jamikins

What a wonderful story - I am really enjoying your report and your journey!

Pelligrina

How can one express the experience of kneeling before the ancient founder of your order. There were so many people walking around taking photos that I was very restrained before the tomb of Our Holy Father Benedict. But within, it was an entirely different story. Awe, silence, profound peace, these are some of the meager words which come to mind.

The next day I took the journey twice up to the Abbey. I just spent nearly the whole time kneeling near to the tombs of St Benedict and Scholastica. At one point the river of pilgrims abated a little and I was able to steal a moment alone before the tomb. I renewed my vows. The Benedictine vows are Conversion of Life, Stability and Obedience unto death. These vows are older than the formulation of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. The Evangelical counsels of Poverty and Chastity are contained in the vow of Conversion of life.

When Benedictines make their vows, it is followed by the singing of what is known as the Suscipe. This is sung with the arms raised up towards heaven. St Benedict died in this posture. The only place which didn't have any crowds was the Blessed Sacrament chapel and this was the most fitting place for the Suscipe. So I quietly sung to myself "Suscipe Domine" , "Uphold me Lord, according to your promise and I shall live. Let my hope in you not be in vain."

This moment is something that I will always hold close to my heart.

bilboburgler

Sorry Mussolini not Franco (must be going mad)

annhig

Pelligrina - thank you for sharing this precious moment with us.

I'm learning a lot from your travels.

Dave_Ohio

Pelligrina, your words help reaffirm our own faith and hope.

Pelligrina

Before I left the Abbey I bought some medals and gifts at the little shop. I also bought a bar of dark chocolate (for energy of course). I went back into the Church for a final prayer before I caught my bus.

To my delight there was Vespers being sung by the monks. After Vespers a priest came close to where I was sitting. I took my package out of my bag and brought it to him for a blessing. He was an old monk and I was greatly edified by his faithfulness to the Benedictine rule of silence. He also kept the solemn monastic demeanor. To my horror when he opened the package it was the bar of chocolate. Totally embarrassed I ran back to get the medals and pictures. But I could see that the old monk had gone red in the face and I could tell that under the solemness there was an old monk roaring with laughter.

ziggypop

"How can one express the experience of kneeling before the ancient founder of your order"

Pelligrina, I believe you are expressing the experience perfectly. Thankyou for sharing your journey with us.

Pelligrina

Thanks everyone. It helps me to savour the memory by writing. You're all very kind and encouraging.

Bilboburgler, I meant to say a while back that yes, I know of the Santiago de Compestalla caminos. There are several starting points and all end in the same place. I really don't have the time but I will be visiting hopefully Paray le Monial and Lourdes and St Maximum la St Baume. All these places are in the Camino. Next January I will be joining a group from New York to visit the Holy Land. Scott Hahn who I suspect that our friend DaveOhio might know, will be leading the pilgrimage. So there will be more trip reports. Interesting about the Synagogue.

follow_your_bliss

If you are going to try out your fiction on fodorites, you should at least come up with a new screen name, or do cloistered nuns sell insurance now:

http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...-to-get-it.cfm

Pelligrina

It would be very difficult for a lay person to tell you what I've just told you about monastic life. When my father was diagnosed with cancer I was faced with the prospect of having to support my mother. So I worked in my sister's office as she was manager for a travel insurance company. Please give valid reasons before you accuse someone of something, this is called basic justice. Ask any Benedictine about whether what I have said is true regarding monastic life. This thread has very much of a point, probably more than anything else worth living for in the world. It may be just that you don't agree with it, that doesn't mean its pointless. If it does then one persons viewpoint is the benchmark for all.

Pelligrina

By the way, I have left my sister's office and am now working in our Diocese. Look up Marie Adele Garnier and you will find the order I belong too.

TDudette

As one might expect, my husband and I saw so many churches in Italy and France that we became somewhat jaded. However, when in Rome, we always returned to St Ignatius of Loyola--there was something about it that moved us both.

I do not share your faith, Pelligrina, but I respect it and am enjoying your trip very much. More, please!

denisea

Pelligrina, I have enjoyed your report. Unfortunately, the world is full of nasty people who try to ruin it for others. The good news is that there are also lots of kind and encouraging people, as well. I know you know this.....don't let the nasty ones trouble you or concern you! Please continue and you don't have to explain yourself to anyone.

kerouac

That's what I would have thought if she hadn't started backpedaling.

Marija

Click on her name. Look at her threads. And reach your own conclusions.

Pelligrina

Thanks Denisea and TDudette. I think I was taken aback after sharing about Monte Cassino, it was so special to me but I guess I should expect that people will be like that now and again. Mind you, convent life can be pretty tough but the last few years has been a pretty rough journey and so I guess the result is a bit of over sensitivity. But I am mystified as to why anyone would think you would make something like this up. So with your kind advice I will continue because I do not believe that this pilgrimage is for myself alone.

SORRENTO (3 nights)
At the moment I'm waiting for a taxi to take me to the station so please forgive me if this posting ends abruptly. In the monastic routine, after the liturgical hour (also called the Divine office) we call None which finishes about 3.30 we have what we call 'Recreation' for about an hour. This was a time when the rule of silence is relaxed and in charity and joy we would converse with each other. Sometimes we play badminton or volleyball or go for a walk, nearly always we have some craft work to do.

Sorrento was my recreation. It was a time for me to break up a little the intensity of the spiritual journey.

annhig

well, the alternative is that if you aren't doing this journey, you have a fertile imagination and a moving way of writing, so I'm still here too.

kerouac

I will keep reading as well, but I am also thinking about calling in an exorcist.

denisea

I get that you are mystified as to why someone would think you are making up your story. If you are on the forum long enough you will see all kinds of posts that will leave you scratching your head. Some people have ti be right or prove others wrong or just berate them for what they deem a stupid question. Best not to try to understand that type of behavior at all!

follow_your_bliss

Pelligrina, if I am wrong, I sincerely apologize. I misinterpreted your "short leave" from the monastery to be that you just left, as opposed to several years ago.

I admit to being cynical after a poster here wrote moving posts about being deployed and severely injured, all of which turned out to be false.

I'm not sure what this means:
<i>This thread has very much of a point, probably more than anything else worth living for in the world. It may be just that you don't agree with it, that doesn't mean its pointless. If it does then one persons viewpoint is the benchmark for all.</i>