A young woman decided to take a step forward in her discernment journey: to spend a period of time living in a monastery in order to get to know this vocation more closely. Her arrival was greeted with special joy by the nuns, and the moment quickly drew attention on social media.
The young woman, Ruth, arrived at the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception and Blessed Agnes of Benigánim in Valencia, Spain, to share for a time in the life of the Discalced Augustinian nuns.
“Yesterday, Sunday, Ruth came to have an experience at the monastery,” the nuns said in the video they shared on social media.
The footage shows the community eagerly awaiting the young woman’s arrival. When the door finally opens, the nuns welcome her with applause, while Ruth, visibly moved, takes her first steps into the monastery.
The nuns then show her some areas of the house, and little by little, Ruth begins to integrate into the community’s daily life.
The video has surpassed 6,000 likes and 144,000 views, receiving numerous comments from people offering prayers for Ruth, that she may discover God’s calling for her life.
“May God bless her so that she perseveres! I will pray for her! ❤️”
“What joy—may new vocations come! 🙏💖”
“We pray for all the holy vocations you receive. 🙌”
The post also sparked questions about the possibility of having similar experiences at the monastery.
In response to a user who asked whether spiritual retreats are still held in convents, the nuns replied that “personalized retreats are offered at our Discalced Augustinian monastery in Benigánim, Valencia.”
Likewise, when another person asked how they could have an experience like Ruth’s, the nuns explained that those interested can contact them through their social-media accounts for more information.
What is life like for the Discalced Augustinians?
The community explains on its website that the lives of contemplative nuns revolve around “prayer, community life, work and study.” Their day includes the celebration of the Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, and praying the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as periods of silence and personal prayer.
“The work of the nuns consists of caring for the house of prayer, the elderly Sisters, the house, the monastery’s vegetable garden and garden, and the shop where religious items are sold.”
Their day also includes a time for community recreation.
“It is the hour when we talk, share, laugh, joke, and comment on events—contrasting with the day’s atmosphere of silence and recollection. ‘With Jesus Christ, joy is always born and reborn.’”
A community with more than four centuries of history
The Benigánim monastery has more than four centuries of history. The first five Discalced Augustinian nuns left the convent of St. Ursula in Valencia on June 3, 1611, arriving in Benigánim two days later. On June 11, a solemn procession carried the Blessed Sacrament to the new convent, a date the community considers the official beginning of its cloistered life in the town.
The monastery is also closely linked to Blessed Agnes of Benigánim, one of its best-known figures. Josefa María de Santa Inés entered the convent in 1643, received the habit in 1644, and professed vows the following year. She lived there until her death on January 21, 1696.
More than four centuries later, the Discalced Augustinians continue to dedicate themselves to contemplative life and prayer. The community also maintains welcoming spaces for young people, including gatherings, retreats, and shared-living experiences that can form part of a vocational discernment process.