Monastic Guest Houses

[LilyLamb]

Hello everyone ... it's been awhile ... hope all are well and thriving.

I bought a book from the library today (they have a regular selection of donated new/used books that they sell) titled "A Guide to Monastic Guest Houses" by Robert J. Regalbuto (third edition).

Was wondering if anyone here has stayed at a Monastic Guest House and how was the experience??

Please share ...

 

[Miss Shelby]

No, I have not. But I wanted to say hi to you because it has been a long time? How is everything with you?

Michelle

 

[LilyLamb]

Michelle - my corner of the world is doing well, in spite of many obstacles and hindrances along the way - the Lord is blessing our family

my 15 year old is on a mission trip in Sweden

my 20 year old is on a mission trip throughout the USA (she is a leader on the team)

my 24 year old and her husband are doing well, looking to buy a house and start a family

my 6 year old keeps me young and quite busy

my DH and I are coming up on 8 years in September and still as madly in love with each other as the day we met

we had a great vacation trip to Niagara Falls

our church is growing and thriving under a new Pastor

we are enjoying our "new" (built 1966) cape cod house, situated on a dead end street - very quiet compared to living on a busy Main Street - now my son can ride his bike and walk across the street to play with other children

and ... best of all, I may be on the road to a new treatment to ease the pain/discomfort in my body

looking at all the positives ... life is good

how about yourself??? (I like your signature)

 

[Adam_for_Christ]

Awesome LilyLamb!

Sounds like the Lord truly did bless you and your family!

 

[Miss Shelby]

Hi LilyLamb,

It's great to hear that you guys are doing so well. I think of you often...Did your youngest son at one time have a health condition that you were worried about that you had asked for prayer for? For some reason that sticks out in my memory...that and your teenage son's letter that he wrote you on his last mission trip when he paid 2.75 or something for a sprite and played ring around the rosy with all of the children on the beach. You are blessed to have such wonderful family.

As for me, we are doing okay. Shelby starts kindergarten in the fall, and Sammy is excited about going to 'pretty-school' (pre-school)..summer keeps us busy. Yesterday I took them to Chuck E. Cheese's for lunch because they have been begging me to let them go. I swore I would never, ever enter the grounds of that place on a Saturday for a birthday party ever again as long as I draw breath into my lungs, but I figured a week day shouldn't be so bad, and it wasn't. We had fun..

Since you mentioned my signature line, I lifted that off of one of my new favortite websites.

http://www.prosanctity.org/

Little plug for my prosanctity friends, there. Today's quote is "Forbidden fruits cause many jams" --That's a good one, too.

Well, I hope you get some info on your Monastic Guest houses. And I hope to see more of you if real life permits.

Michelle

 

[isshinwhat]

I stayed at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana last year. I would have like to have made a formal retreat, but my overnight visit was one that will stay in my heart forever. I have never met a more hospitable people in my life. I really feel the Gospel is lived out there. The Liturgy of the Hours was incredible, as was the Mass I attended.

A daughter abbey, St. Joseph's, near New Orleans is great, too. I only spent the afternoon there, but Father Augustine showed me the cloistered area, invited me to dine with the monks and listen to their evening readings (which I unfortnately had to decline), and I got to sing the Evening prayers with them in the choir. Another amazing expeience.

I would support anyone wishing to take a retreat to a monastic guest house.

God Bless,

Neal

 

[LilyLamb]

Michelle - you may be thinking about the asthma prob that our youngest had ... or when we had our foster son who was undergoing chemo treatments (he's all better now and is still with his brothers in another foster home, I think the three will be adopted).

Nice to hear about your family - I love that expression "pretty school" - too cute! LOL They grow up too fast!!! Wow! I haven't been to a Chuck E. Cheese since my oldest was a preschooler!! There just aren't any near us.

Neal - thanks for your insight - those two that you mentioned are in the book. I can't help but think that a stay in a guest house has got to be a blessing ... that is why I got the book. I hope that we will have the opportunity to try one in the near future.

 

[MariaRegina]

My dearest LilyLamb:

Christ is in our midst!
He is and always shall be!

One advantage on staying at a Monastery in their guest house is that you are expected to live their life - to pray with them, eat with them and be quiet when they are quiet - which is nearly all the time. It's a very restful and quiet place.

Hope that helps!

Elizabeth