High School Seminary {Christ the King Admits Peter}

Peter hauls his gear to his new room at school.

Peter's big day finally arrived on September 4th, after months of discerning, wondering, praying and waiting ~ the day he officially entered grade 8 at the Benedictine High School Seminary in BC.  A packed schedule on move-in day included time for hauling and unpacking gear, community Midday Prayer in the Westminster Abbey Church, a shared potluck lunch in the dining hall, parent orientation sessions, book store stop, and many opportunities to visit with the parents of Peter's fellow seminarians and with the holy monks who will be Peter's teachers.

Peter unpacks his belongings while Tim and Joseph visit with a brother.

Consistent with every other visit to the Benedictine Monastery, our family was warmly greeted by the monks and shown outstanding, genuine Christian hospitality throughout the day.  Peter set right to work unloading his crates and settling into his new space, quite independently and without need of suggestions or assistance.  Gathered together in the foyer, a group of new 'monastery moms' like me shared the bittersweet experience of move-in day with long time monastery moms and dads.  One couple, parents to four sons currently living under St. Benedict's roof (one a professed Benedictine Monk and teacher), and the dad a graduate of the seminary himself, offered abundant insight, wisdom and love for the rest of us in our various stages of coming to terms with the impending good-byes.

The high school seminarians, together at midday prayer

Peter enjoys the company of his new friends at the family potluck luncheon on orientation day.

Father Abbot demonstrates true Benedictine hospitality, greeting parents and students, leading prayer and sharing a meal.

Abundant insight and loving direction for parents flowed freely in the orientation session following lunch.  Father Peter, Seminary Rector, gave an inspired talk on the mission of the school, beginning with a focus on the Benedictine charism of unity and community modeled after the Holy Trinity.  Father Peter brilliantly witnessed to the core teaching within the seminary, the central themes underlying all aspects of the formation offered there:  that each one is a beloved son of God, a loving Father who delights in each one; that becoming a good son/brother/student is to become a fit dwelling place for God; that the beginning and end of all male development is rooted in learning to be ever more like Jesus, life giver and lover. 

Father Abbot addresses the families before leading prayer prior to lunch, with Father Peter, Rector.

Father Abbot's words for the parents advanced the concepts touched upon by Father Peter, highlighting the areas of liturgical formation, prayer, and spiritual direction as keys to aiding the boys in their search for Truth, for an ever deepening relationship with Jesus Christ.

Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth. - John 17:17

Peter shows Tim his desk in the study hall classroom.

The hour of our departure coincided with Peter's transition from his first game of roller hockey to Evening Prayer and supper.  Time for our blessings, hugs, and a few parting words passed in a flash, and Peter set out for the locker room, hockey stick in hand, with a glance over his shoulder to call out cheerfully, "See you in October!"

 

One last photo together before leaving Peter in the care of St. Benedict and heading back home to the US.

Italy Day 11 {Monte Cassino}

Main altar at Monte Casino Basilica, Casino, Italy

Bridget and Tim decend to the crypt below the main altar at Monte Casino.

View from the front steps at the Basilica of Monte Casino

Metalwork on the gate leading into the abby

Our Zachary with Pope Saint Zachary at Monte Cassino, Cassino, Italy

Perched atop a rocky cliff above the town of Cassino, the Benedictine Monastery of Monte Cassino dates to the 500's.  However, the structures were largely rebuilt after being bombed in WWII.  Unbelievable beauty greeted us in the Basilica of Monte Cassino; just as we arrived evening prayer (Vespers) was beginning and all tourists were ushered out.  Glad for the opportunity to enter into reverent community prayer with the monks in this holy place, we found seats and shared in evening prayer.  Imagining the thousands of holy people who have worshiped in this place was awe inspiring.  Finding the crypt of St. Benedict in the hidden underground church below the Basilica gave us another spot for quiet and prayer.

Noteworthy:

• Pulling into Rome on the Autostrade on a sunny Sunday evening could mean waits of up to one hour simply to pay the toll and drive into the city.
• Aggressive drivers may only wait half as long.
• Emergency vehicles may use bumper car style driving to literally push other cars out of the way so that their wait is lessened (whether or not there is an actual emergency).

Italy Day 10 pt 2 {Subiaco}

Monastery of Saint Benedict, Subiaco, Italy 

Nestled in the cliff side, towering over the town of Subiaco, the Benedectine Monasteries of Subiaco  brought us right to where St. Benedict lived in prayed in a cave as a hermit for three years. 

The irregular shape of the inside of the St. Benedict Monastery, where the chapels and churches seem to grow out from around the rocks of the cliff-side could not be photographed, as it is protected as a "no photo" area.  The grotto, reserved for prayer and meditation, offered a quiet oasis amidst the crowds visiting this holy place on a Sunday afternoon.  Being one of Zachary's "must sees" in Italy, he hadn't waited til morning to come and visit, he took a short run/walk from our room at St. Scholastica's Monastery on arrival night to get his first peek at St. Benedict's Monastery.

In formation with the Passionist Order in Rome, on retreat at St. Scholastica, Salvadore came to visit in the morning.

Peter and Joseph join a game of soccer in the play area (parking lot) at St. Scholastica.

Tim enjoys the view from the steps leading to our room at St. Scholastica, Subiaco, Italy.

Who knew how much our younger boys would miss playing with other kids?  The looks on their faces when we pulled into the parking area at St. Scholastica, filled with kids around their age filled in the blanks. Within moments of exiting the vehicle, Joseph and Peter had been invited to join the game, and Joseph even scored a goal.  They were the willing daredevils who volunteered to retrieve the ball when it flew over the hedge (a sheer cliff below, but somehow they managed).  The fun and games ended when one of the older boys proudly shared the English (swear) words he knew.  Joseph and Peter took that as a cue to exit the scene.

Noteworthy:

• "Speak Italy" means, "If you want to talk to me, don't use English and your stupid sign language; speak Italian!"
• Being guests at a monastery does not necessarily mean solitude and an escape from the everyday: especially if a group of middle-schoolers are visiting at the same time.
• Joseph was the first male on this excursion to voluntarily do his own laundry!