clear creek monks rule of lifeclear creek monks rule of life

Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey Clear Creek became an abbey in 2010 and counts 55 monks, who devote themselves to God alone in the hidden life, in silence and solitude, in constant prayer and willing penance. After twenty years of existence, we are . I encourage readers to go and visit Clear Creek without delay. July 28, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) A couple of weeks ago, I spoke of how repeated visits to Benedictine monasteries convinced me, finally, to join the Benedictine order as an oblate of the community of Norcia. ), but rather a certain earthly foreshadowing of the City of God, the true Catholic City. Let us remember the Virgin Mary, mother of God, upon this holy altar. Once it is completed the next phase will be to finish the church by adding the top level. As we enter the Lenten season leaving behind the splendors of Christmas and looking forward now to that other pole of the liturgical year which is Easter we discover that the greater simplicity and sobriety of this time of year lends itself well to a meditation on mans proper place in the universe as caretaker of creation. We completed the Chapter House in 2023 to accommodate the growing number of monks and provide a Sacristy, Infirmary, classrooms and the Chapter itself. 1:26-38). and worship him with humility. Each day the monks have manual labor tasks that include milking cows, tending to their own sheep and cattle, cultivating their gardens, orchards and vineyards. was named the first abbot of Clear Creek Abbey. The Monks of Clear Creek. Their lack of organized prayer life betrays this fact. Saint Benedict speaks often of obedience, but especially in chapters five and seventy-one of the Rule. Clear Creek became an abbey in 2010 and counts 55 monks, who devote themselves to God alone in the hidden life, in silence and solitude, in constant prayer and willing penance. The monks settled on their new land called Clear Creek, in the wilderness near Hulbert, Oklahoma. 1. Nonetheless there is much in the wisdom of Saint Benedict that speaks to our present needs in terms of returning to a wiser way of life, a life closer to the land. These monks only say the Traditional Latin Mass and are located in Eastern Oklahoma. The site was perfect,located on more than 1,000 acres of wooded land in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains with prairies, hills and stone bluffs. Another religious community remote from the world but close to the faith, the monks of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey in Hulbert, Oklahoma ( ClearCreekMonks.org ), are celebrating the 20th. The chevet of the chapel (the sanctuary, facing east) was completed in 2017. By God's grace construction continues, engaging the deep traditions of medieval architecture proper to the monastery's French origins with a mastery of traditional architecture on full display. Phone (918) 772-2454, Copyright 2023 | Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey | All Rights Reserved. I asked Father Anderson whether the Clear Creek monks desired to rebuild civilization in America. Clear Creek Abbey Revisited: A Triumph of Modern Classicism in the And to assist the monastic Lector, who by ancient custom must recite the Rule at Prime section by section throughout the year, the appropriate dates are given alongside the text. so all might live in me. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, My [.] The New Carmel in Wyoming: the Monks of the Most B Liturgical Notes on Ceremonial Variations in the U Discalced Carmelite Monastery of Our Mother of Mer Liturgical Arts in South Dakota (Diocese of Rapid New Statue of Our Lady for Oslo by Granda. Clear Creek became an abbey in 2010 and counts 55 monks, who devote themselves to God alone in the hidden life, in silence and solitude, in constant prayer and willing penance. (LogOut/ Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (M.A. The Rule of Saint Benedict, Latin-English - Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey This program run by John Senior was not a relativistic one allowing students to pick and choose among various philosophical viewpoints as is common among programs of that type. A Well-Kept Secret - Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey Offertory Ave Maria. 4 Family Life Lane Suppose the Mass had been traditionally celebrated in Aramaic? One of the pillars of the Rule is evangelical poverty. Although the life of a monk ought at all times to have about it a Lenten observance, yet since few have strength enough for this, we exhort all, at least during the days of Lent, to keep themselves in all purity of life, and to wash away during that holy season the negligences of other times. Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 49. Since God draws souls with great freedom and delicacy, and for all sorts of reasons, I hesitate to speak of a telltale sign of when one should consider becoming an oblate. The French author and statesman, Andre Malraux, famously said, The twenty-first century will either be spiritual or it will not be. We can only see the effects of our life indirectly like we see the ripples from a drop in a pond.. The next question that arises is, how important is it to be connected to a community that is nearby (or at least easily accessible by car)? Enter the length or pattern for better results. Each day, one prays some portion of the Divine Office. Oblates have a long history in Benedictine monasticism, much longer than the tertiaries or Third Orders that are more familiar from the later Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, and other medieval or post-medieval orders. from on high I came to earth, One effort has been to encourage us to get closer to the land, together with an economy based on the small farm, the small store, and, in a word, what is local. The monks lead a hidden life. Please help us continue this arduous, but important work for the glory of God. Credit: Clear Creek Abbey Already a few younger architects, brilliant and capable men, were aware of our coming to America and eager to seize what looked like a golden opportunity. In addition a small community of lay Catholic families have relocated and settled in the environs around the monastery, in the medieval tradition. Wittgenstein once said that he saw it as his task to take the incomprehensible nonsense of philosophy and turn it into comprehensible nonsense. Either the gremlins are back, or there was something dodgy mixed with the incense in your last post, and Dillon, the blog sniffer dog was alerted. The artist was George Carpenter, a self-taught stone carver who created something magnificent in the medieval footprint. Thus the monastery was established, partially in a log cabin and partially in a metal pole barn where horses had once been kept in a stable. Used by the monks of Clear Creek for the daily reading of the Holy Rule in the refectory. A layman is not "bound" to . Traditional Benedictines Flourish in Eastern Oklahoma. The total goal for the fundraising campaign is $32 million. That day Abbot Antoine Forgeot had gathered the community in the chapter room and announced to the monks the good news. Hypothesise away Toad. More pointedly, what will bring us to a concreteone might say an existentialsolution for the foreseeable future? It was to be build fittingly of stone and brick on the hill above Clear Creek. Video from the Clear Creek Monastery on current status of project and appeal for donations to complete the new church. It teaches you that we all must truly have a little monk in us: that is, we must see our daily lives as one long prayer. br. 1 Baths. Play. We can work on a small scale, in our own neighborhood, but with a larger perspective (Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, nn. In the words of a French writer, In a flash of genius which transformed the apology into a philosophy of history, he saw in one glance the destinies of the world grouped around the Christian religion, the one and only religion, which properly understood, is seen to go back to the beginnings and which leads mankind to its final end (E. Portali, cited in F. Cayr, Manual of Patrology). It is a Foundation of the Benedictine Abbey of Fontgombault. I shall write with men in mind, but all of this applies to monasteries of Benedictine nuns) by embracing something of their way of life, praying for them, and benefiting from their prayers. On Sept. 16 of that year, the first 13 monks arrived on the property, 1,000 pristine acres of rolling woods and meadows near Hulbert in a scenic valley cut by the crystal water of Clear Creek. Be careful with your words. In 1999, thirteen monks set out from Fontgombault to travel to the United States to set up the new foundation. 143, 145). Upon his retirement in2015 Mr. Smith recommended to the monks Mr. Heyer (his former student) to be selected to continue his vision and carry the project forward to the next level. I usually joined the monks in the new, half finished abbey church for Low Mass at 7 am. Where the Lord has provided the means, an oblate will often also support the community in its material needs. Even if a nuclear conflagration is somehow avoided and the threat has by no means disappeared it will take something more than a form of global awareness to preserve the worlds natural resources. In Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy all-holy, good, and quickening Spirit, now and always, and for ever. Many Americans are saddened these days by what is the rather obvious decline of our nation. The photographs are beautiful, the slideshow is excellent and the articles (posted below) are very good. The Priest: For Thou art the gospel and the light, Saviour and keeper of our souls and bodies, God, and Thy only-begotten Son, and Thy all-holy Spirit, now and ever. Monastic poverty means being content with the simple things that sustain human existence in its inherent goodness. Fr. The monks earn their living by raising sheep, running an orchard and vegetable farm, and making cheese, clothes and furniture. Sometimes they would burn all the baskets they had woven during the year having no need to sell them in order to make money and start all over again, simply because this activity was good for body and mind! Each day, one reads a small portion of the Rule available in editions that (like this portable one) conveniently divide the text into one or a few paragraphs per day and one does somelectio divina or prayerful reading of Scripture. Our abbeys Latin motto, Ecce, Fiat, comes from the Gospel of Saint Luke relating the scene of the Archangel Gabriels announcement to Mary that she would become the Mother of God. Origins The monastery traces its roots to the Abbey of Fontgombault in France. