A few years later, I experienced the joy and freedom of a reconciliation between the Superior and myself. The spiritual climate of our day is characterised by the struggle for authenticity in human living. The quality of our relationships with one another is a measure of our relationship with God. In the ceremony of Profession the community acknowledge the importance of supportive prayer. Sharing with others is an essential aspect of our vows.
Unity is lost unless centred on a higher good.
Where we open ourselves to the promptings of the Spirit, we are enabled to conform to Christ's will for us. A group of Cistercians who were able to conform to the point of martyrdom were the Atlas Brothers. Theirs is a prophetic message for our generation. Too Big For Us', what strikes me is the extent of their unanimity. This group of monks who over a period of a few years, had continuously dialogued together in the face of imminent death, reached a common belief about what conformity to Christ meant in their given life situation.