I'm told the Trappists have very few vocations and many houses have small communities of mostly elderly monks. I was reading the biographies of a few monks who were part of New Melleray Abbey. One, Br. Conrad, I was able to meet before he died. Such an edifying life. Pray for us Br. Conrad.
American Trappist vocations boomed following WW II & the popular writings of Thomas Merton. Hence, the explosion of daughter houses. My local Abbey have a few younger members. They support a growing daughter foundation in Brazil. They make and sell a Turkey great variety of breads available online at Monk’s Bread. Com As with most religious orders the vocations are predominantly in the developing world. Monastic life has preserved civilization in the past. I believe it will again.
ReplyDeleteI hope so.
DeleteSpell check alert: Turkey should read truly!
DeleteI wonder...
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping.
DeleteOver twenty years since I read The Cloud of Unknowing. Been having a hankering to pick it up again.
ReplyDeleteIt's been about 40 years for me. Merry Christmas Paul!
DeleteMerry Christmas Terry!
ReplyDeleteGood leadership yields plentiful vocations, IMHO. Over the last 5 years, one of the young ladies of my parish became a professed Nashville Dominican Sister. Last year, a young man of our parish, who had graduated from Franciscan University Steubenville, entered the Benedictine monastery in Oklahoma. We have an *outstanding* young pastor, which, I think, may also make young people this may be a life for them, and not just older people. God bless all those with holy vocations, and please God, send us more!!!
ReplyDeleteSusan you have an amazing parish. I am glad for you. The Call is so special and needs nurturing. I thank God for those who answer it. True, faithful vocations, in religious life, married and single life is a blessing for us all.
DeleteI hope these vocations don't dry up but the West isn't the world. Belated Merry Christmas Terry!
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