The Monastery Diaries, Part 2

Today is the first full day I spent praying a monastic day, here at Clear Creek Abbey. The rhythm of the day, particularly the morning, absolutely entranced me. It really is virtually nonstop from five in the morning until breakfast at 10:30 AM.

I awoke at 3:30 in the morning to the sound of rain outside my window. There was no rain in the forecast, so I didn’t bring any rain gear. Just one more reason not to leave the monastery today. 

I tried and failed to get back to sleep.

Matins began at 5:15 AM. Lauds followed immediately after. The difference between the two is immediately apparent when chanting, though perhaps not so much on the page. Matins is chanted in almost a monotone, while Lauds is much more musical. 

Lauds concluded at about 6:45, which left me just enough time to run to the restroom before the assorted low Masses began at 7:00. Every priest-monk must pray a private Mass every day, so all the various side chapels everywhere are filled in rotation.

Rather than returning to the main church, I headed down to the crypt. Bishop Schneider was celebrating mass at the high altar, but I tucked into one of the side chapels where there was just a priest-monk, a server-monk, and one other person besides me. It was small, quiet, and intimate.

The office of Prime saw me return to the Abbey church at 8:00. Like Matins, it was chanted in monotone. Unlike Matins, it was short – I checked the time after breakfast, and it was only 8:30. 

I have been trying to figure out why this place seemed so familiar, and during breakfast, it finally occurred to me. The vibe of the place is very similar to the old seminary I stayed at in Le Puy, down to the furniture, furnishings, windows, interior materials, even the cutlery and dishes. Not identical, perhaps, but of a similar ilk and style. 

After breakfast, I returned to the library to read. After about an hour, I returned to the little guest garden to pray the rosary.

I did stop briefly at the bookstore on my way to Terce. I tried to limit myself, both for the sake of cost and transit home. 

Terce was followed by the Conventual high Mass. It was quite a toned-down version of the Sunday Mass, but still beautiful and moving. Interestingly, there was no Last Gospel. And people say there’s no such thing as a Benedictine Rite.

Sext was the first hour I felt confident enough to chant along with the monks in more than a whisper. Lunch followed, and afterwards Father Nesbitt gave the whole group of guests a tour of the monks’ side of the Abbey – the cloister and chapter room. The workmanship and level of detail here is absolutely exquisite. Simple but elegant.

After the tour, I spent some more time in the little library. 

In fact, I got so caught up in a book on medieval spirituality that I missed the office of None entirely. I didn’t have my phone with me. I thought I would rely on the bells, but I was so absorbed I didn’t hear them. There’s a lesson there, probably. So much for attending each office in one day!

After the library, I made a second trip to the bookstore. Then I went back to my room to pack up in preparation for leaving tomorrow. I truly love the monastery, but I dearly miss Pistachio House, which I suppose is becoming my own little priory.

I went back to the garden and prayed my second rosary of the day. It was during the second joyful mystery that I had the sudden image in my head of grace circulating throughout the world like blood through a body. The body of Christ: Christ the head, we the members, and grace circulating to us through the eternal beating of His Sacred Heart.

I went into the Abbey church and lit a candle for Francine at the Marian shrine and prayed there a while: Holy Mary, watch over your daughter Francine. 

Vespers was beautiful. I found it interesting that there was no incense – perhaps they reserve that for Sundays and feasts. I sang as best I could, though I confess I got a bit lost at the start of the Magnificat. 

With an hour before the start of dinner, I went down and paid my tab for the two nights here at the monastery. It’s hard to believe that I’ll be leaving here so soon.

I haven’t really talked about the rituals associated with the meals here, because I just don’t know where to start. They are almost little liturgies in themselves. I’m definitely going to have to see if I can find a text somewhere.

After dinner, Father Nesbitt again had a great conversation with the group of us. It ran so long, in fact, that we had to rush off to Compline. I didn’t have my book with me, so I borrowed one of the pamphlets in the church. There, at the back, I discovered the text of at least some of the extra bits, though not all of them.

Then to bed.

After three days on the Three Hearts Pilgrimage (which you can read about on my Camino blog), I spent three days at the Abbey of Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek. These posts are my recollections and reflections of that time.