Benedictines

[JulianofLdn]

[quote name='Yaatee' timestamp='1305653638' post='2242838']
Just a note for those interested in Benedictine life, there is an excellent blog by the new young abbess at Colwich in the UK,

www.colwichnov.wordpress.com

Puellapaschalis visited there and helped them set it up. They are a small monastery with two aspirants at present, and have a "Come and See" at least twice a year. They observe Benedictine hospitality, constitutional enclosure and have gardens, put up a lot of their own food etc. They don't seem to be terribly austere. They wear a full habit.
[/quote]


Oh, I do *like* the Benedictines. I just do. Can't put my finger on it, but there's something very appealing about them. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/nunpray.gif[/img]

Now, here's an important question. Benedictines seem to often have dogs as house pets. Carmelites tend towards cats. Do other orders have pets, and if so, which do they usually have? [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/saint.gif[/img]

[Yaatee]

[quote name='JulianofLdn' timestamp='1305656541' post='2242868']
Oh, I do *like* the Benedictines. I just do. Can't put my finger on it, but there's something very appealing about them. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/nunpray.gif[/img]

Now, here's an important question. Benedictines seem to often have dogs as house pets. Carmelites tend towards cats. Do other orders have pets, and if so, which do they usually have? [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/saint.gif[/img]


[/quote]

I don't think that it's decreed in their constitutions .

A number of the OSB's have substantial property, enough for a dog. There may be less emphasis on silence than the Carmelites (cats). Not sure. I like both--cats [i]and [/i]dogs, I mean .

There [i]is[/i] something appealing about the Benedictines. They seem very down to earth. They accept retreatants and show hospitality, meaning that folks can enter. They can go out for important things, conferences, papal visits, canonizations, etc. A nun at Regina Laudis got her Ph.D. at UConn [i]while a nun.[/i] (microbiology for cheesemaking). There is a big emphasis on scholarship, not mandatory, tho' they do perform the Office (English or Latin or both), and many OSB's, men and women alike, are specialists of some kind, whether they teach or not.

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='Yaatee' timestamp='1305653638' post='2242838']
Just a note for those interested in Benedictine life, there is an excellent blog by the new young abbess at Colwich in the UK,

www.colwichnov.wordpress.com

Puellapaschalis visited there and helped them set it up. They are a small monastery with two aspirants at present, and have a "Come and See" at least twice a year. They observe Benedictine hospitality, constitutional enclosure and have gardens, put up a lot of their own food etc. They don't seem to be terribly austere. They wear a full habit.
[/quote]


They are also very courteous with regard to internet/email etiquette. Some communities never bother to reply or take so long to reply that one wonders if they ever received the email in the first place but Colwich responds quickly to questions posted on their website and they have responded to an initial email contact. They obviously aren't online all the time because subsequent emails have not been answered yet but at least I know that the email address is valid now and they were very warm in the email.

I have written to some other communities (not only Benedictine, but they are the ones I have conteacted most recently, and it has either taken over a month to get a response, or I have had no response at all.

This raises an interesting question in my mind about communities and email which I am going to post in a separate topic.

[Chiara Francesco]

A great Benedictine book I bought as I too am discerning which order, is by Cardinal Basil Hume's "Searching for God" - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JWLRJ2/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk - this is the good edition.


[b]About the Author[/b]
Cardinal Basil Hume, O.S.B., became Abbot of Ampleforth Abbey in England in 1963 and was made Archbishop of Westminster in 1976. Until his death in 1999, he was an internationally known and loved leader in the Church.


It is fantastic! If I remember right, it is the teachings he gave to the monks of Ampleforth Abbey on the Rule of St. Benedict, the life, community, prayer, the vows, etc. Great intro, info for Benedictine life. I was given this book to read by the suggestion of a Benedictine nun at Colwich a while back.

Of course there other great Benedictine books also. But this one stands out as explaining the life.

I remember liking this advice he gave his novices: "When you were postulants and we were discussing whether or not your should enter the monastery. I told you there were three questions you should put to yourself: Do you want to live with these persons? Do I want to do what they do? Do I see myself becoming the sort of person they are? These are 3 questions you might well put to yourselves again. Do you want to be one of us? Do you want to do what we do? Do you see yourself becoming the sort of person we are?"

I have tons of highlighted sections in this book!

