To the Brothers and my fellow Oblates of Mount Saviour Monastery
From a Carthusian come these words: “On one level (for the solitary) there is restriction of life: information, social contact, exchange of ideas, affective relationships, variety of interests, all of these deliberately lessened. To what purpose? Surely this represents a diminution, if not a frustration, or a mutilation.”(1)
It is hard not to have such feelings as these being absent from our community during our annual retreat. What does remain strong with me though, is the awareness of the presence of the Monastery I find in what I have brought from Mount Saviour to my home: rocks bordering a garden bed, photographs, St Benedict’s Prayer Book, three stones from the Chemung River that form a cross in our garden, The Psalms Singing Version , the Mt Saviour Compline Prayer, flat pathway stones. Although some of these are physical manifestations, it is the spiritual presence that remains the strongest. Being an Oblate of Mount Saviour Monastery comes with a promise to ‘serve God and all people according to the Rule of St Benedict’, and honoring this is a commitment to live a monastic life while living outside of the monastery. Even in solitude.
Continuing with the words of the Carthusian: “—we seek a great simplicity of life. Why? For wonder’s sake. Wonder is a sentiment of surprise and admiration, of joyful awe, of celebration and communion. And often it is the chink not too wide that let’s in wonder. One tiny hidden flower — a simple blade of grass is enough if really seen with love and attention.” (1)
It is these sentiments that I know will be present with you at this gathering.
I do miss being with you in community and pray that your time together will be full and fulfilling.
Peace and every good
Stuart~John Obl OSB Mount Saviour Monastery
1: From ‘The Spirit of Place: Carthusian Reflections (London: Darton Longman & Todd, 1998)
The Oblates of Mount Saviour Monastery 