It was 20 km from Castres to the Abbaye Saint-Scholastique at Dourgne where I spent the night. 60 nuns live here according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. Hospitality is a monastic tradition, and monasteries and convents along the Way welcome travellers and pilgrims and those seeking a space for silence, prayer and meditation. Although the Benedictine Order is very old (6th century), this convent is relatively new and dates from the 1890s.
The nuns, dressed in smart grey and white habits, come together 7 times a day for the liturgical offices: Matins at 5 am (followed by breakfast taken in silence), Lauds at 7 am, Terce at 9.30 am, Sext at noon, None at 2 pm, Vespers at 6 pm, and Compline at 8 pm after the evening meal. Between these offices are periods laid aside for work, prayer and Bible study (the key precept in the Rule of Saint Benedict is laborare est orare - to work is to pray).
I attended Vespers. The chants and repsonses echoed round the candle-lit chapel. I was moved by it but would find it difficult to explain exactly how or why. Complex emotions and distant memories rushed through my head - in the end resolving into a kind of inner peace. Afterwards I dined with a rabble of priests who were attending a seminary at the abbey (some of them were married and had brought their wives - I thought Catholic priests weren't allowed to marry?) I noticed one of the older priests was very partial to the wine on our table, and when it had been drunk he asked the next table for some of theirs..!
After dinner I went to Compline, the final office of the day, which was short but beautiful. The sisters entered the chapel two by two, and left two by two following the Benediction. The Mother Superior then turned to the side-chapel, where I and a small number of other vistors and pilgrims were standing, and blessed us also, while sprinkling some holy water. I lit candles in memory of my mother and sister. Then left for my room where I slept long and deep.
6 comments:
Like the peaceful aspect of this SW. I remember your sister from a long time ago - lighting a candle for her - and for your mother is comforting - one's feelings at these religious gatherings can be conflicting but i do think there is a sense of peace.
Maybe some of the 'priests' were actually 'permanent deacons'? (a stage before becoming priests, becoming more common now, many of them older men who have been married for many years before studying for the diaconate.)
I think I experienced a similar 'inner peace' hearing sung vespers along the way (in Conques, Moissac, Rabanal) and would find it hard to say why.
Thanks for your comment, kiwi. I've been looking at your own Camino stuff and have been enjoying it very much.
And grassweaver - I did the same - for my mother and sister - at O'Cebreiro on the Camino Frances last year (it's in my blog). I think it's important. But I only do it at certain times, when I feel driven to do it, when the time is right.
The only other time I lit candles this journey was at Eunate near to Puente la Reina close to the end of the pilgrimage...
Eunate! What a place. One of the most scared and wondrous and affecting religious sites I've ever visited. But more of all that later..!
I'm a follower of Kiwi Nomad, also, whose blog was a great encouragement and help on my very first walk from Le Puy to Pamplona (2010).
I, too, keep returning.
Eunate last year (2018) brought me to tears. It was the true end of that pilgrimage that started in Tououse. In September I am starting from Arles, ending in Toulouse--I followed your blog from Toulouse onwarad last year. Thank you so much!
linnea.borealis@gmail.com (trying to transition from Blogger to WordPress with Caminobleu blog). I do have a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7jMdPmL6YE
and this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4benD9gVI8
Thanks for your comment, Linnea. I'm glad you found my blog useful. I will check out your videos. Happy trekking!
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