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "poor clears monk", 4 letters crossword clue. People The destabilizing elements in our culture are poison for the soul Father Anderson said. The bishop greeted the monks at the airport as they arrived. These instructions are simply stated, but difficult to execute. Or Greek, or Tibetan, come to that? In every way Clear Creek is a new beginning. The Monastery of Our Lady of the Annunciation is a Benedictine Monastery at Clear Creek in Oklahoma, U.S.A. We monks, in any case, in our hidden corner of Christendom (or whats left of it), will do what we can. The Priest: God, who hast taught us Thy divine and saving oracles, enlighten the souls of us sinners for the comprehension of the things which have been before spoken, so that we may not only be seen to be hearers of spiritual things, but also doers of good deeds, striving after guileless faith, blameless life, and pure conversation. This is a big step since the first two large buildings were completed, a residence hall and gate house. 1: You are not a complete idiot. A layman is not bound to it in the same way as a monk is; he offers it as a free-will offering. It was founded in 1999 from the Abbey of Our Lady of Fontgombault in France and is located in the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Catholic Church had already incorporated such considerations into its social doctrine, beginning with the encyclical Rerum Novarum, one source of inspiration for the early distributists. There is also a guesthouse available only for women, called Bethany. Ive no real idea what this has to do with the case here. Learning from the Land: In the School of Saint Benedict (Congregation of Solesmes). Let us draw near in reverence and love, and with the holy angels let us raise a joyful cry unto the Lord: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, Almighty God. The old horse stalls were cleaned and converted to monastic cells. We are terribly divided in our political views; while the economy is booming for the wealthy, good jobs for the average citizen are becoming scarce; the family as the basic building block of society is in great trouble. Enjoy. Male and female guests are encouraged to assist at Mass and at some of the hours in the main chapel when it is open. He taught at the International Theological Institute in Austria and the Franciscan University of Steubenvilles Austria Program, then helped establish Wyoming Catholic College in 2006. When some students, one of whom was Father Anderson, approached Senior about how to rebuild a civilization being lost to modern technocratic society, Senior suggested the students go find some monks in Europe for there were few, if any, left in America who were living a traditional monastic life. $ 20.00 Hardcover, 214 pages Latin-English Divided into daily readings. Being easily starstruck, my mind went blank, and the best reply I could muster was The foods much better than I expected; I thought you guys lived on porridge with an oxo cube crumbled into it. Progress on the residence building has been rapid, now that the weather has become more favorable. Im afraid I am not to be found when the liturgy is accompanied by guitars, drums, liturgical dance (whatever that is) or any other of the post V2 innovations.We are fortunate enough in most cases to be able to choose which liturgy we wish to meet with Our Blessed Lord in, even if, at times we have to travel a few miles! Find serenity with a look inside Clear Creek monastery, a global People The genius of the program was that it led ordinary non-Catholic students to be exposed to greatness through an extraordinary study of Western Civilization. Our contemporaries seem to experience an ever increasing alienation from nature and a need to somehow re-connect with the earth, while scientists continue to point to signs that the ecological balance of the natural world is being seriously compromised by the excesses of our technology. Clear Creek Abbey Revisited: A Triumph of Modern C Pentecost as Depicted in the Art of Liturgical Books. presented to you by your faithful people Thus the monks exploit the riches developed over centuries in the Churchs liturgy and cultivate Gregorian Chant. It would all be to no avail, however, without something more. 5804 W Monastery Road I will let Father Cellarer complete the picture of Lenten Ora et Labora at Clear Creek. The vow of obedience is the most important of them for Benedictine monks. Visit Jarrie: 2023 Travel Guide for Jarrie, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes - Expedia Full and helpful notes are given for the convenience of students on all points of difficulty in the Late Latin syntax and vocabulary of the Text. Stay at this hotel in Gieres. MSABBARO SABRAITH BMARIA. It is a symbol and embodiment, he said, of the type of cultural and religious life the monks desire to preserve. as you accepted the offerings of the just of old, Our guests praise the comfy beds and the overall value in our reviews. Phone (918) 772-2454, Copyright 2023 | Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey | All Rights Reserved. The spiritual joy which comes into the monastic heart at the outset of Lent is conditioned by the necessary journey to Calvary crowned by the Cross. Please help us continue this arduous, but important work for the glory of God. They recently undertook a re J.P. Sonnen is an author, history docent, educator and travel writer. Lauds or Vespers would be more like 20 minutes for recitation. Tradition at Clear Creek Abbey - The World is Quiet Here The Clear Creek monastic life centers on liturgical prayer, particularly the Liturgy of the Hours, which the monks chant in Latin eight times a day. Translated & edited by Abbot Justin McCann, O.S.B. Clear Creek became an abbey in 2010 and counts 55 monks, who devote themselves to God alone in the hidden life, in silence and solitude, in constant prayer and willing penance. says Burro. The monks devote their days to God alone in silence and solitude in constant prayer and willing penance. Here is the essence of it, as understood by nearly all who write about oblate life. Used by the monks of Clear Creek for the daily reading of the Holy Rule in the refectory. I suppose this can be explained in part by the fact that the secret monastic joy of Lent somehow communicates itself to those who frequent the monastery and share in the fundamental rhythm of our life as expressed in the Latin phrase Ora et Labora (Pray and Work). Eleven hundred and sixty three years after the foundation of Rome, Gibbon pronounced, the Imperial city, which had subdued and civilized so considerable a part of mankind, was delivered to the licentious fury of the tribes of Germany and Scythia (Richard Cavendish, The Visigoths sack Rome, History Today). and Ph.D. in Philosophy). On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Holy Year 2000 the little priory of Our Lady of Clear Creek was officially inaugurated in the presence of Bishop Slattery of Tulsa. People PETITION: Support priest who was suspended for calling out the Black Lives Matter organization! And this he did. It is my hope that by writing this short article more families with children and young men, seminarians and young priests will be inspired to visit here. and, in exchange for their perishable gifts, Cel: Let us lift up our thoughts, our minds and our hearts. While most Catholics and Christians of every denomination look upon Lent as a rather unhappy time of restrictions and poorly held resolutions, the monk often discovers, or rediscovers, a hidden joy, even amid the penitential severities of the season. There, along with sharing in the common life of the monks, I spoke to the monasterys prior, Father Philip Anderson, about the history and mission of this new monastic community. the grace of the only-begotten + Son, Hulbert, OK 74441-5698 Benedictine Monks: Order, Life, Rule, and Legacy - Learn Religions There, a Great Books program, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, gave students the opportunity to encounter the culture and ideas of Western Civilization. The monasteries that would be worth considering might well be hours away by car or airplane, as in the case of my home community, which is in Umbria, Italy. He has published overa thousand articles on Thomistic thought, sacramental and liturgical theology, the history and aesthetics of music, and the social doctrine of the Church. If humility is the general disposition of soul Saint Benedict wants for his sons, obedience is the more concrete expression of that humility, the act by which a monk unites his will to the will of God. The monks life, says Father Anderson, is a life of prayer: God exists, and we have been created for him. Praying the hours as a community allows the monks to give constant praise and thanks to the living, creator God. Only a very small handful of Benedictine monasteries throughout the world are carrying on these noble traditions, including the Benedictine Abbey of Le Barroux in the south of France. You have not enabled JavaScript! The point of the daily routine is to ground a person in these rich, objective, traditional practices that have a stabilizing and sanctifying effect, as testified by the thousands of canonized and beatified Benedictine monks and nuns. It is an oasis of art, a haven for young Catholic men and young priests to visit for short retreats or pilgrimages. The next day, Fr. Each one can be creative in living the faith in this dramatic circumstance. Please enable JavaScript, and refresh your browser for full functionality. While he was saying something to the effect that real swimming is done in the ocean or lakes or more modestly in the old swimmin hole an old-timer who was among the listeners brought forth the objection that we used to lose a few in the swimmin hole . The Order of St. Benedict has, in fact, more saints than any other order and it is not simply because they have been around the longest! Cel: May the love of God the + Father, Professor Smith put together a master plan with excellent schematic drawings and watercolor images that were completed in 2013. Or to put it negatively, how great a disadvantage is it to be far away from ones home monastery? Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey These are log cabins named after St. Mary and St Martha, a tradition also seen at Fontgombault Abbey with its circle of cottages for families and female visitors. The days activities were programmed according to the hours of sunlight. In some ways it resembles something from the Book of Kells. Humility is, in a general way, the principal virtue proposed by Saint Benedict to his monks. At one point the Abbot came up to me and asked me how I was enjoying things. We are not speaking of the tragic misery of the desperately poor, but of an attitude rooted in the Christian faith. Book of Ezekiel 1 and Rev. Traditional Vocations blog: Clear Creek Benedictines It is our hope that Our Lady of Clear Creek Monastery, by living from the Rule, can help many to recapture the joy of a human existence rooted in faith and the not-so-common realism of common sense. Burru the Guru will be livid!). Elegance - Jarrie, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes - Foursquare Be sure to write them ahead of time and reserve your space before your arrive. 1997-2023 LifeSiteNews.com. The sisters sing the Mass and Office in Latin according to the the Novus Ordo. Hulbert, Oklahoma: Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey Shower upon them your spiritual blessings, Pure word without flesh Located in the town of Jarrie, in a quiet environment close to nature, this contemporary-style house offers a living and useful area of 150 sqm on flat, enclosed land with a swimming pool of around 90. The monks of Clear Creek celebrate God's glory in Latin, so appropriate to give an idea of God's majesty, a sense of the sacred. 4 Beds. ZI Mayencin 4 Allee de Palestine, Gieres, Isere. As Our Blessed Father Saint Benedict teaches us, "Let [the monk] consider that he is always beheld from heaven by God, and that his actions are everywhere seen by the eye of the Divine Majesty, and are every hour reported to Him by His angels" (Rule, Chapter 7). The very early monks found that this work with ones hands was something necessary in order to be able to pray well. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. For young women discerning a possible call to monastic life in the traditional Benedictine tradition, the closest thing is the Abbey of Ephesus in nearby Gower, Missouri. Clear Creek became an abbey in 2010 and counts 55 monks, who devote themselves to God alone in the hidden life, in silence and solitude, in constant prayer and willing penance. Bringing the Faith to the Ends of America: Monasteries Take Root in To date, 45 of the 50 beams needed have been cut out of trees the monks harvested themselves on the property, mostly red and white oak. Sorry GC, your comment got held in moderation, until just now. There they saw no vocation shortage. Kwasniewski is a scholar of The Aquinas Institute in Green Bay, which is publishing theOpera Omniaof the Angelic Doctor, a Fellow of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies,and a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center. I asked Father Anderson how the monks financially support their quiet life of prayer and praise. It depicts Christ in the center, seated like the Emperors, a remarkable composition that looks authentically medieval. This site requires JavaScript to operate properly. He smiled and moved on to better pasture. Alleluia! In the middle of nowhere, but close enough to Tulsa that you can visit.\r\rI have been there several times and highly recommend that you drive out there to visit. Please help us continue this arduous, but important work for the glory of God. Father Anderson described the rocky property as perfect for the monastic life.. Or is it because its foreign and a bit mysterious? After repeated threats, in the year 410 the Visigoths appeared outside Rome in force and the senate prepared to resist, but in the middle of the night rebellious slaves opened the Salarian Gate to the attackers, who poured in and set fire to the nearby houses. Hopefully, the story of the Clear Creek monks will inspire not only a renaissance in monastic life in the United States, but inspire teachers to be like John Senior and educate their students in truth, beauty, and goodness even at great professional cost. They have the best life and job in the universe. PAGHREH DAMSHIHA WATHME YAQIRA AL MATHBAH QOTHSHA BTHELTHA WAOREHEMTHA KOULAN NETHQARAQ LEH OAMMALAKHE NIABAW LEH QADDIS QADDISH, QADDISH MARYA ALAHA. To Him be glory at all times and forever. In 2020 a radianttympanumto last the centuries was completed above the main entrance of the abbatial chapel, a triumph after seven years carving. As the physical universe begins to come alive with spring and the monks own bones begin to warm up again after the rigors of winter, as the stars he watches on his way to Matins begin to shift toward the order of their equinox, something truly wonderful occurs. Both men speak a classical language and illustrate well a clear engagement with various elements of classical Benedictine architecture, expressing the high ideals and aspirations of monastic spirituality. Its not available from Amazon until late November; but worth waiting for, because its on Audio CD, so you dont have to know how to read. The well-known Catholic author and educator, John Senior, was once giving a talk to a small group of adults about this very idea of escaping from the excesses of a civilization worn thin with technology.