On the occasion of our 25th anniversary, we published a book called Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks. A paperback with a quality color cover, the book not only details the history, but provides pictures, letters and essays about St. Benedict's Farm. The back cover makes this summary statement:

"YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD MONKS share with you their colorful 26-year history-how they pioneered their small monastic community founded in 1956 in South Central Texas. Years of struggle on the edge of penury are traced through an agricultural odyssey to a final coming to terms with 20th century technology. Their principle of self-support has been successfully implemented through creative photography, audio-recording, purebred beef cattle and computer-programming. Daringly new, yet based on authentic, ancient traditions, this lay community of both men and women forges its solid Scriptural spirituality through challenges to hallowed traditional concepts, and traces the development of total prayer in their lives naturally integrated with the demands of modern life. These friendly neighborhood monks are as much at home with computer as with theology manuals. This book along with their published religious albums and songbooks is the next best thing to a personal visit."

STYLE OF THE BOOK

You can get the flavor of our book, Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks from the following two paragraphs:

Our Farming Odyssey

"I farmed until I lost $1000," the Black man told his friend on the Assembly Line. The story of this part of Texas, (if not of America), is people wanting to make a living farming and not being able to. We have participated generously in this broken dream. We have tried raising and selling pigs, vegetables, grain and milk, and now beef. The modest and occasional success we have enjoyed in these ventures makes us truly appreciate all the farming jokes that commonly surface on this cactus-dotted land. Like, "As soon as I get out of debt, I'm gonna quit sellin these watermelons." Or the one about the man who stole cattle during the 97 drought, sold them and lost money. Some seem to "get the combination" and make a few bucks, but most turn to a trusty "sideline."

Into Photography

Our "sideline" business is photography. We quickly found out that people will pay more for producing pictures than for pork, melons, corn, milk or meat. Those who sell and package farm products can "send the kids to college," but not so much those who grow farm products. Like Noah's Ark in the wilderness, our photo studio is a full-time operation. We make as well as take our own pictures. A large part of our business is wedding photography. We try to confine our work to within 50-mile radius of our home. That way almost everyone who sees our distinctive uniforms recognizes us as "your friendly neighborhood monks"! Clothing all by itself would not be much of a witness, but joined to "good and faithful service," it does make our way of life shine like a lamp in the window.

ORDERING OUR BOOK

If visiting our Web Site inspires you to want to know still more about St. Benedict's Farm, you might want to order our book, Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks. A $15 donation will help us reorder and restock -- which will need to be done very shortly. E-MAIL: themonks@stbenedictsfarm.org