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One of the most peaceful places on earth. I came here twice. Once for a 3-day personal retreat and again years later for a discernment retreat weekend. Both times were unforgettable. I love Benedictine spirituality since it revolves around their motto: "Ora et Labora" (pray and work). The Benedictines welcome all visitors regardless... their second motto is "treat all visitors as if they were Christ". This the staff at Mt Angel did and many times over. I came away changed forever. You can check their website for information on events. As far as the liturgical prayers go, I can tell you the schedule below never changes: Daily: Vigils. 0520 Lauds. 0630 Mass. 0900 Midday. 1200 Vespers. 1715 Compline. 1930 Great Silence: 1930 until Vigils/Lauds next day Sunday: Lauds: 0640 Mass: 0900 Midday. 1200 Vespers. 1715 Compline: 2000 Great Silence: 2000 until Vigils next day If you've never experienced the peace that comes with this proven 1500-year old contemplative cycle of prayer (note: Gregorian chant is actually prayer) and work, I invite you to come here and try it. I'll be back soon. See you here maybe? Pax vobiscum...(peace be with you all)
Fred and I loved this book store there was a priest cemetery right next to the parking lot. The set up was beautiful! Fred loves a good cemetery! Definitely recommend stopping by and paying your respects.
Beautiful grounds, well manicured. Great view of the horizons below. The soccer fields are being redone though. The library is closed on weekends. Must check out are the main oratory during prayer hours and the weird taxidermy museum downstairs. Sacred upstairs, weird downstairs
This beautiful and peaceful private Catholic monastery/seminary came about in 1882. Located atop Mt Angel which is an approximately 500' butte. It has its own zip code and is known as Saint Benedict, OR. The Abbey was started by Benedictine monks who migrated from Switzerland. On this hilltop there is a beautiful church, a library that contains over 200K books including rare and hard to find ones, a museum, a bookstore and a coffee shop. The monks have opened a brewery where they handcraft beer. The brewery is called the Benedictine Brewery. Their signature beer "Black Habit" is available for purchase in the bookstore in the coffee shop. Outside, the Abbey is surrounded by naturally landscaped grounds and tranquil walkways. There is a nice walking tour that you can go on to hit different points of interest including the monk cemetery. So "Yes" the public is welcome to this mysterious hilltop and you could spend the day up here seeing everything. 2015-141
A hairball. It sounds bizarre, but that is what inspired my trip to the abbey. But, it is no ordinary hairball. Perhaps the world's largest (pulled from a pig's stomach in 1941) and preserved by the monks along with other religious and mundane objects in their museum. Since I've visited most of Oregon's popular tourist attractions, my focus has turned to finding the oddities. This Abbey is located on the outskirts of Mount Angel and the drive through the Willamette Valley is beautiful. The experience begins as you drive up the hill past the Stations of the Cross, recalling the suffering and death of Jesus. It is a tranquil place to walk and pray. Once you are at the top, turn right and choose a parking place at the end of the lot. Both the Abbey Museum and Abbey Church are located at the back of the property. First my disclaimers. I am not religious and have been known to feel overwhelmed at Natural History Museums when surrounded by a herd of preserved animals. So on the face of it, this shouldn't be my kind of museum. Religious artifacts are mixed in with taxidermied animals and other little treasures and souvenirs donated throughout the years. The animals (all appear to be from the collection of one big game hunter) stole the show. What surprised me most was the staging of the animals, since there are several pairs posed in battle. A bear taking down a deer or a bobcat swiping at a fleeing bird. The artistry was quite amazing. The posted museum hours are 10-11:30a and 1-5p daily, but we arrived outside of those hours and the door was open. So we turned on the lights and had the museum to ourselves. I went to revel in the oddities (the eight-legged calf and the hairball), but felt quite moved by the beauty and care taken with all of the items in the collection. After the museum we took a walking tour of the property, including the Abbey Church. The simplicity and tranquility of this place was a wonderful change of pace. Highly recommended for a drive in the country.
This is really a special spot in Oregon. In sleepy Mt Angel, on the highest spot in the area, this abbey overlooks the surrounding farmlands. The car road in, with a good walking path, has signs of the cross stations, a ritual in the abbey religion, among trees. There are shrines on the land and a charming burial ground. The campus is beautiful and a fine backdrop for exploration and portraits. You can visit their church and peek into other buildings on open days, or ask to visit. The library is off to the side of a large campus and a little different from the construction of other buildings. This is a review of the library. The library was designed by internationally noted architect Alvar Aalto. Alto is one of the giants of mid-century modern. The number of buildings in Oregon and Southern Washington designed by noted architects is less than 10, maybe 5. This is one. The Aalto library is designed with curved split levels. They are a library with numerous obscure books and a journal reading room for their ecclesiastical students. Staff is chill and helpful. Plenty of uncrowded space to read and think. They also have a very cool rare book collection. The Mt Angel Abbey is a fine spot to visit and explore the inner workings of one of the world's branches of religion in little Oregon. Or just chill there and take it all in!
