of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue, 2003
In response to the Vatican’s request that Catholic monks and nuns assume a leadership role in the dialogue between Christianity and the great religions of the East, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue/Dialogue Interreligieux Monastique was established by the Benedictine Confederation in 1978.
In North America, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) is an organization of Catholic monastic women and men who bring their charism of listening and hospitality to interreligious dialogue. Dialogue is conducted at the level of spiritual practice and experience for the purpose of mutual spiritual benefit and communion.
Over the past 25 years we have learned from happy experience that monastic interreligious dialogue, while increasing our understanding and appreciation of other religious traditions, also helps us come to a deeper comprehension and a fuller expression of our own spiritual and theological heritage.
At the annual meeting of the Board of Directors in October 2003 the following mission statement was approved and adopted:
MID fosters dialogue at the level of spiritual practice and experience between North American Catholic monastic women and men and contemplative practitioners of diverse religious traditions. We engage in dialogue to promote the unity of the human family and mutual understanding among the world’s religions.