October 25, 2009
We were pleased to see the positive response to the news of Br John’s solemn vows (more than 1000 hits to our website each day!). When a monk make solemn vows, there is often a ripple effect. Young men in attendance, or those who hear about it get excited about the idea of the radical gift of their life, leaving house and home, country and family to pick up their Cross and follow Christ. And thus the e-mails begin. A few photos on the internet often lead to a dozen vocational inquiries. The grace of one Profession leads to the yes for another man.
Although not the only possibility, one way young men get to test that vocation is through our summer discernment program. For four weeks each summer the monastery opens its doors to men who have considered the idea of monastic life, but have never had the chance to live it. At the same time, we focus discernment through examining the objective approach to the vocation of St Thomas Aquinas and the more subjective approach of St Ignatius of Loyola. More than half the monks presently in the monastery participated in the program. For more information, see the vocations section of our site. Below are a few photographs from this past year.
I ask your prayers for Br Thomas Bolin who will be ordained a priest in our Basilica this Saturday. It will be our first Pontifical (Ordinary Form) with the new Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia which should give us a chance to welcome him warmly. The first Mass will be a Solemn Mass (Extraordinary Form) on Sunday at 10:00 in the Basilica. As is customary for first Masses, we will have an Assisting Priest to help Br Thomas through it, and Fr Cassian will preach the sermon. I will post more photos of that once I have them.
Blessings for the feast of Christ the King
Fr Benedict
monks and discerners enjoy some down time outside San Benedetto fuori le Mura
the blue habit is the monks' work habit (also used for hikes!)