Studies
While it is true that undiscerned study can have the adverse effect of chilling the heart and blinding the intellect to pure faith, an even worse predicament would arise from a blanket condemnation and abandonment of the practice of study altogether. St. Dominic, who certainly must been aware of these dangers, nonetheless saw that study was not only necessary to the range of preaching which he had undertaken, but that it could also contribute greatly to the sanctification of his brothers and sisters within the Order. Moreover, has not the Lord, through His prophet, painfully lamented that His people perish for lack of knowledge.
Through study, therefore, the nuns are undoubtedly led to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Scripture and to a true humility of self-understanding. Indeed the life of faith is a life which searches for Divine Truth, Truth which is not just a list of doctrines, but the person of the Word of God, Jesus Christ.
William of St. Thierry points out that “ the love of God is understanding Him: He is not known unless He is loved, nor is He loved unless He is known; and in reality He is known only to the degree that He is loved loved to the degree that He is known.”
In order therefore to reap the full fruits of study, such programs as continuing spiritual formation of the nuns through such ways as private and community exercises of Lectio Divina and guided as well as personal retreats have been adopted and form part of the monastery’s regular routine. Study and continuous spiritual formation are practices that are mutually complementary, in such a way that the need for spiritual growth impels one to engage in study and through study, this hunger is continually fed, although not exhaustively satisfied, so that the need for growth and recourse to study inevitably form the life-long identity of each individual nun, with the result that the nuns’ consecration to the Lord is deepened.