(24) Sharing

"The development of Benedictine houses into centres of civilization
drew to them not only aspirants for the religious life, but many and
divers persons desirous of sharing in various ways the benefits
accruing to that life."
[D.H. Turner, "Guests, Who Are Never Lacking in a Monastery," in
THE BENEDICTINES IN BRITAIN, George Braziller, 1980, p. 54.]

Comment: This publication was first sponsored by the British Library,
commemorating the fifteen-hundred anniversary of the Benedictines
back in 1980. At that time, D.H. Turner was with the Department of
Manuscripts, the Reference Division, the British Library.

Back in the Middle Ages the Benedictines had both an inner school
(for the monks) and an outer school (for the children of the European
aristocracy). And in modern times the Benedictine Order--at least in
Great Britain and the Americas--have established preparatory schools.
Originally they were schools for boys, but now some are coeducational.

Never a great many, but now these schools are occasionally closing.
I knew a monk who became the abbot of his English abbey. He
began attending the abbey's school when he was ten-years-old.
And following graduation, he stayed on as a monk. His heart was
always with his school, so close-by. By the time he became abbot,
hard times were hitting the monastery. Too few monks, too, growing
older by the minute. He passed away and did not see the sale of his
beloved school. The monks just could no longer manage both the
abbey and the school.

Hence the school was turned into a rather elegant condo project.
As for the few monks left, well most have engaged in the abbey's
retreat program.

As for retreats, Benedictine houses have long been available for
both individual and group retreats. Focusing on contemplative
spirituality for the most part, they reach a goodly number of people.
These days it seems there is such a need for such.

So even as their schools fade away, the Benedictines still share
their tradition by opening their doors to spiritual seekers. And more
so, now, the monks are publishing books, creating websites, that
extend their monastic benefits. It would seem that the Benedictines
are keeping-up with the times.

It would be interesting to speculate over what new ways that the
Benedictines might share their tradition in the future. Maybe
eventually we might spot different ways the monks are discovering
when it comes to their sharing.