The Monasterio de San Benedetto is the place wherein St. Benedict lived his life as a hermit and where he developed his spiritual foundation and later guided the Benedictine order. The Monastery is nestled among the Simbruini mountains located in Subiaco, Rome, and is also known as the “Sacro Speco,” or Sacred Cave. In this cave, he began a spiritual journey of solitude, prayer, and self-discipline, believing that silence is an essential condition for receiving the word of God. 

If one can describe the places they visited, Prof. Adrianna Quioyo, Coordinator  for the Student Internship program, describes this as “beautiful,” especially the Monastery of St. Benedict of Subiaco and St. Peter’s Basilica — two places she considered memorable for her. To add to that, during their visit to the Our Lady of Montserrat in Catalonia, she mentioned that the monastery is the main headquarters of the Benedictine monks. As early as the 9th century, a group of monks had resided and settled in the remote mountainous region, and in the year 1025, Abbot Oliba commenced the construction of Montserrat Monastery and saw it to completion over the next several years. 

Prof. Quioyo shared how one can be amazed to witness a monastery built over hundreds of years; proof that hard work, strength, and faith can keep us going. She also expressed gratitude to the Benedictine monks and to the Lord for granting her wish to visit these places. 

United Through Prayer 

Throughout their pilgrimage, Ms. Fernandez and Ms. Quioyo mentioned how they would always gather in prayer all throughout the day, and even as they traveled from one place to another. During their visit to various churches, they would attend private masses together. 

“It was those quiet moments and every prayer brings me closest to God,” Ms. Fernandez said. “The experience is not complete without [you] understanding why you are there and without [you] feeling the presence of God in your life,” Ms. Quioyo mentioned, emphasizing how prayer became an essential source of reflection and renewal in their journey. 

While Ms. Baluarte mentioned that while walking alongside her fellow pilgrims, the Abbot, the Rector, and the Benedictine monks, she said that faith is a ‘shared journey.’ “God was there, is there, and will be there for His people, regardless of the sins His people committed,” she added. 

Being a Bedan means living by the guiding principle ‘Prayer and Work,’ the core of one’s Benedictine identity. “It is a living tradition,” Ms. Baluarte emphasized, explaining that prayer is the core of our actions — and our actions should be rooted in our faith. Echoing this, Ms. Quioyo shared that there are “miracles that can happen to our lives if we keep holding on [and] strengthening our faith,” emphasizing that faith is not only a foundation but also a force that sustains and guides the Bedan community. 

Pilgrims of Hope 

Ora et Labora is more than just a saying; rather, it is a “way of life that challenges us to serve and to discover God both in our prayer and in our work,” as Ms. Fernandez shared. She also expressed that she prayed for inner peace and gradually felt peace growing within her during the pilgrimage. After the 11-day journey, she hopes to carry this transformation into her daily life, becoming more patient with tasks and showing greater empathy towards her environment. She also hopes to share this experience with others and to help them become more compassionate and understanding. 

Sharing the same sentiment, Ms. Quioyo also expressed that the pilgrimage taught her to be more patient and view things from a calmer perspective. She shared that she prays everyday to embrace the wisdom to handle difficult situations. “If you pray, [and] you believe, and you have faith, nothing is impossible with God,” she said. Ms. Quioyo also encourages her students to center prayer as they enjoy life. She believes that spreading a renewed faith is by “sharing your experiences and by being kinder to people,” emphasizing that kindness reflects the compassion of the Lord. She also expressed gratitude to the Benedictine monks for granting her wish by inviting her to this pilgrimage.

“I felt that faith is not an isolated path but a shared journey,” Ms. Baluarte said. “It strengthened and deepened my prayer life and I felt that I must serve others with greater compassion,” she added. She also shared that loving God is serving Him, and serving Him is serving His people with humility and perseverance. As an educator herself, she wants to share her renewed faith by serving the community with a humble heart.