​Friday May 19, 2017

Living among the cloistered monks, although not within their enclosure, and generally following their daily rhythm of prayer and work, allows for a prayerful 'diving into' the life of the Church at prayer. Doing so, in a Benedictin community #SilverstreamPriory, dedicated to Adoration of our Lord and reparation and prayer for Priests which is also immersed in the richness of the centuries old language of the Church... allows me to 'breathe in and savor' it's beauty, to enter into it's history and yet be deeply mindful of the Church of today, to which I have been blessed to be called to be a servant. To do so in Ireland, a place with a great history of faith which the faithful and their Priests carried to the corners of the world, just as Christ commanded... defies description which might be adequate to the experience.

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These are pictures of the Altar at which I am learning to celebrate the Mass of Usus Antiquior (Extraordinary Form), as well as sights that bless me throughout the day. I might add, despite the reputation of Ireland for grey and rainy days, the Lord has richly blessed me with amazing sunshine and fresh breezes, full of singing birds, bouquets of aroma which come from so many flowers and a prevailing peace.

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Where I practiced...

Where the monks celebrated...