Our homeschool group went on a field trip to Holy Cross Abbey. We were invited to join the monks in their chapel and were able to observe them sing their afternoon prayers. Their voices were very beautiful and it was very peaceful.
After their prayers, one of these Trappist monks talked to our group for almost an hour about the history of the monastic life. The children were excellent during this time as we sat in church pews and they and their parents enjoyed the history lesson in the extreme. He mentioned individuals like St.Francis of Assisi, St. Benedict and the person that I found the most interesting, St. Bernard. He asserted that St. Bernard is said to be THE most influential person of the 12th century because of his personal gifts as an individual. His "Charism" (his spiritual self, his personality, virtues, and his way of expressing himself) was so persuasive that when 30 of his friends and family tried to dissuade him from becoming a monk, he actually talked them into joining him and they did! Our host also told us about the daily life of a monk and the work they do which they call "Opus Dei", the Work of God.
This Abbey supports it self by making fruit cakes which they ship all over the world. They have made 12,000 this season!
I found out that Trappist monks is another way to say Cistercian monks.
We were invited to tour the mansion on the property which was an original building from when this group of monks bought the land. It is furnished simply but tastefully in older pieces of furniture.
This Madonna and Child with doors that close reminded Miss J. of a similar picture we had in our hallway.
Isn't this a great depiction of the split country during the Civil War? The battle of cool Spring took place on this property on July 18, 1864 and these bullets were found here.
We visited the Gift Shop and the children enjoyed playing with a mother cat and her two week old kittens. The monks sell many books of a spiritual nature as well as the flavored honeys they make from their own hives. There are also jellies and special mustards made by other monasteries that help them to be self-sustaining.
This monastery has begun a new way to bring in an income and that is their new " natural" cemetery.
One can buy a plot here beforehand, or at the time of need, and be buried in a natural way if desired. That is, without a vault or coffin, in just a cloth shroud like people used to be buried before funerals became big business. They also offered a place to have cremated remains buried. As I understand it, Catholics are allowed to be cremated after death but the remains should be buried, not kept around the house, to show proper respect for the body of the deceased. That being said, I was surprised to read that they also offered a place along the river where ashes could be scattered. I am not sure why. I didn't think that option qualified as being "buried". Perhaps I am wrong.
Although I really liked the "natural burial" idea, sans casket, my kids thought it was gross. If I do prefer it, I will have to be clear about it! Even still, it wasn't cheap!
We enjoyed our time at the monastery learning about that vocation which is very different from our busy modern life.
