Between 2002 and 2003, I did a sabbatical with the monks of St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. During those 6 months, I lived the life of a monk, mingling with the 70 priests and brothers who made up the entire population of the Abbey. I ate with them, prayed with them, dusted the cloisters, pruned trees, raked zillions of leaves, cleaned like them, including the 'jakes,' and experienced what it was like living as a Benedictine monk. I will share over the next few weeks some photos from my experience there. Today you can see the Abbey from outside, built by the monks themselves between 1951 and 1952 from the fieldstones they found on the property.
They had no other choice as their previous abbey had burned down in Rhode Island, and every monk had to pitch in and use their strength, talents and expertise in various occupations to build this massive monastery. The Trappist monks follow the rule of St Benedict, do not talk, unless necessary, and spend 7 time periods in their chapel, praying as early as 3:30 AM, ending with the Compline and the singing of the Salve Regina at 8 PM.
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