As part of our travels around Vermont, we always stop and visit the Weston Priory. It is such a peaceful and beautiful place. It is located at the top of a small hill, in the midst of the woods.
The Weston Priory was founded in 1953 by Abbot Leo Rudloff in Weston, Vermont. It grew into a Benedictine monastic community focused on prayer, hospitality, and service. It was based on the Rule of Saint Benedict.
The Rule of Saint Benedict is a set of monastic guidelines written by Saint Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century, which serves as a practical guide for communal Christian life. It emphasizes principles like humility, obedience, and a balanced life of prayer and work, intended to help monks grow in spiritual virtues and find God in daily life. The rule is divided into chapters that provide administrative and spiritual guidance for the monastery and its abbot.
It is known for its dedication to peace and justice, developing its own music, and its work with refugees, establishing itself as a model of contemporary monasticism. The priory’s story involves both traditional monastic life and an evolution towards a more communal and socially conscious existence, including internal reforms and external outreach like assisting refugee families and partnering with a retreat center in Mexico.
We were lucky to be in time for a simple prayer service, offered by the friars. The chapel is quite simple, but beautiful in its simplicity.
Here’s a peaceful view of the grounds. The covered structure on the left is where they hold open air masses.
There is a prayer maze on the grounds as well. At the center of the maze, there are chairs to sit and reflect.
We make it a point to visit the Weston Priory every time we are in Vermont. It is the perfect place to reflect and recharge.
What peaceful areas have you visited?
Nancy Loderick's Blog 
Posted on December 3, 2025
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