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How to Visit a Monastery: Discovering Adalam and Peace

Many people living in the midst of the busy-ness of the world, feel a quiet tug in their hearts to visit a monastery, seeking silence, prayer, and clarity. St. Benedict wisely teaches, “Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ” (Rule of St. Benedict, Ch. 53). Visiting a monastery is not simply a retreat; it is an invitation to discover adalam, a deep interior stillness where you encounter God’s presence in simplicity. 1 Samuel 22 in the Bible tells the story of David escaping into the Cave of Adalam in order to hide from Saul. Over the centuries, people like the prophet Elijah and even Saint Benedict sought the cave as a place to regroup, reenergize, and reconnect with the Divine. If you, too, feel that call, then maybe Subiaco can be a place for you to reconnect as well. Here are a few thoughts:

Plan Your Visit

Begin by contacting the monastery in advance to inquire about visiting for a day visit, a visit for a few nights, or longer guest accommodations. Many monasteries like Subiaco have guesthouses where you can spend a few days or even a week, allowing you to join the monks in prayer, share simple meals, and take time to walk the monastery grounds. Jesus invites us, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). A monastery offers this place of rest, providing a space to breathe, pray, and rediscover your priorities in God.

Join in the Liturgy

At the heart of monastic life is the Divine Office, prayed at set hours throughout the day, and the daily celebration of the Eucharist. St. Benedict reminds us, “Nothing is to be preferred to the Work of God” (Rule, Ch. 43). Visitors are encouraged to join the monks in these times of prayer, where psalms are recited or chanted, silence is embraced, and Scripture is proclaimed. Entering into this rhythm of prayer can quiet the distractions within and open your heart to God’s gentle voice. You will also have the chance to spend time in the quiet darkness and solace of the Church, or outside on the grounds of the monastery. 

Enter into Silence

Monasteries are places where silence is cherished, allowing you to listen deeply to God and your own heart. Bring a Bible or spiritual reading, a journal, and a willingness to be still. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). In this silence, adalam takes root. Adalam is not merely the absence of noise; it is a sacred stillness that brings clarity, interior freedom, and an awareness of God’s abiding love. It allows you to hear your true desires and to sense God’s quiet invitations in your life.

Participate Mindfully

During your visit, embrace the simplicity of monastic life. Participate in the liturgy, eat meals in silence or quiet conversation, spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, arrange confession if needed, and respect the monastery’s customs. Allow yourself to slow down, leaving behind the need to be constantly productive. Adalam grows in the spaces where you allow yourself to simply “be” before God.

Leave with Gratitude

Whether your visit is a few hours, a weekend, or a longer retreat, leave with gratitude for the adalam you have experienced. The silence, prayer, and rhythm of monastic life can renew your spirit, helping you return to your daily life with a deeper awareness of God’s presence. You may find yourself carrying adalam into your work, family life, and prayer, discovering that what you experienced at the monastery can become a quiet interior sanctuary wherever you go. Click below for some of the ways to step back from the world and enter into the stillness of the Divine.