Farewell is not an end...but a beginning

Last evening we had farewell get together that included singing, traditional cultural dress, a movie with music of our journey and we closed with a kiss of peace and a blessing.

You cannot spend two months living side by side and not be touched in a special way by the people you have met.  We came here strangers but we leave as brothers and sisters; friends that have been transformed by this experience together.  It has been a journey of the mind and the heart...both have been expanded greatly.  For this...and more...we are blessed.

To begin the night we surprised Sr. Aquinata, Sr. Sophia, Sr. Emelda, Sr Jonathan and Sr. Genevive with a bouquet of flowers for their extra special care they gave to us.  So to thank these special people we made cards and presented them with flowers and chocolates. 

A special thank you to the entire Casa community for the hospitality they showed each one of us.  St. Benedict would be very proud of you all.

Then we sang..........


                  and sang........



                                  and laughed.......



     and sang....some more......

We thanked each one individually for their gift to each of us..


     For you see....we where free to be...
           to learn..........
                 to love........and
                     to be blessed.......


The night cannot be captured with these few photos nor can two months be put in to so few words.....

PAX BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF RB 2010

Some thoughts about the last two months....

Two months ago, I came to this place to study about this man and his rule....the place was Rome, Italy and the man was Saint Benedict.  I journeyed with several other brothers and sisters, who like me had knowledge and knew the Rule.  But as these two months have progressed with  lectures,  discussions, reading, and visiting the places where this man lived, I realized that who I thought I knew has become real for me.  Saint Benedict has become alive....he is now more than ever a part of my heart and spirit like never before.  His spirituality, his thoughts, his rule now run burning hot within my veins.  I have been reintroduced to someone at a deeper level...it is almost surreal.

I have journeyed with the help of this "Amma".  Sister Acquanita who has shown me a Benedict that I barely knew.  With her as my guide, I have been introduced to a friend, a father, a teacher, a fellow lover of Christ.  She has shared his spirituality, his love and his journey....with a compassion and zeal like I have never had from another teacher....for this I am eternally grateful....

Thank you for all you give to make us understand and love more....

You see this was more than just a course on the Rule of St. Benedict.  It was a journey of faith, of love and hope.  It took me where I did not plan to go....deeper than I ever could of imagined...and showed me why I love being a Benedictine....

As I ponder these final days, I hope you will not get bored or think that I am too emotional...for I have been really touched by the hand of God...and for this and many things I am eternally grateful...

To be continued......

Monte Cassino

Monte Cassino has been rebuilt 4 times since the time of Benedict.  It has been invaded, bombed, and survived an earthquake....but what does it tell us?  It is as Benedict would tell us.....to become stronger than when we started the journey....to trust in God and all will survive....rebuild....start over...again and again.

According to legend, this cell where Benedict lived was not destroyed in the bombing of the Second World War.  It is now a chapel in his honor.










The tomb that holds the bones of Saints Benedict and Scholastica under the high altar in the church.  These bones remained untouched by the destruction of the war.

Both of these places have left a mark on our lives as Benedictines....It is an experience that none of will forget....

Subiaco

Yesterday we went to the cave where St. Benedict lived for three years.  There was a deep, respectful hush over all of us as we walked around this holy, "Sacro Speco"  This is where St. Benedict prayed and developed his Holy Rule.

What a powerful place.  We celebrated mass in a chapel across from this "Sacro Speco" and words cannot describe the feelings we all had.

Fr. Michael and I before you enter the monastery on this wonderful and scenic hill.




St Benedict is said to have lived in Subiaco some 20 years before going to Monte Cassino.  History says that some 12 monasteries have their start from here....today very few remain.  Authors such as Cassian, St Jerome of Egypt and Palestine describe many of these in their writings. 

On this terrace is St. Benedicts's Garden of Roses in honor of two great saints, St. Benedict and St. Francis.

Looking from the rose-garden one can see all the outside of the shrine, irregular walls, arches and the tower from where St. Romanus let food down to the young hermit.

Our last week in Rome....

Yesterday we decided to just walk around the city and take in the sights.  It was a beautiful day, windy but sunny and warm.  After visiting several book stores we went to the Castle of St. Angelo.  This is a castle built in the 135 AD and became a military fortress for the Popes Treasury, and a fortified corridor to the Vatican for escape by the Pope during the invasion of the Goths in 537.  It is a historic must see when visiting Rome. 

The view from atop the Castle shows St. Peters in the background. 

What was interesting was that as we walked around the top of this fortress, we could see all the sights which we had visited during our time in Rome.  In fact, it was just shy of 360 degrees.....we now know why sometimes our feet hurt so much.

On Wednesday we go to Subiaco and Monte Cassino.  Look for more photos....