tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817474730130862636.post8367332713049164309..comments2024-02-20T20:29:06.207-05:00Comments on A Pastor's Thoughts (Fr. Ed Namiotka): A Trappist Retreat (part 1)Fr. Edward Namiotkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790889147253682104noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817474730130862636.post-39721934868425321972013-01-17T22:14:31.285-05:002013-01-17T22:14:31.285-05:00Good evening, Father:
Having made a pair of retre...Good evening, Father:<br /><br />Having made a pair of retreats some years ago at the Trappist monastery (Holy Cross Abbey) in Winchester VA, as well as (in the years since) at a (Conventual) Franciscan monastery near Baltimore, and a (former) Jesuit seminary in Pennsylvania - still contemplating and pondering my late-life vocational call (I'm your age) - , I decided this past September/October to take a retreat at the Abbey of the Genesee, recalling keenly the profound, contemplative spirit at Holy Cross Abbey (as well out of as a desire to visit with a childhood friend now living near Buffalo).<br /><br />Spiritually, I was quite literally brought to my knees, joining the monks (where permitted) in their prayers, and meeting almost daily with their retreat master, Father Jerome - a holy blast himself (imaging Father Andrew Apostoli with a huge load of khutzpah... and no less spirit), who delighted in quite needfully throwing me off a spiritual cliff. He led daily conferences at our retreat house, but one day turned his spot over to Father John Eudes Bamberger... who was everything you've said about him, and more.<br /><br />Only once I was back home in Maryland did I read Nouwen's "The Genesee Diary", which I'd bought at the Abbey. Father John Eudes is all through it, blowing away both Father Nouwen and me with his profoundly wise and experienced spiritual feather-touch comments, observations, and suggestions... almost forty years ago! The years since have only made him deeper, holier, and leave me full of regret that I hadn't read the book before meeting him.<br /><br />I highly recommend the book, and the abbey - any welcoming religious community (but have the book with you!) to anyone recognizing their need for a genuine spiritual recharge, a dedication of a day, weekend, week (or seven months) to contemplation, prayer, praise, chant, worship, in God's name.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />Michael Meurer<br />Frederick MDAging Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16115167212430459035noreply@blogger.com