images of a monastic retreat

 

i posted some of my pics from last weeks retreat to Saint Bernard's Abbey monastery in alabama. it turned out even shorter than planned as my workload would not allow me to leave on wednesday when i had planned. so i got up early on thursday and made the pilgrimage down. met up with my buddy paul, did a little hiking, took a nap, got in some reading & set the day to hours of prayers the monks keep.

the next day we did a little bit more of walking it was way cold, so we then opted for reading and taking some pictures.

i am reorganizing my typepad photo albums now to minimize the amount of them. check out my varied monastic retreats here. you can see some other pics on my flickr.

Comments

[Vicki]

Thanks for the photos and the memories. My father was raised Roman Catholic; two of his uncles were Benedictine monks who resided at St. Bernard's and are now buried there. As a youngster, my siblings and I were amazed at the Ave Maria Grotto and with the robed figures walking around the Abbey grounds (we had very active imaginations). Our family was permitted to camp on a site that I believe was the Grotto's original location. Those woods were pretty creepy to five little kids! Your photos are terrific, too!

[gavin]

vicki you might be the second person who knows of and has a history with Saint Bernard's. one of my parents at my last church went to high school with the abbot and was there when he first took his vows. other than that, most folks have no idea a monastery (convent too) could/would exist in cullman.

[Jonathon Norman]

abbot cletus! nice!!!