A companion's interment, and the return of the Pilgrims

This week, I went to New York City to offer Spiritual Direction to students and staff for the first time this semester. I usually see between eight and twelve people over a day and a half of sessions. It is a privilege to help those who will and already do minister to God's People.

I came home on Thursday. I'm usually pretty exhausted after an intensive burst of spiritual direction like that. I just took some time to review my sermon for the next day.

On Friday, the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul we celebrated mass at 11 a.m. to enable people to travel to the monastery to attend the interment of the ashes of Tony Cayless. This St Paul feast marked the 62nd anniversary of  Tony's ordination to the priesthood. He had died in September, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His wife Suzette brought us his ashes. His son Hugh, his daughter-in-law Jenny and his two granddaughters Grace and Caroline also traveled from North Carolina for the occasion.

Suzette had asked me to preach because she knew we shared the experience of caring for and losing a loved one to Alzheimer's disease. I spoke about the spiritual challenges of caring for an Alzheimer's patient and of grieving them after their death. It was a challenging sermon to write and deliver but thankfully it was well received by the family and mourners.

Winter scenes and Tony's interment. From top, clockwise: a snow-dusted bench in the Little Cloister was inscribed by a passing brother on our Sabbath Day; The Rev. Frank Anthony (Tony) Cayless (photographed in 2012 at a church convention); Suzette on the day of the interment meeting our newest Postulant, Max Esmus, who played the organ at the service.

Saturday was a cultural day. Three monks and our intern Ben went to a Live Met transmission of La Traviata for a matinee performance at the Bardavon Theatre in Poughkeepsie. They gave a thumbs-up review to the new Met production of La Traviata. In the evening, Novice Master Br. Bob took his two postulants Vance and Max to a Jazz concert by Laurel Massé and Peter Calo in North Salem, NY.

Everybody is home for a while... I always enjoy the feeling when all the homing pigeons have returned to the dovecote. This Sunday, our South India Pilgrims returned from their two-week adventure. I drove to JFK airport early to pick six of them up and drive them back to the monastery (some pilgrims had left their car at the monastery or were picking up a further ride there). They came out of JFK in sandals. I felt vicariously chilly. As I write, they are resting from their 24 hours + journey home. We will hear more tales later. But for now, all the monks and long-term residents are back home.

The South India pilgrimage team. From top left, clockwise: Long-term monastery residents Yanick Savain and Matthew Wright; Br. Aidan leading a reflection (having gone native); Br..Aidan with an Indian monastic friend.

If like us you live in cold climes, I hope you stay warm and befriend a good book in your quiet moments. I am thoroughly enjoying Mirabai Starr's translation of St John of the Cross's "Dark Night of the Soul."