by Fr Michael Perry
Hello Everyone and Happy Feast Day
It is a glorious day here at the monastery and it is the first day of Spring.
The robins are pecking for grubs and worms on the chapel lawn, little blue flowers are blooming next to the snow drops just outside the Portery and everything seems normal, but it’s not.
The guest houses are all empty and as of tomorrow the gift shop will be closed We have been celebrating private Mass in the monastery common room but only the monks are allowed to participate. The usual friends and oblates who are often here for Mass are not coming, by order of the bishop. So for now it is our nine brothers, one observer, Fr Don and me trying to stay healthy because if one of us gets the virus …….
And of course we are following the liturgical guidelines published by the bishop. They are pretty much the same as everywhere else.
The refectory reading is an account of the event of 9/11 , 2001. Pretty horrifying as it is broken down in detail by the minute. That’s at lunch. At supper Brother John started us off last night on Hayden’s “ Seven last Words of Christ” which, if you don’t know it is worth finding especially as we are at the mid-way Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday.
We are very aware of what is going on all over the world and our prayers go to every place where the virus is as devastating as we know it to be. Please stay safe, yourself, and stay healthy.
That’s it for now.
The bell just rang so off l/we go yo the chapel. Although all celebrations of the Eucharst functions are limited to the community, the Hours of the Divine Office are not and during the day people are coming to the chapel to pray. We will keep it open unless, for reasons of prevention, we are told to close it to the public.
Fr Don and I will continue to offer Mass with the brothers and you will be remembered at each of the Masses. Please pray for us.
Fr Michael Perry
The Oblates of Mount Saviour Monastery 
Dear Fr. Michael, and the Community at Mount Saviour, and elsewhere,
Thanks so much for your important update! …and most importantly for the prayers.
The Feast Day of which you speak, I assume most readers know, is March 21st, the “transitus“ of St. Benedict, the day Benedict entered eternity. “Transitus” (Latin meaning to pass from one state to the next—death is not the end of life, but is the transition into eternity with God).
Also, I don’t have any idea when I began the practice of Meditating on “The Seven Last Words”, but I have usually prayed them during Holy Week (in Preparation for Easter), but your note has kindled the desire to begin NOW….so thank you and Bro. John very much. My recollection is that they are:
“Seven Last Words” from the 4 gospel writers:
Forgiveness (Passion/Palm Sunday)
1. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34
Salvation (Monday of Holy Week)
2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43
Relationship (Tuesday of Holy Week)
3. Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. John 19:26–27
Abandonment (Wednesday of Holy Week)
4. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34
Distress (Holy Thursday)
5. I thirst. John 19:28
Triumph (Good Friday)
6. It is finished. (From the Greek “Tetelestai” which is also translated “It is accomplished”, or “It is complete”.) John 19:30
Holy Saturday – Reunion
7. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23:46
Please, to everyone, keep safe, be well, and find the many good things that are available to us as a result of this devastating pandemic. Much is being written about them. Perhaps it took a simple molecular strand of nucleic acid and protein, SARS-CoV-2, to bring the world back to its senses concerning the values of solitude, slowing down, sharing, kindness, generosity, hope, faith, and even of death itself.
“…the way to self-fulfillment is self-donation; only a love stronger than death will satisfy.” — Blessed Maria Gabriella, OCSO
In prayer,
Brother Nicholas, Obl.S.B.
LikeLike