[Yaatee]

Here's a short list of habited OSB sisters in small monasteries with either no stated upper age limit or a high one.

============================
[b][u]LIberty MO [/u]

Queen of Angels Monastery [/b]

[url="http://www.libertyosb.org/index.html"]http://www.libertyosb.org/index.html[/url]

Modified and/or no habit
=====================

[b][u]Ann Arbor MI[/u]

Corpus Christi Monastery[/b]
4485 Earhart Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-9710
(734) 995-3876 no website
===================
[u]
[b]Starr Co TX [/b][/u]
[b]
Sisters of the Good Shepherd Monastery[/b]

[url="http://www.starrcountybenedictines.org/"]http://www.starrcoun...nedictines.org/ [/url]

age 18-55
====================

[b][u]Elk Co St Mary's PA[/u]

Benedictine Sisters of Elk County[/b]

[url="http://www.benedictinesistersofelkcounty.org/main.cfm"]http://www.benedicti...ty.org/main.cfm[/url]

don't mention age

Edited May 21, 2011 by Yaatee

[TeresaBenedicta]

[url="http://ourladyoftherock.com/vocations.htm"]Our Lady of the Rock[/url] in WA state. Pretty high age limit.

[Yaatee]

Anyone discerning with the Trappistines?

I especially like those in Sonoita, AZ. They have a marvelous journal or blog, which I believe is written by their prioress. Because they are small, they go to parish church for Mass, and are more informal than the others might be. The hurdle with these groups is rising at 3 AM....

[url="http://www.santaritabbey.org/"]http://www.santaritabbey.org/[/url]

[url="http://www.santaritabbey.org/abbey_journal.htm"]http://www.santarita...bey_journal.htm[/url] ...and check out the journal entries of past years.

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='Yaatee' timestamp='1306021149' post='2244322']
Here's a short list of habited OSB sisters in small monasteries with either no stated upper age limit or a high one.

============================
[b]
[/b]
[b][u]Ann Arbor MI[/u]

Corpus Christi Monastery[/b]
4485 Earhart Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-9710
(734) 995-3876 no website
===================
[u]
[/u][/quote]

Just a heads up about this one. I have sent three emails over a period of six weeks (trying two different email addresses I was given) and have still not received a response from them - and it can't be my age because the article about them said they WELCOME older women. Either their email doesn't work or ????

Here is their blog website - but they don't update it much - nice photos of a clothing and a final profession though

[url="http://www.benedictinesistersccm.com/"]http://www.benedictinesistersccm.com/[/url]

and there is a nice article about them but I have to find the link for that.

I was very disappointed not to hear back from them. One example of a religious community not responding in a timely manner.

Edited May 22, 2011 by nunsense

[Two Hearts]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1306030014' post='2244373']
Just a heads up about this one. I have sent three emails over a period of six weeks (trying two different email addresses I was given) and have still not received a response from them - and it can't be my age because the article about them said they WELCOME older women. Either their email doesn't work or ????

Here is their blog website - but they don't update it much - nice photos of a clothing and a final profession though

[url="http://www.benedictinesistersccm.com/"]http://www.benedictinesistersccm.com/[/url]

and there is a nice article about them but I have to find the link for that.

I was very disappointed not to hear back from them. One example of a religious community not responding in a timely manner.
[/quote]


Nunsense, they are a lovely community, but it is best to snail mail or call them. I don't know why they even have an email address listed as I've never known them to use one. Perhaps a benefactor thought it a good idea.....I've known of it happening with small, traditional communities - the nuns/sisters are not really interested but the benefactor talks them into it then women do not hear from Community b/c they do not check the email. If seriously interested, perhaps print your email and send it off snail mail.

Edited May 22, 2011 by Two Hearts

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='Two Hearts' timestamp='1306030761' post='2244374']
Nunsense, they are a lovely community, but it is best to snail mail or call them. I don't know why they even have an email address listed as I've never known them to use one. Perhaps a benefactor thought it a good idea.....I've known of it happening with small, traditional communities - the nuns/sisters are not really interested but the benefactor talks them into it then women do not hear from Community b/c they do not check the email. If seriously interested, perhaps print your email and send it off snail mail.
[/quote]

Thanks TH - I was going to do that next, but just haven't got around to it. Snailmail is soooo slow. I sent a letter to Oulton a month ago and of course no response yet. I heard that the Abbess was not well but just the time from Australia to the UK is aobut 10-12 working days for the mail, so probably the same for the US. I am so used to the quick response time of email and this reminds me of when my sister and I used to send each other letters back and forth - weeks would pass and the news was always tale by the time it went back and forth - phone calls were better then - but so expensive. Today I guess we are used to everything being so immediate. Patience for things like this is not my strength - lol! I like to know NOW! One way or the other, so I can get on with things.....

