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FEBRUARY 2009  Sunday 1 February – Sr. Ida Nolan was directing another
group of retreatants in the guest house.
Monday 2 – Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
We had the blessing of the candles in the scriptorium then the procession with lighted candles into the chapel as the
entrance procession of the Mass. In the afternoon the Abbot left for Moncton, where he spent the night. Then, tomorrow,
he takes a flight to England via New York. He is going to visit relatives and his former community of Mount
Saint Bernard. Then he will fly on to Rome to help the Abbot Visitor at our community of Tre Fontane, one
of the most ancient communities of the Order, having been founded in the twelfth century. Wednesday 4 – With the Abbot absent life here goes into slow-motion. There is not
much news. Thursday 5 – This evening we watched
the video on Saint Thérèse of Lisieux that we began last week. Friday 6 – The Guest House filled up for the weekend. In chapter Fr. Graham began a series of conferences
on Saint Gertrude, a great mystic and nun of our Order. She was born in 1256 and admitted to the monastery
as an oblate at the age of five. Her “Legatus Divinae Pietatis” is one of the chef-d’oeuvres
of Christian mysticism. This evening Fr. Graham spoke about mysticism in general. Monday 9 - Father Clovis went away for a couple of days for the funeral of a Eudist
colleague. I stood in for him for the Mass for the sisters today and tomorrow. I also
want to a funeral today, that of my friend Fr. Maurice Léger. The cathedral in Moncton was packed.
Joseph my Lebanese friend drove me. In chapter Joseph gave us an outline of the history of the Maronites, who are called after Saint
Maron. Tuesday 10 – Our farm has caught the attention of the agricultural
organizations and of the New Brunswick Ministry of Agriculture. They are giving us free publicity, especially
with regard to the dairy farm. Fr. Innocent went to Darmouth, near Halifax, to get some clay for his pottery. Wednesday 11 – For the readings at the Divine Office, each of the brothers reads in his first language.
So the readings are often in English. This can be a bit difficult for the French-speakers.
But we will get used to it bit by bit. Friday 13 –
This evening, Joseph spoke some more about the Maronite Catholic Church and the hardships it has undergone on account of wars
and terrorism. The Maronite Church is basically in Lebanon. Saturday
14 – This weekend we have a number of guests. Sunday 15
– This morning Fr. Graham was the principal celebrant at the Mass and his parents were present.
Tuesday 17 – Br. Gilles was admitted to hospital with heart problems :
high blood pressure, irregular and too fast heartbeat. It is a problem that began a couple of months ago
with a dose of flu. Wednesday 18 – We started watching
a video called “Doubt”. It is about a priest accused of child abuse in a convent run by nuns.
We have yet to see the outcome. Friday 20 –
Last night we had a major snowstorm which deposited another thick layer of snow. We have had a record-breaking
winter. Br. Stephan tried, with the big John Deere and the snow-blower, to open up the road to Br. Henry’s hermitage,
but he got stuck at the bottom of the hill. In the end he got three tractors stuck and had to get a neighbour
with heavy equipment to come and dig the lot out. What a come down! Saturday 21 – Br. Gilles came back to the monastery to collect some clothes and make some arrangements.
He went back to the Miramichi hospital this afternoon. From there he will go by ambulance to Bathurst
for a special test and from there it is not clear where he might be transferred. However, he has no pain
and is in good spirits. Pray for him and for us all. Sunday 22 – Br. Henry also went to the Miramichi hospital in view of a hernia operation tomorrow. The monks
at our monastery of Notre-Dame du Lac, Oka, Quebec, celebrated today their last Mass in the old monastery before moving to
the new one they have built in Saint-Jean-de-Matha, near Joliette, Quebec.  Monday 23 – Would you like some snow? We
have plenty to offer! We are in the midst of the worst storm this winter. Rhéal
DesRoches our retired handyman is looking after the snow-blowing. Tuesday 24 – Now we have a lovely sunny day. My family took the opportunity of this
Mardi-Gras to come and celebrate my sister Léocadie’s 80th birthday(28 February) and my 75th
(5 March). Br. Gilles went into hospital. He has a heart problem, cardiomyopathy.
He needs a lot of rest and to be closely watched by the doctors. Erik Towne, an aspirant, came for
a month-long observership. Wednesday 25 –
The Abbot came back from Europe in the small hours of the morning, in time to celebrate the Mass of Ash Wednesday, marking
the beginning of Lent. Br. Henry came back from hospital. Friday
27 – At last a warm day. The snow is falling off the roofs. About time!
It was becoming a worry. In chapter, the Abbot made certain proposals for the observance of Lent that the
brothers discussed. |
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