Beautiful quiet place. I walked the grounds sat and meditated with my boyfriend Brian. I am a Protestant minister and I love this place. Brian says he comes here often just to sit and enjoy the view of the Oregon county side. I want to come and take a sabbatical at the retreat house. I loved the chapel the architecture is beautiful. We saw and talked briefly with a monk and then a nun walking her beautiful dogs. At one time I wanted to be a Nun and my boyfriend wanted to be a Priest. Go figure. I am glad we can enjoy the Abbey without being so. If you are ever in the area please go visit this Spiritual place and get renewed in your walk with Christ, pray, or just listen for his sweet voice in the atmosphere and aurora of the place.
As a rosary wielding member of the catholic community, I've found myself in countless sacred institutions in the northwest, but never once with any reason to visit Mt. Angel and its abbey. Until quite recently, I would have never bet that it would take the ideas of deceased Finnish man to draw me there. But there I stood, almost timidly as if I were opening the door to a confessional rather than the building I had drove over an hour to see...the library. Designed by the legendary Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1970, it's one of his only two buildings in North America, and the only one on the west coast. So if you're a fan of the man, like yours truly, and don't quite have a trip to Finland planned anytime soon, it's an awesome opportunity to experience the his work firsthand. The space is open to the public every day, and you're free to quietly walk around after saying hello to the pair of friendly, soft-spoken attendants at the central desk. The multiple story space is bathed in natural light, though there are few windows one can easily peer out of. Skylights and clearstories offer astounding daylight, suitable for studying and internal focus, rather than being distracted by the outdoors, as is common in many contemporary libraries. While nearly everything is over 40 years old, it is all beautifully preserved. Fixtures, furniture, lamps, and shelving were all designed by Aalto, who embodied the notion of gesamtkunstwerk (an impossible to pronounce German word used to describe an art form or design where all of the components complement each other) . Walking around is like time time traveling back to the late 60's... students hunch over books and scribble on pads of paper. There are very few computers in sight, nor is there the sound of a single cell phone. I almost felt as if I was committing some sort of sin taking photos... though my friends and I were assured that cameras are okay. Like places of worship, libraries are spaces that almost inadvertently generate a period of self reflection. Perhaps what makes Mt. Angel's library so successful is that the simple space is easy to use and understand, leaving plenty of time for our emotions, senses, and memories to dominate our experience. Even if religion isn't your thing, if you find yourself in Mt. Angel or even looking for a quick trip to experience something special, consider a visit here. It's easily one of my most favorite spaces that I've ever been in, and will forever sit high on my list of architecture that people really must see.
We left the city limits in pursuit of another weird small town museum, and a little of south of Portland near the sleepy sort-of-Germanic town of Mount Angel, we discovered the Mount Angel Abbey Museum occupying the basement of one of the abbey's buildings. When you think Abbey, don't expect a dark old monastery oozing with creepy religious iconography, because I was a little disappointed with the grounds. As a result of suffering multiple fires, the Abbey itself is fairly new, modern and well-kept perched on a hill over looking the surrounding wine country. Although not creepy enough for my tastes, the basement museum was still wonderful. Originally we headed to Mount Angel to confirm a rumor that the museum was home to a vintage hair-ball collection. The sight of a 2 and a half pound hairball extracted on September 19, 1941 from a hog's stomach at a Portland meatpacking plant confirmed the rumor, but we were just as into the rest of the museum. Although the hairballs occupy one shelf in a small glass case, the remainder of the museum is largely dominated by an array of taxidermied animals packed into glass-cased dioramas. These displays really are packed and there are a lot of dead animals to see! The museum was self-service, or at least appeared to be when we went there. We let ourselves in, turned on the light, and left our donations as we left.
