that still radiate and attract many.

Benedictine slogans

Like the air he breathes, prayer is the core of a consecrated life for a monk. An inexpressible fullness that fills the heart, because without prayer all spiritual life is extinguished and disappears.

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Liturgical prayer, Divine reading and work are the three components of a nun's life. In her life, she strives to be God's interlocutor through prayer, and through work, she strives to be God's co-worker. Koludrica does nothing by herself, but always together with God. With my own hands, and with the power of God.

More about our life

The driver and underpinning of monastic life is the desire for oneness with God.

Ecclesia orans

The term monk derives from the Greek μόνος – alone, one, complete. From the meaning of the word, the main features of monastic living can be derived, and also its purpose. It assumes, then, a certain separation and isolation, with the purpose of the achievement of completeness.

Benedictine monasticism in Croatia

“In the world, but not of the world”, are the words that could be used to describe this monastic community and its direction in life.

Monastic life

For a monk, God is the most important thing, he not only refers to God, that he is his proof, he is moreover a witness of God’s exaltation.

Spirituality

Prayer is a human act, but above all a gift of God, a moment of mercy, an opening to the mysteries of God’s closeness.

What our day looks like

It begins and ends with prayer, a means of sanctifying oneself and others. The core is the prayer of the hours, and the climax is the Eucharistic celebration.

Waking up

In the morning, the mystery of birth is renewed. It is the beginning of a new day when our being turns to the One from whom everything originated.

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Reading service

It responds to the human need for a good, noble, benevolent, strong, comforting and saving word.

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Consideration

Everything earthly is a barrier, but also a passage to God. The essence of the earthly is mediation. Consideration helps us see this.

Morning prayer

It begins by giving thanks and asking for the blessing of the day ahead. In the center is Christ and his resurrection, to whom he directs his gaze and will.

Holy Mass

It is the focal point of Christ's presence in which our whole life with its spiritual and physical elements is reflected and surrendered to.

Third hour

It gives another incentive to make friends with God's word. At the same time, it calls for its embodiment in everyday life.

Breakfast

A short meal in silence and preparation for work activities.

Work

Someone works for the sake of humanity, and someone for the sake of glory. The monk is called to belong to the first group, that is, to seek God's glory in his work.