Day Trip
A monastery day trip is not about escaping responsibilities but about learning to carry them with deeper peace, prayer, and gratitude. As you leave, you may find the words of Jesus echoing within you: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31). A few hours in the quiet of a monastery can help you return to your daily life renewed, centered, and aware of God’s presence in every moment. A day trip to a monastery offers such a space of quiet, prayer, and reflection, even for a few hours. As Psalm 46:10 invites, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Before arriving, take time to pray that your visit will be fruitful. St. Benedict writes in his Rule, “Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.” (RB Prologue 1). This listening posture transforms a day trip from tourism into pilgrimage.
Contact the monastery first
At Subiaco we welcome day visitors, but we are a "working monastery" so there are times, like any house, that things might be off-limits. For those reasons, just call us ahead of time to make sure a day trip is allowed a particular day. We would be honored to have you join us for Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, or just a silent walk around our campus. Father Thomas Merton once noted, “The monastery is not an escape from the world but a place where the world is seen in the light of God.” Your visit can help you see your daily life with fresh spiritual perspective.
Dress simply and arrive early
Wear simple, modest clothing, and bring a journal or a spiritual book if you wish to read quietly. Arriving early helps you enter into the monastery’s peace without haste, as “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). Follow the signs for our Coury House Retreat Center where you can check in and get a self-guided tour brochure. Because we have an all-boys Academy with minors living on the grounds, all visitors are asked to provide ID for a one-minute "Raptor" check which is screened against the sex offender registry and custom databases, including those with custody orders and banned visitor status. The system instantly alerts us if a visitor is flagged as a security risk. If you feel uncomfortable having this check, then you are free to visit just the Church itself and leave the grounds. For those that have the check completed, you will be given a small printed lapel ID that indicates to those on campus that you are a screened visitor and free to roam the grounds.
Participate in prayer
Monasteries pray the Divine Office throughout the day, often including Lauds (Morning Prayer), Midday Prayer, Vespers (Evening Prayer), and Compline (Night Prayer). Even if unfamiliar, simply joining in standing, sitting, and silence will immerse you in the prayer rhythm. St. Benedict writes, “Let nothing be preferred to the Work of God.” (RB 43.3), reminding us that prayer is the heart of monastic life.
Take time for silence and walking
Many monasteries have gardens or trails where you can walk quietly. As St. Augustine advised, “Solvitur ambulando” (“It is solved by walking”). Bringing questions, burdens, or thanksgiving to God while walking in silence can open your heart to hear His guidance.