Indeed, when they are not praying they are working: "The monks of Clear Creek endeavor to be self-sufficient, cultivating the land, raising livestock, and selling products made in their own workshops".
In a word, it was...awesome. We went there last year for New Year's Eve and it was so peaceful and prayerful that it has quickly become for us an annual retreat (as quick as annual can be, I guess). It is more like a spiritual reboot than anything else, where the effects of witnessing such a strict, holy and monastic life lasts a whole year for us laypeople. We probably still smell of incense.
The icing on the cake? Holy Mass and the Divine Office are celebrated in Latin and sung in Gregorian Chant. It was so... poetic. I bet these beautifully austere and holy men have to tie anvils to their feet so as not to levitate and cause a disturbance during Mass and prayers.
Here is our retreat in pictures; and if you feel a sudden strong urge to meditate or pray...don't fight it.
The guesthouse where we stayed.
Our view out the front door.
Mila writing to the Pope. Just kidding.
The church and monastery.
No comments:
Post a Comment