There is enough snow to cover the grass. It is still falling.
No one ventures out on the roads.
I can see my Michigan nephew shaking his head in bewilderment.
However, it is a perfect day to wear those fur-lined boots I received at Christmas from California!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Another new novice
Today in our weekly chapter meeting after Sunday Mass, we clothed another novice, the second one in 2 weeks. We now have a new Brother Antony. Last week we added Father Brendan.
In our abbot's talk he mentioned that this vocation is a rare one. There are only about 3000 Cistercian monks in the whole world. He recalled a picture in our calendar a couple of years ago that showed our novice master with 7 or 8 novices. I am the only one of the group who is still here. That rate of attrition is fairly normal.
I am not quite sure what it takes to stay. Most of what is found here -- prayer, quiet, simplicity -- can be managed in other ways away from here. In fact, I think I am part of a rather large carbon footprint -- my part being much larger than the carbon footprint I was leaving before I entered.
Over and over in my journal I have written about the necessity of accepting crazy decisions or weird processes or just general insanity. That certainly is one of the elements of a monastic vocation: this particular collection of men, with all their idiosyncracies and quirks and irritants, is really a means of leading toward God. In learning to love this irritating guy just as a person worthy of love I am an inch closer to loving God.
It all gets down to finding peace with the other. It is so easy to want people to be like me. Can I actually accept, affirm, welcome, and love those who are so wackily different?
In our abbot's talk he mentioned that this vocation is a rare one. There are only about 3000 Cistercian monks in the whole world. He recalled a picture in our calendar a couple of years ago that showed our novice master with 7 or 8 novices. I am the only one of the group who is still here. That rate of attrition is fairly normal.
I am not quite sure what it takes to stay. Most of what is found here -- prayer, quiet, simplicity -- can be managed in other ways away from here. In fact, I think I am part of a rather large carbon footprint -- my part being much larger than the carbon footprint I was leaving before I entered.
Over and over in my journal I have written about the necessity of accepting crazy decisions or weird processes or just general insanity. That certainly is one of the elements of a monastic vocation: this particular collection of men, with all their idiosyncracies and quirks and irritants, is really a means of leading toward God. In learning to love this irritating guy just as a person worthy of love I am an inch closer to loving God.
It all gets down to finding peace with the other. It is so easy to want people to be like me. Can I actually accept, affirm, welcome, and love those who are so wackily different?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
30-day challenge
I read yesterday about 30-day blog challenges: post once a day for 30 days. I looked at some of the challenges and their suggestions for the daily posts: post a picture of yourself, tell about your favorite song, what's your favorite movie? -- and so on.
I have decided not to accept any of these challenges.
I have decided not to accept any of these challenges.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Glass
I took over many small stained glass pieces to the store today: several of our crosses, several of our mothers with child, and a lot of random shapes, some with painted designs, some plain.
I am working on a new design. So is Mario. We will see what comes of them.
We finished the cartoons for four large windows for a church in Grendada: Saint Andrew (with Caribbean species of fish -- the church is dedicated to Andrew); Saint Dominic (the church was founded by Dominicans); Mary (in a Dominican habit, holding some nutmeg, which is grown in Grenada); and Christ. Methodius took them up to Statesville where they will be cut, assembled, and packaged for shipping by our sub-contractors.
Here is window that our stained glass studios designed and installed in an Atlanta church several decades ago. It is the baptism of Jesus, which we will celebrate this coming Sunday. Look carefully at all the painted lines that create the patterns.
I am working on a new design. So is Mario. We will see what comes of them.
We finished the cartoons for four large windows for a church in Grendada: Saint Andrew (with Caribbean species of fish -- the church is dedicated to Andrew); Saint Dominic (the church was founded by Dominicans); Mary (in a Dominican habit, holding some nutmeg, which is grown in Grenada); and Christ. Methodius took them up to Statesville where they will be cut, assembled, and packaged for shipping by our sub-contractors.
Here is window that our stained glass studios designed and installed in an Atlanta church several decades ago. It is the baptism of Jesus, which we will celebrate this coming Sunday. Look carefully at all the painted lines that create the patterns.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Christmas cheer
Since I stopped posting in part because I had so much trouble posting pictures here, let me try one today. If it works, it will be a photo Fr. James took at our Christmas Day festive meal:
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year
I am not making a resolution to post here more regularly. If I made such a resolution, I would not keep it.
I am merely posting today -- and I do have the intention to post a couple of times a week. But, it is just an intention, not a resolution. Don't confuse the two.
I went to bed by 9:00 last night -- as I have for years, even before I came to a monastery. I slept through midnight, as I have for years. Mark tells me that some of our neighbors lit a lot of firecrackers at midnight. They were so loud, he thought they were in our back yard. But I heard nothing.
At Vigils I had to sing a responsary for our Third Nocturn. It was one of the loveliest melodies we have: "O most pure and holy Virgin, how can I find the words to praise your beauty!"
The homily that Augustine preached at Mass today was lovely. I suggest you look for it on our web page It is not posted yet, but you can listen to some of Fr. Matt's from this past week, if you want. Or try an earlier one of Augustine's -- he is always very thoughtful and makes very clear links to our life here.
Happy New Year!
I am merely posting today -- and I do have the intention to post a couple of times a week. But, it is just an intention, not a resolution. Don't confuse the two.
I went to bed by 9:00 last night -- as I have for years, even before I came to a monastery. I slept through midnight, as I have for years. Mark tells me that some of our neighbors lit a lot of firecrackers at midnight. They were so loud, he thought they were in our back yard. But I heard nothing.
At Vigils I had to sing a responsary for our Third Nocturn. It was one of the loveliest melodies we have: "O most pure and holy Virgin, how can I find the words to praise your beauty!"
The homily that Augustine preached at Mass today was lovely. I suggest you look for it on our web page It is not posted yet, but you can listen to some of Fr. Matt's from this past week, if you want. Or try an earlier one of Augustine's -- he is always very thoughtful and makes very clear links to our life here.
Happy New Year!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Chestnuts
We had our first roasted chestnuts at lunch yesterday.
A grove of chestnut trees provides us with this great treat in the fall. And it provides many local people the opportunity to come gather their own. They pay for them in the Abbey Store.
Cooler weather is very pleasant. The fans are pulling in chilly air at times at Vigils.
A grove of chestnut trees provides us with this great treat in the fall. And it provides many local people the opportunity to come gather their own. They pay for them in the Abbey Store.
Cooler weather is very pleasant. The fans are pulling in chilly air at times at Vigils.
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