Down a dirt road, surrounded by cornfields, between two lakes, not far from a small country cemetery, rests a monastery. It began in San Francisco, then went to Las Vegas, and finally settled in Nebraska. Many monasteries locate in cities, but I think the best place for contemplative communities is under the wide blue sky.
Last Monday Holy Mother Church remembered St. Joseph of Cupertino, the “flying saint.” It’s a third-class feast—nothing special—and the nuns would normally chant the Mass. But as I waited inside the darkened sacristy for the monastery clock to reach 7am, their 29 voices were still singing the last verses of lauds, in exquisite counterpoint to the tower bells, which ring continuously until Mass begins. The sisters concluded their morning song as the great bell faded. Silence descended, punctuated only by the faint sound of crickets outside, still awake as dawn spreads her soft light over the fields. The server’s hand reaches out tentatively for the sacristy bell, then grasps it for a firm shake (good servers know that it’s all in the wrist). Vested in magnificent vestments, we moved from into the blazing light of the sanctuary, and the sisters surprise us with a sung introit.
Every Holy Mass with contemplative sisters, and every day in the monastery, is filled with wonder. In most of Europe’s history, the powerful knew where their bread was buttered. They dedicated part of their wealth to contemplative communities, who usually built their monasteries on high places just outside city walls, where the bells would ring out over village and city alike.
The world still needs monasteries. Our imaginations, our hearts, and our endeavors wither to mere existence without the divine mysteries, delivered most wonderfully by monastic communities. In this Carmelite monastery just outside of Lincoln, Nebraska, one cannot see the nuns, as they are behind an enclosure. But one can hear them, and one can hear the bells ringing out over the cornfields. I’m back in San Francisco now, but I know that adoration of God and contemplation of the mysteries continue unceasingly in a monastery on 20 acres of farmland in Nebraska. And for that matter, in several monasteries here in the City. Unnoticed but always flowing, like our bodies’ own circulatory systems, the monastic communities are the lifeblood of Church and City alike.
From Father Illo’s blog
This is so true. The world, the cities, the people of this world need monasteries! The deafening noise of the world must be in combat, or at least in counterpoint, with the placidity and the calmness of the monastic, the contemplative, the meditative. Even if these monasteries were down to one or two members (as some are, sadly), they are still needed. For the smallest voice, when in prayer, can be heard over all.
The constant clamor of this era oftentimes leaves not even a single syllable for God, while the peaceful silence of the monasteries are often loud with unceasing praise for the Lord.
Such beautiful writing, Fr. Illo! I can almost hear the bells ringing and the majestic singing of the nuns.
No, you can’t.
Sometimes I wonder if some people (your present company included) took English class, because they seem not to have learned the meaning of hyperbole and rhetorical devices.
Your comment is an example of why we need liberal arts and Great Books education! Your three words, truly a product of our modern world’s materialist and literalist culture…
Some people, like me, have a habit, of using commas, in every sentence, even when they are not needed, or make sense. This is called, unnecessary and excessive use of commas, and it can make your writing, hard to read, and understand. It can also annoy, your readers, and teachers, who might think, you don’t know, the rules of grammar, or punctuation. So please, don’t be like me, and use commas, sparingly, and correctly.
Eats shoots and leaves. A panda or a bandit?
Commas save lives:
“It’s time to eat, Grandma,” versus, “it’s time to eat Grandma.”
Cal Catholic should have a strict policy of not printing the trash of abusive, anti-Catholic, attention-seeking trolls. Such rubbish contributes nothing — and detracts from an excellent Catholic news story. Please reject these foolish comments. Our Church needs and deserves comments from mature, serious, faithful Catholics, who are interested in and enthusiastic about good Catholic news stories, of contemplative orders of monks and nuns.
Have you ever heard of the right to free speech?
Nobody knows what direction a conversation will take. It’s often interesting and amusing to read the comments. There’s almost always a point of view that I would not have thought of if someone hadn’t written it.
Calling people “trolls’ is probably a sin, BTW.
This was certainly not an “interesting and amusing” conversation, regarding this inspiring Catholic news article on the beautiful Carmelite nuns. It was a totally selfish, ignorant, stupid, abusive, twisted bunch of rubbish from immature trolls. You have absolutely no respect for the Catholic Church and her holy Carmelite contemplative nuns.
Sigh. I pray like St. Therese did that God give me the patience to put up with bitter, difficult, nasty people. God put you in my life for a reason. I just need to figure it out.
Yes, you can.
Ten thumbs up for Peggy’s great post.
This was composed by ChatGPT:
I was walking by the church when I heard the most angelic voices coming from inside. I peeked through the window and saw a group of nuns singing in harmony. They looked so serene and joyful, as if they were in touch with something divine. I felt a wave of peace and admiration wash over me. Their singing was beautiful and uplifting, and I wished I could join them.
Soon comments sections will just be AI bots talking to each other.
I am Gort; I approve of all these comments.
Gort, I don’t know if you will approve of this one, but here goes. My conversion to Catholicism is due largely to the influence of the monastic community in Valyermo, St. Andrew’s Priory, as it was known at the time. As a Protestant and graduate of a Protestant seminary, I knew nothing of the contemplative dimension of Christianity. It was at St. Andrew’s where I became bathed in a Beautiful Gracious Presence (please forgive the schmaltz). It was here, and also at Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Monastery in Oregon, that the words “abyss of love” characterizing Jesus made real sense. The monastery offers thirsty souls the gift of God’s presence, and no price can be placed on that. If anyone reading this feels God is far away and has not made a retreat at a Benedictine, Trappist Monastery or any contemplative retreat house, may I humbly suggest such a venture is very good medicine for the soul.
