The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-10-15
HOW THE TUAPPISTS LIVE
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ell dairy, and sold to householders in
the nearby towns.
The poultry pens are the pride of
Brother Michael, the monastery Gel
larer. The cellarer by the way, is the
business agent or steward of the COM
munity, acting under the Prior A
real farmer he is, too, ever ready to
adopt the most modern OF methods
Practically all the work on this great
farm, be it milking cows Or cutting
ice from the artificial pond or carry
ing in the pumpkins from the broad
fields, is done by the brothers and
priests of the community.
At 3 every morning, the brothers
may be seen issuing from the monas-
terry and going down across the fields,
by lantern light, to begin the milking.
Later in the day. when the Office and
the Masses are ended, the priests, too,
in their white and black working hab.
it's (the brothers all wear brown join
in. No work is too mean for them
The Prior, Father John, is not exempt
ed He, too, is out in the fields, hard
at work, until the bell in the distant
tower summons the community back
for prayer.
Men Of Culture as Farm Helpers.
These men are men of culture and
refinement, men who, in the world oc
cupied positions of responsibility One
of the brothers was a civil engineer
another, who now labors in the hen
yard, a school teacher A former
prominent and successful silk import
er in New York is now a priest of the
community. All are finding a new
happiness and contentment in the most
mental of tasks.
1t is interesting to see them in the
| fields, their habits tied up to knee
length, broad hats upon their heads
| AS they pass each other, they salute
by raising the hat and bowling slight
ly-in their fellow men they see the
image and likeness of the Goldman
They work in silence, hence, work
| we'll and much. Only when the SOUND
of the bell comes down to them dc
they stop, and shouldering their tools
plod back to the Priory for the mex
exercise of the day
That bell is the signal for every ac
of the day. 1t was the bell that sen
me down to the little chapel for the
Salve; it was the bell again that call
ed to the dining room in the guest
quarter of the house.
| Here Father Augustine, the guest
master, waited upon me, and cleared
the table when l had done.
How long have you been in the or
| der?" l asked him.
| only four years." he said, 'an(
they have been the happiest years o.
my whole life. I am in a position tt
judge of what this Trappist life is
because l know what there is outside
For 81 years l was a secular priest
Four years ago was pastor of large
parish. 1t took me all that time tt
find contentment. Today nothins
could tempt me back to it."
And he set to washing dishes will
the same zest with which he once Sc
out from his home on a 400-mile jour
ney to Chicago to see a ball game.
That night, when vespers were over
| filed out with members of the com
munity whose guest l was, past thu
Prior, who stood at the altar side
Passing, bowed slightly, as the 9th
ers had done, and received his bless
ing.
Sleep in Little CubicIe.
The Trappist monk sleeps in a lit
tie cubicle-a partitioned-off space il
a common dormitory. His bed is
broad board shelf, with a mattres
and pillow stuffed with straw. H
sleeps, according to the rule, in hi
habit, removing only the hood or cap
and the shoes. His covering is
piece of heavy cloth. Hard, indeed
is this bed, yet the monk sleeps her
more peacefully than any man out il
the world upon a mattress of the fines
texture. For in the day he works har,
and by bedtime Is tired. And h
sleeps without worry for the nor
row. lhh ~Ua
| Contentment, peace, happiness il
their love and worship of their Gre
ator and Savior-such is the life o
the Trappist. 1t is not life of gloon
of sour asceticism, but of wonderful
| joy. 97s
| And so, when my visit is done, an
! am, leaving for home, it is with
new conception of this rigorous mon
astic life. l am carrying with me
picture of the beautiful, strong, kline
ly smiling face of the Prior, Fathe
John-who, as lad, came out fror
his birthplace near Dingle, in count
Derry, Ireland, and Joined the orde
while still in his teens-and of tn
gray-haired priest, four years ag
pastor, as he stood waving farewell
to me down through the long avenu
. of trees.