Community

We believe that our monastic community is summoned and constantly formed by Jesus who said, and continues to say, 'Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with them' (Mt 18:20).  There are many in the world today who see their relationship with Jesus as a private and personal matter, and this is true to a point.  However, the fact is that Jesus deliberately formed a community and, after his Resurrection, sent his Spirit to maintain and to continually revivify that community.  Hence our journey to God is never undertaken alone.  St Benedict does legislate for hermit-monks in his Rule but only after they have completely mastered the skills of community living.  We have the wonderful example of our own recently deceased Fr Mark who spent over fifty years living as a hermit on our property.  When he recognized that the end of his life was approaching, he returned to living in the community and took up where he left off fifty years earlier without missing a beat.  This highlights that, as a hermit, he was still deeply immersed in the community.  The community forms us on our way to God, especially the example of the elders along with the teaching of the Abbot.  Monks are not perfect Christians, nor indeed are they even close to being perfect human-beings.  We are very aware that the Father embraced the Prodigal Son with great love even when he was still 'a long way off' (Lk 15).  Therefore, as the Rule of St Benedict advises we are, 'patient with our own faults and failings and with the faults and failings of our brothers'.  We know we are loved, and we love each other.  We are not perfect, but we are making progress even if it is only one step forward and two steps backward!  

Our community life is structured according to the wisdom of the Rule of St Benedict and the Constitutions of our Order.  Both of these documents, and hence our monastic lifestyle, are inspired by the following text from the Acts of the Apostles:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42).