Prior Leven Harton '06

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz welcomes Prior Leven Harton, a 2006 Benedictine College graduate and monk of St. Benedict’s Abbey, to reflect on the unexpected journey that led him from an uncertain college freshman to a life of prayer, teaching, and monastic leadership. What began as a search for a college and a chance to play tennis became the place where he encountered God in a deeply personal way and discovered the vocation that would shape the rest of his life.

Prior Leven shares how Benedictine’s professors, monks, classmates, and campus culture challenged him to pursue something deeper than academic success or career ambitions. Through philosophy, authentic friendships, and a simple but faithful commitment to daily prayer, he experienced a profound conversion that transformed not only what he believed, but how he understood joy, purpose, and the call to live for Christ.

Now serving as Prior of St. Benedict’s Abbey, Leven reflects on the beauty of monastic life, the wisdom found in community across generations, and the importance of living with intentionality in a world filled with distraction. His story is a powerful reminder that Benedictine is more than a place to earn a degree—it is a place where lives are transformed, lifelong vocations are discovered, and the pursuit of truth, goodness, and authentic relationships continues long after graduation.