Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

We started our lenten observances on Ash Wednesday. This year, the Guest House is going to remain in silence throughout the season. We will have a talking supper on arrival days (Tuesdays and Fridays). After Compline on those days we will go into silence round-the-clock. More and more guests seem to seek out this level of quiet and opportunity for inner centering.

As always, the "for goodness' sake, don't sing Alleluia's" signs have appeared in the statio and the ambulatory. It usually takes us two to three days for none of the monks to sing them anymore until Easter. In the meantime, the trip-ups offer some comic interludes in the office.

Ashes and Alleluias. From top left, clockwise: Br. Bernard's forehead marked with ashes; repeated, unsubtle and needed reminders to the monastic choir to omit Alleluias during Lent wherever they crop up in the Divine Office.

Brother Roy's ashes have come back a few days before Lent. As it is, our Br. Roy is now singing the heavenly Hallelujahs to his heart's content. In the last few months, he had progressively lost the ability to speak understandably. It is a relief to know that he rests in God's Love. Ash Wednesday was colored by the visible presence of Roy's ashes in our Chapter Room.

Until Roy's funeral on Tuesday, March 31 (11 a.m.), his ashes are in repose in our Chapter Room under the triptych representing Christ pantocrator (ruler of all)) and our two monastic guides (St Benedict and Father Huntington, OHC). That way, the community gets to sit with Roy's remains each day when we assemble for Chapter after the Eucharist. I've snuck into the Chapter Room a couple of times in the rest of the day to give thanks for Roy's liberation from suffering and to ask him to pray for us from where he is now.

This week, we are observing Contemplative Days. It is a time for the community to temper their involvement in work and pray more while observing greater silence in the enclosure too.

May you have a blessed Lent!