Every time we go to the Oktoberfest in Mt Angel, we always make a point out of visiting the Mt Angel Abbey. The Abbey is rich in history here and is a very peaceful setting where you can relax and enjoy the fresh cool air on the top of the hill. This is an active study and worship grounds as is evidenced by the dormitories for the Benedictine monks. The church doors are open for those who wish to enter and there is also a small coffee shop for visitors as well. There is also a Stations of the Cross trail that follows along the drive up to the Abbey. All are welcome and that sentiment is felt. We were greeted several times by the Brothers as we wandered around the yard. I was collecting some acorns that fall from the Black Oak. 17 years ago I planted some acorns on my property from those trees and they have grown into magnificent specimens. We always like to leave a donation as a Thank You for what they do for us. read more
Lovely well-maintained grounds. Nice place to come stroll around and be at peace, but this is a working place of worship and study so act accordingly. The Abbey itself is lovely inside, soothing and calm, nothing ornate. There is a fairly parking lot. Not all buildings are open to the public; be respectful. read more
1 year ago
One of the most peaceful places on earth. I came here twice. Once for a 3-day personal retreat and again years later for a discernment retreat weekend. Both times were unforgettable. I love Benedictine spirituality since it revolves around their motto: "Ora et Labora" (pray and work). The Benedictines welcome all visitors regardless... their second motto is "treat all visitors as if they were Christ". This the staff at Mt Angel did and many times over. I came away changed forever. You can check their website for information on events. As far as the liturgical prayers go, I can tell you the schedule below never changes: Daily: Vigils. 0520 Lauds. 0630 Mass. 0900 Midday. 1200 Vespers. 1715 Compline. 1930 Great Silence: 1930 until Vigils/Lauds next day Sunday: Lauds: 0640 Mass: 0900 Midday. 1200 Vespers. 1715 Compline: 2000 Great Silence: 2000 until Vigils next day If you've never experienced the peace that comes with this proven 1500-year old contemplative cycle of prayer (note: Gregorian chant is actually prayer) and work, I invite you to come here and try it. I'll be back soon. See you here maybe? Pax vobiscum...(peace be with you all) read more
2 years ago
Fred and I loved this book store there was a priest cemetery right next to the parking lot. The set up was beautiful! Fred loves a good cemetery! Definitely recommend stopping by and paying your respects. read more
8 years ago
Beautiful grounds, well manicured. Great view of the horizons below. The soccer fields are being redone though. The library is closed on weekends. Must check out are the main oratory during prayer hours and the weird taxidermy museum downstairs. Sacred upstairs, weird downstairs read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
This beautiful and peaceful private Catholic monastery/seminary came about in 1882. Located atop Mt Angel which is an approximately 500' butte. It has its own zip code and is known as Saint Benedict, OR. The Abbey was started by Benedictine monks who migrated from Switzerland. On this hilltop there is a beautiful church, a library that contains over 200K books including rare and hard to find ones, a museum, a bookstore and a coffee shop. The monks have opened a brewery where they handcraft beer. The brewery is called the Benedictine Brewery. Their signature beer "Black Habit" is available for purchase in the bookstore in the coffee shop. Outside, the Abbey is surrounded by naturally landscaped grounds and tranquil walkways. There is a nice walking tour that you can go on to hit different points of interest including the monk cemetery. So "Yes" the public is welcome to this mysterious hilltop and you could spend the day up here seeing everything. 2015-141 read more
A hairball. It sounds bizarre, but that is what inspired my trip to the abbey. But, it is no ordinary hairball. Perhaps the world's largest (pulled from a pig's stomach in 1941) and preserved by the monks along with other religious and mundane objects in their museum. Since I've visited most of Oregon's popular tourist attractions, my focus has turned to finding the oddities. This Abbey is located on the outskirts of Mount Angel and the drive through the Willamette Valley is beautiful. The experience begins as you drive up the hill past the Stations of the Cross, recalling the suffering and death of Jesus. It is a tranquil place to walk and pray. Once you are at the top, turn right and choose a parking place at the end of the lot. Both the Abbey Museum and Abbey Church are located at the back of the property. First my disclaimers. I am not religious and have been known to feel overwhelmed at Natural History Museums when surrounded by a herd of preserved animals. So on the face of it, this shouldn't be my kind of museum. Religious artifacts are mixed in with taxidermied animals and other little treasures and souvenirs donated throughout the years. The animals (all appear to be from the collection of one big game hunter) stole the show. What surprised me most was the staging of the animals, since there are several pairs posed in battle. A bear taking down a deer or a bobcat swiping at a fleeing bird. The artistry was quite amazing. The posted museum hours are 10-11:30a and 1-5p daily, but we arrived outside of those hours and the door was open. So we turned on the lights and had the museum to ourselves. I went to revel in the oddities (the eight-legged calf and the hairball), but felt quite moved by the beauty and care taken with all of the items in the collection. After the museum we took a walking tour of the property, including the Abbey Church. The simplicity and tranquility of this place was a wonderful change of pace. Highly recommended for a drive in the country. read more
