Today the warden and his wife had their day off, and the difference in the community was astounding. It was like everything was on hold; everyone was very relaxed, some didn’t do their chores and meal times were much quieter. Of course the uexpected tremendous downpours which went on throughout the day didn’t help this, but it was very interesting anyway. Not that everything didn’t still tick over just as it should, and the food today was lovely – simple poor mans pasta at lunch and home made quiche for supper – I almost feel guilty for supporting the “Ban the Flan” campaign.
The only event which really happeend today was the Eucharist at the Abbey, which was surprisingly well attended, with probably around 12 guests (the most I have ever seen there has been around 5). Despite the rather unique liturgy, I quite like the service, it is simple and yet powerful, unpretentious and yet significant. As I said yesterday, there is no confession or absolution, which comes from a very early liturgical tradition. This is designed I think to reflect God’s grace towards his chosen – taking the emphasis from our efforts to be right with God to the status we already have in Him. During the Eucharistic prayer everyone stands in a circle around the altar, the guests stepping forward from the guest chapel, and the Sisters coming forward from their stalls in the Nave. It is the only time in the day that the guests and Sisters all meet together, indeed it is unusual to meet more than one or two Sisters in a day when staying in the guest house usually. The Eucharistic prayer has no invocation, and after everyone has received and returned to their seats there is simply a short chant as a thanksgiving prayer, and no blessing. It is slightly bizarre to me that no one crosses themselves throughout the Eucharist, when here at Pilsdon most of the chapel-goers cross themselves at every oppurtunity, but I suppose that reflects the simpliity which the Sisters value so much. It was lovely to see Mother Mary yesterday as she came to visit someone at Pisdon; she had been the guest sister for the week that I visited in September while the regular guest Sister was taking a break, and she seemed genuinely susprised to see me (I have not written since my stay which I feel incredibly guilty about) and asked how my first year at Ridley had gone. Although it isn’t the most difficult thing to remember I was still very touched that she had remembered, it somehow made my last visit more significant – when one goes somewhere by oneself it is easy to imagine it never happened, especially when one is as rubbish as I am with keeping in touch!
Which reminds me, the other day I saw someone running through the orchards by the garden of St Francis. On closer inspection it was a nun, in a blueish habit (they tend to wear black and white habits). I later learned that this was how one of the nuns take her exercise, and not the youngest one either – which doing the maths makes this lady at least 55! How many 55 year olds do you know who run up and down their gardens for exercise…
Wow: go nuns!
And the Abbey sounds like a truly wonderful place, and a place where you are experiencing much grace also. God bless.
…wearing a habit!!!