The Lay Cistercian Review · Advent 2025 · From the Editor
Editor’s Comments
About the Cover Art Seeing Shepherds — Daniel Bonnell → Bonnell’s shepherds capture something the Cistercian tradition knows well: when God breaks through, joy refuses to stay hidden. Their bodies open as if receiving a light they never expected, wholly taken by surprise. It is the gaudium monasticum Bernard describes—the quiet sweetness of a soul realizing that God is near.
These are rough men, shaped by weather and hard living, yet they become the ones entrusted with revelation. The same is true for us. The monk—and anyone seeking God—comes with weakness, confusion, and a heart still learning how to listen. Yet grace arrives anyway. Joy does not rise because life is easy, but because God leans toward the humble.
Here, joy is not noise or spectacle. It is revelation—the shepherd’s first cry becoming the echo in the contemplative heart: “To us a Savior is born.”
Generative Artificial Intelligence Generative AI has become an integral part of modern life, a tool many of us use without even thinking. In preparing this issue of the Lay Cistercian Review, we used it gently and intentionally—only to support the practical work that helps present each author’s writing with clarity and care. Within our typesetting system, Overleaf, it assisted with formatting, layout consistency, and troubleshooting LaTeX quirks, helping us maintain a clean and contemplative look for the journal.
Generative AI also supported our authors by checking grammar, punctuation, clarity, and, at times, raising possible theological questions. Even so, the final work belongs entirely to the authors. Whenever a passage touched on doctrine or deeper meaning, they reviewed it personally and refined or clarified their intent. We chose not to use generative AI for poetry, as it struggles with nuance, symbolism, and metaphor—qualities central to contemplative verse. This approach allowed each writer’s true voice to shine while safeguarding the accuracy and integrity of the Lay Cistercian Review.
For example, in writing Mary and the Lay Cistercian Vocation During Advent, I (John Pestian) used ChatGPT as a helpful companion to tighten the prose, check for clarity, and identify potential doctrinal or theological inconsistencies. The ideas, structure, and spiritual direction are mine, but ChatGPT helped smooth the language and ensure the article read cleanly. It remained simply a practical tool—much like an editor—that supported the work while keeping the heart, intention, and authenticity of the writing fully my own.
Our use of generative AI follows the Church’s guidance on emerging digital tools. The Vatican’s Ethics in Internet urges “serious reflection” and “careful and ethical evaluation” of new technologies,1 and teaches that technological tools “should serve people’s good and the moral truth.”2 Similarly, the Dicastery for Communication’s more recent reflection, Towards Full Presence, calls for the prudent use of digital tools in ways that foster “truth, beauty, and the good.”3
Errata As we begin the work of publishing the Lay Cistercian Review, we recognize that mistakes may occur. If you notice anything that needs correction—whether in language, references, or theological clarity—we would be grateful to hear from you. Your attention and generosity help strengthen our mission and support the prayerful work of this journal. Please send any corrections to info@laycistercianreview.org .