This is really a special spot in Oregon. In sleepy Mt Angel, on the highest spot in the area, this abbey overlooks the surrounding farmlands. The car road in, with a good walking path, has signs of the cross stations, a ritual in the abbey religion, among trees. There are shrines on the land and a charming burial ground. The campus is beautiful and a fine backdrop for exploration and portraits. You can visit their church and peek into other buildings on open days, or ask to visit. The library is off to the side of a large campus and a little different from the construction of other buildings. This is a review of the library. The library was designed by internationally noted architect Alvar Aalto. Alto is one of the giants of mid-century modern. The number of buildings in Oregon and Southern Washington designed by noted architects is less than 10, maybe 5. This is one. The Aalto library is designed with curved split levels. They are a library with numerous obscure books and a journal reading room for their ecclesiastical students. Staff is chill and helpful. Plenty of uncrowded space to read and think. They also have a very cool rare book collection. The Mt Angel Abbey is a fine spot to visit and explore the inner workings of one of the world's branches of religion in little Oregon. Or just chill there and take it all in! read more
7 years ago
Beautiful quiet place. I walked the grounds sat and meditated with my boyfriend Brian. I am a Protestant minister and I love this place. Brian says he comes here often just to sit and enjoy the view of the Oregon county side. I want to come and take a sabbatical at the retreat house. I loved the chapel the architecture is beautiful. We saw and talked briefly with a monk and then a nun walking her beautiful dogs. At one time I wanted to be a Nun and my boyfriend wanted to be a Priest. Go figure. I am glad we can enjoy the Abbey without being so. If you are ever in the area please go visit this Spiritual place and get renewed in your walk with Christ, pray, or just listen for his sweet voice in the atmosphere and aurora of the place. read more
As a rosary wielding member of the catholic community, I've found myself in countless sacred institutions in the northwest, but never once with any reason to visit Mt. Angel and its abbey. Until quite recently, I would have never bet that it would take the ideas of deceased Finnish man to draw me there. But there I stood, almost timidly as if I were opening the door to a confessional rather than the building I had drove over an hour to see...the library. Designed by the legendary Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1970, it's one of his only two buildings in North America, and the only one on the west coast. So if you're a fan of the man, like yours truly, and don't quite have a trip to Finland planned anytime soon, it's an awesome opportunity to experience the his work firsthand. The space is open to the public every day, and you're free to quietly walk around after saying hello to the pair of friendly, soft-spoken attendants at the central desk. The multiple story space is bathed in natural light, though there are few windows one can easily peer out of. Skylights and clearstories offer astounding daylight, suitable for studying and internal focus, rather than being distracted by the outdoors, as is common in many contemporary libraries. While nearly everything is over 40 years old, it is all beautifully preserved. Fixtures, furniture, lamps, and shelving were all designed by Aalto, who embodied the notion of gesamtkunstwerk (an impossible to pronounce German word used to describe an art form or design where all of the components complement each other) . Walking around is like time time traveling back to the late 60's... students hunch over books and scribble on pads of paper. There are very few computers in sight, nor is there the sound of a single cell phone. I almost felt as if I was committing some sort of sin taking photos... though my friends and I were assured that cameras are okay. Like places of worship, libraries are spaces that almost inadvertently generate a period of self reflection. Perhaps what makes Mt. Angel's library so successful is that the simple space is easy to use and understand, leaving plenty of time for our emotions, senses, and memories to dominate our experience. Even if religion isn't your thing, if you find yourself in Mt. Angel or even looking for a quick trip to experience something special, consider a visit here. It's easily one of my most favorite spaces that I've ever been in, and will forever sit high on my list of architecture that people really must see. read more
10 years ago
We left the city limits in pursuit of another weird small town museum, and a little of south of Portland near the sleepy sort-of-Germanic town of Mount Angel, we discovered the Mount Angel Abbey Museum occupying the basement of one of the abbey's buildings. When you think Abbey, don't expect a dark old monastery oozing with creepy religious iconography, because I was a little disappointed with the grounds. As a result of suffering multiple fires, the Abbey itself is fairly new, modern and well-kept perched on a hill over looking the surrounding wine country. Although not creepy enough for my tastes, the basement museum was still wonderful. Originally we headed to Mount Angel to confirm a rumor that the museum was home to a vintage hair-ball collection. The sight of a 2 and a half pound hairball extracted on September 19, 1941 from a hog's stomach at a Portland meatpacking plant confirmed the rumor, but we were just as into the rest of the museum. Although the hairballs occupy one shelf in a small glass case, the remainder of the museum is largely dominated by an array of taxidermied animals packed into glass-cased dioramas. These displays really are packed and there are a lot of dead animals to see! The museum was self-service, or at least appeared to be when we went there. We let ourselves in, turned on the light, and left our donations as we left. read more
11 years ago
10 years ago
Beautiful and very peaceful . The view it's self is amazing . We enjoyed the meusum . It had a large selection of interesting items . The church has a huge organ. The woodwork was inspiring . It is a wonderful place to relax and meditate. This is a must stop if you are in the area. read more
14 years ago
11 years ago
13 years ago
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