Who We Are

The community in Big Sur is situated in the rugged coastal mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Located on 899 acres at an elevation of 1300 feet, the Hermitage is surrounded by California chaparral, redwood, madrone, bay laurel, and an oak forest. The view is of both ocean and woods - a natural setting profoundly conducive to the contemplative way of life. Click here to enter our photo gallery.

The Camaldolese Charism

Camaldolese Benedictine monks trace their heritage to the 6th century monastic traditions of Saint Benedict, as further defined in the 11th century by their founder, Saint Romuald.

The three elements of the Camaldolese charism are:

• Solitude for personal prayer and meditation

• Communal prayer and work within the monastery

• Contemplative outreach

Founded in 1027, the Hermitage at Camaldoli, Italy serves as the motherhouse of the Order. Today, Camaldolese monasteries are found on the continents of Asia, Africa, and North & South America in addition to Europe.

New Camaldoli

In 1958, the Camaldolese established New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, CA.

The monks labors include hospitality, retreats, book store, writing, and original art, pottery and music.

Many of the monks were called to monastic life as a second career. Former lay careers of community members include college and high school teaching, performing arts, engineering, clinical psychology, chemistry, construction and the military.

Former religious careers include service as diocesan priests and as members of Benedictine, Franciscan, Salesian, Saint John of God and Redemptorist orders.

Incarnation Monastery

Incarnation Monastery was established by the Camaldolese in Berkeley, CA in 1979.

Strategically located adjacent to the University of California Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union, Incarnation serves as a house of studies for Camaldolese monks as well as an urban retreat center.

The Incarnation Monastery Monastic Institute shares Benedictine spirituality with the GTU theological community.
 
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Saint Romuald’s Brief Rule

Sit in your cell as in paradise. Put the whole world behind you and forget it. Watch your thoughts like a good fisherman watching for fish. The path you must follow is in the Psalms—never leave it.

If you have just come to the monastery, and in spite of your good will you cannot accomplish what you want, take every opportunity you can to sing the Psalms in your heart and to understand them with your mind.

And if your mind wanders as you read, do not give up; hurry back and apply your mind to the words once more.

Realize above all that you are in God's presence, and stand there with the attitude of one who stands before the emperor.

Empty yourself completely and sit waiting, content with the grace of God, like the chick who tastes nothing and eats nothing but what his mother brings him.