Monastery of the Holy Spirit

[1] The Monastery of the Holy Spirit was founded on March 21, 1944, by 20 monks from the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta and silent film star Colleen Moore donated 1,400 acres (5.7 km2) of land, and the first monks lived in a barn while they built (by themselves) what would become known as the "pine board" monastery.

In 2005, the pine board monastery which housed their carpentry and stained glass businesses was destroyed in a fire.

[3] Previous abbots have been Augustine Moore, Armand Veilleux, Bernard Johnson, Basil Pennington, and Francis Michael Stiteler.

At least half of the monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit are priests who rotate in administering the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) at the retreat house.

[4] The monks of Holy Spirit follow the Rule of St. Benedict, in particular the precept of self-sustainment by operating several businesses.

[5][6] In 2011 a public gathering place and visitor center was built in the barn where the monks first lived when they began the monastery.