[Yaatee]

[quote name='Two Hearts' timestamp='1306030761' post='2244374']
Nunsense, they are a lovely community, but it is best to snail mail or call them. I don't know why they even have an email address listed as I've never known them to use one. Perhaps a benefactor thought it a good idea.....I've known of it happening with small, traditional communities - the nuns/sisters are not really interested but the benefactor talks them into it then women do not hear from Community b/c they do not check the email. If seriously interested, perhaps print your email and send it off snail mail.
[/quote]

Their novice has got to be in her 50's at least...

[Two Hearts]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1306031736' post='2244378']
Thanks TH - I was going to do that next, but just haven't got around to it. Snailmail is soooo slow. I sent a letter to Oulton a month ago and of course no response yet. I heard that the Abbess was not well but just the time from Australia to the UK is aobut 10-12 working days for the mail, so probably the same for the US. I am so used to the quick response time of email and this reminds me of when my sister and I used to send each other letters back and forth - weeks would pass and the news was always tale by the time it went back and forth - phone calls were better then - but so expensive. Today I guess we are used to everything being so immediate. Patience for things like this is not my strength - lol! I like to know NOW! One way or the other, so I can get on with things.....
[/quote]


Ugh...just wrote a long reply and poof!!!

The gist of what I wrote - I think if communities publish an email address it leads discerners to rightfully expect a response within a few days at most. If a community cannot communicate well during discernment, what does that say about them as whole?

I cnanot imagine the kind of patience it would take to correspond via snail mail between AU and the US!! Bless your heart for even considering it!!

Sometimes discernment is one cracker short of insanity! See, that comment did not even make sense!!

(p.s. I'd be happy to share my experience with Mother Regina privately)

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='Two Hearts' timestamp='1306066970' post='2244453']
Ugh...just wrote a long reply and poof!!!

The gist of what I wrote - I think if communities publish an email address it leads discerners to rightfully expect a response within a few days at most. If a community cannot communicate well during discernment, what does that say about them as whole?

I cnanot imagine the kind of patience it would take to correspond via snail mail between AU and the US!! Bless your heart for even considering it!!

Sometimes discernment is one cracker short of insanity! See, that comment did not even make sense!!

(p.s. I'd be happy to share my experience with Mother Regina privately)
[/quote]


I just hate it when you type a long reply and then it gets lost! Sometimes I remember to type in Word first and then copy and paste, but most of the time I don't!

I would love to hear about your contact with Mother Regina - please email me at [email="annierosha@gmail.com"]annierosha@gmail.com[/email]


and tomorrow I am going to phone Oulton and ask if they got my snail mail yet! It has been way too long even for a letter!

Edited May 22, 2011 by nunsense

[Two Hearts]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1306067375' post='2244454']
I just hate it when you type a long reply and then it gets lost! Sometimes I remember to type in Word first and then copy and paste, but most of the time I don't!

I would love to hear about your contact with Mother Regina - please email me at [email="annierosha@gmail.com"]annierosha@gmail.com[/email]


and tomorrow I am going to phone Oulton and ask if they got my snail mail yet! It has been way too long even for a letter!
[/quote]


Will do now....pretty sure I have that email address and you have mine, but just in case..
[email="christine7273@gmail.com"]christine7273@gmail.com[/email]

[GraceUk]

I definitely second advice to read In this House of Brede by Rumor Godden. Also I saw a programme on TV a while back about a record company looking for a choir of nuns to make a recording of the chant. They visited several convents and some Benedictine sisters in the South of France were the best singers but they had problems with being photographed and letting TV recording equipment into the convent. Anyway they did agree to do it in the end. It was a really good programme I thought. Not sure if it has been mentioned on Phatmass before. Here is a link for anybody interested.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jul/25/nuns-avignon-gregorian-chant-album