Dan – Thank you for this heartening story explaining the journey of your soul. I am sorry that someone gave you a down-arrow, but I’ll give him/her the benefit of the doubt that it was a mistake. Best wishes to you.
Thank you Axiom. If the down arrow is not a mistake, it is there either because the reader finds no credibility in me or no credibility in what I experienced. Perhaps this person went to a retreat house and came away empty-handed, as it were. That can happen. The monastery is not a spiritual bar where anyone can go and by drinking in the atmosphere there can get high. God deals with each soul as He will, not as we will.
Maybe the gave you a thumbs down because they aren’t Catholic or they only want smartiepants posts.
Post Scripture and you get a thumbs down.
Post the Catechism and you get a thumbs down.
Post a quote from a Saint and you get a thumbs down.
Dan, I tried to give you a “thumbs up,” for a wonderful post– but these “thumbs” things seldom work. I think they ought to be removed. Not necessary on a Catholic website. Only comments of good, faithful Catholics should be printed. Would love to read — and share– any beautiful Catholic stories you could hopefully write, all about your beautiful monastic experiences of the “abyss of God’s love,” which can be found, in a Catholic monastery. The poor, dark, sinful, suffering world of today– so far from God– desperately needs this! All young Catholic boys should read inspiring Catholic stories, and hear inspiring speakers at their Catholic parish churches and schools, to perhaps ignite possible vocations to the priesthood and/or monastery.
As a child my Mother frequently took me to the Carmelite Monastery in Philadelphia.
Thank God for the Nuns.
There is a Carmelite monastery in Carmel. The story I heard is that the wealthy father of a postulant bought the property and built the monastery so his daughter wouldn’t be far from home.
The property that carmel sits on is probably worth $30 million. It’s almost oceanfront on Carmel Bay, with a stunning view of Point Lobos and the ocean.
Yes I agree, monastic communities are the life blood of Church and cities alike.
May their praise never end.
Maranatha.
I once read in a book, that when King Henry VIII broke with Rome, and ordered his Dissolution of the Monasteries (monasteries, convents, priories, and friaries), half of the men in his kingdom (England, Wales, and Ireland), at that time, joined monasteries– such vocations were very popular. Monasteries also helped the poor, educated the young, tended the sick, and did many excellent charitable works. The Dissolution of the Monasteries was a horrific, extremely ignorant thing. I wondered, if monastic vocations were so popular during the medieval period, that half the men in King Henry VIII’s kingdom joined them– could that situation ever happen again? We desperately need Catholic monasteries– of nuns as well as monks– worldwide.
I think you read something that was not true.
The history is not what you say it is.
No, it is all very true. Monasteries also were once very wealthy, owned lots of land, and employed many local people. They were a huge pat of society, in that era. Many of the men of the upper classes were educated in monastic schools, and many also were inspired to try monastic life to become a priest or brother. St. Thomas More spent four years, while also a young law student, testing a possible priestly vocation at a famous Carthusian monastery in London. He ultimately decided that he could best serve God as a lawyer (like his father)–
but kept some Carthusian monastic prayer and penitential practices– fasting, wearing a hairshirt, etc. When I was young, up until Vatican II, almost every Catholic boy, at some point in his life, considered becoming a priest. Priests were very greatly looked up to, and highly admired. Many boys in each Catholic school graduating class, tried the seminary, to see if they had a vocation. We used to have lots of ordinations each year! Religious orders and dioceses were full of priests! Some boys also became monks. This situation could happen again, in a really good Church.
My comment of Sept. 28 at 12:56pm contains a typing error. The third sentence should read, “They were a huge part of society, in that era.”
If it’s a nice thought, it doesn’t matter much, does it?
Information should be true or it is not nice.
So are all those pious stories about saints not nice because they aren’t true? St. Christopher, for example. There’s no proof he ever existed. it’s not nice to talk about St. Christopher?
To nice thought, nice=true, and no proof– Instead of making smart-aleck comments– go read and study the history of our Catholic Church. Read all about the English Reformation martyrs of the era of King Henry VIII. Very, very important. St. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Chancellor of Cambridge University, a Catholic cardinal and English Reformation martyr– was appointed as a tutor for Henry VIII when he was a boy, and taught him all about the Catholic faith, among other things. Henry became very interested in theology, as a result. In 1520, he championed the Catholic Faith in an important treatise he wrote, against the writings of Martin Luther, and the Lutheran heresy– “Assertio Septem Sacramentorum” (“Defence of the Seven Sacraments”). As a result, in 1521, Pope Leo X gave Henry the title, Defender of the Faith (“Fidei Defensor”). To this day, the initials “F.D.” are inscribed on every British coin. Later, Henry brutally executed St. John Fisher, his boyhood tutor, as Fisher was true to the Faith, when Henry broke with Rome. Fisher and St. Thomas More were both executed within two weeks of each other, in 1535, and their feast day, celebrated together, is June 22nd. Oh– and King Henry VIII at first tricked the 30,000 Catholic rebels of the rebel army of York, in Northern England, mentioned by Axiom– they marched in a famous Pilgrimage of Grace, in 1536, demanding that the monasteries be re-opened and to be allowed to practice the Catholic Faith. At first, the rebels were promised a pardon from the king, and a meeting to discuss the matter. But then, they were tricked– the leaders were executed, and 200 of them were killed.
It is indeed true. Read about the Pilgrimage of Grace in the city of York, England, where thousands protested the dissolution of the monasteries. Henry VIII took revenge on the leaders and executed them. The Tudor era was a dark time for Catholics, not only in the loss of lives, but also in the destruction of the monastic libraries and all the illuminated manuscripts.
Right now, we are in the middle of the annual Novena to the beloved Carmelite Saint, St. Therese of Lisieux. Her Feast Day is Oct. 1st. You can still go to a Carmelite monastery and leave prayer requests for this beautiful Novena.