Abbey News

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Back From Brazil
Late Friday afternoon Abbot John returned to New York's mid-winter from making the visitation at Novo Mundo in Brazil where it was mid-summer. Never mind that it rained every single day while he was there. In chapter this morning he gave us an encouraging report of the community. He feels they've reached a new level of maturity with the appointment of young Brazilian brothers to various offices of responsibility in the community, including that of prior. Onwards and upwards they go. . .

Monastic Analysis
Back in November the Jesuit weekly, America, published an article on the topic of the effect the recession was having on our community. The author, Matt Nannery, has given us permission to reprint it here for those of you who may have missed it. You will find it at: Monastic Analysis: Looking at the recession through the eyes of Trappists.

Introduction to the Rule of St. Benedict
Have you ever wished for an authority on the Rule of St. Benedict to come up with the idea of a short course on the prologue broadcast on the Internet? If so, your wish has come true. Fr. Michael Casey, OCSO, a familiar author on things monastic, is developing short podcasts commenting on St. Benedict's teaching found in the prologue of the rule.

Once or twice a week Fr. Michael adds a new segment from five to fifteen minutes long. Not only do his reflections provide a good introduction to St. Benedict's teachings for those unfamiliar with it they also provide a refresher course for those of us who have been around awhile. You'll find the talks at Tarrawarra Abbey Podcast. Here's hoping this is but the beginning of ongoing reflections on monastic topics.

Coming Solemnity
Tuesday of this week we'll be joining the whole Cistercian Order in celebrating the solemnity of our three founders, Sts. Robert, Alberic and Stephen. Since it will be a bake day for us here at Genesee part of our celebration will be spent in the bakery. Sound like a bummer? Not really, considering the fact that part of the Cistercian reform consisted of underlining the place of manual labor in Benedictine monasticism.

But that will be only in the morning. Another aspect of the reform is allowing plenty of time for the leisure required for spiritual reading, meditation, prayer, etc. which will be available in the afternoon.

See Cistercians for a brief history of the Order by Basil Pennington.

Three Cistercian Founders

THREE CISTERCIAN FOUNDERS

Leisure is not idleness or the pursuit of recreational activities. It is, above all, being attentive to the present moment, open to all its implications, living it to the full. This implies a certain looseness in life style that allows heart and mind to drift away from time to time.

Monastic life is not a matter of shoehorning the maximum number of good works into a day. It is more important that monks and nuns do a few things well, being present to the tasks they undertake, leaving room for recuperation and reflection, and expecting the unexpected.

Leisure allows openness to the present. It is the opposite of being enslaved by the past or living in some hazy anticipation of a desirable future. Leisure means being free from anything that would impede, color, or subvert the perception of reality. Far from being the headlong pursuit of escapist activities and having fun, authentic leisure is a very serious matter because it is the product of an attentive and listening attitude to life.

Strangers to the City
Michael Casey, OCSO