Anselm Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9K6Ublm_oeY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anselm Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 The only other Solesmes house in the UK is just down the road too: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VhgkmPJQX5A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Very interesting. Is the full community shown in the video? Seven monks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anselm Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Sadly so. The last Abbot left a few years ago and it seems that things fell apart slightly. However, with a new French Prior sent by the Abbot of Solesmes and a charity grant of £900,000 to restore the buildings, things are looking positive. They've had a huge increase in visitors since they opened a tea garden and farm-shop a few years ago and I expect that the new visitors' centre will do even more to help. There was a postulant when I last visited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Well, entering where you're needed most might be a good criterion for your decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anselm Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share Posted February 8, 2015 Quite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanpingpug Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Sadly so. The last Abbot left a few years ago and it seems that things fell apart slightly. However, with a new French Prior sent by the Abbot of Solesmes and a charity grant of £900,000 to restore the buildings, things are looking positive. They've had a huge increase in visitors since they opened a tea garden and farm-shop a few years ago and I expect that the new visitors' centre will do even more to help. There was a postulant when I last visited. British people love tea and farm shops. We flock to them. Guaranteed visitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatitude Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) Well, entering where you're needed most might be a good criterion for your decision. Quite. I know you had a big thread about deciding which monastery to go for, but I'll reply here as I can't find it. It is not always easy to see where you are needed from the outside. Maybe there are some particular students for the EBC congregation's school who would really benefit from meeting you and having you as their teacher, and so you are more needed there. You can't tell. There are many wonderful communities that badly need vocations, but there is only one of you, and you can't make the need of all those houses your deciding factor in where you spend your life. In your position, I would just ask myself, "If I were dying tonight, where would I rather have lived out my life?" Or just imagine yourself setting off for the monastery or describing it to a friend - which one are you talking about, to which one are you going? Give yourself the honest answer, the first gut reaction; don't try to make a big intellectual consideration of it and try to identify what you 'ought' to choose. I've also seen that overthinking a choice can sometimes just be a way of putting off the choice due to fear. "I'll go...once I'm really, really sure." But you're never going to be sure; that's partly what the postulancy and novitiate are about. There will be time for you to test your vocation in the monastery, but in order to get to one, you have to step out of the boat and onto the waters. St Peter did not ask, "Lord, bid me to come to you on the waters - but from which side of the boat?! Left side or the right side? Help, tell me!!" He just got up and went. ;) From the sound of your writing, I think you are also coming to the point where you will need to do that. Keep us posted, and I'll pray for you! :) Edited February 24, 2015 by beatitude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puellapaschalis Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I've also seen that overthinking a choice can sometimes just be a way of putting off the choice due to fear. "I'll go...once I'm really, really sure." But you're never going to be sure; that's partly what the postulancy and novitiate are about. There will be time for you to test your vocation in the monastery, but in order to get to one, you have to step out of the boat and onto the waters. St Peter did not ask, "Lord, bid me to come to you on the waters - but from which side of the boat?! Left side or the right side? Help, tell me!!" He just got up and went. +1 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Indulge yourself in an African American gospel song about Peter walking on the water. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sister Shirley Caesar singing Don't Be Afraid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgS9EErGuXg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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