Quiet winter happenings

In the last three weeks we have celebrated three birthdays: Br. Richard, Br. John and Br. Aidan in chronological order, and as it is, in order of seniority as well. But for monks, the date of the anniversary of our life profession of the benedictine vow is at least as important. Br. Robert Hagler celebrated the 39th anniversary of his life profession earlier this monh. And Br. John celebrated the 22nd anniversary of his life profession. I will reach my 12th anniversary late this year. I've got ways to go before I can match either of them in monastic longevity.

On January 20, we dispensed the midday office of diurnum to congregate in the North end of our library to watch the presidential inauguration. It felt important this year to witness to the value of our democratic system. We give thanks for the peaceful transition between the two administrations. We pray for all those who hold elected offices past, present and future at all the levels of our government.

Brothers. From top, clockwise: the Brothers watching the presidential inauguration (two pictures); archive photos of Br. Robert Hagler, and Br. John who both celebrated an anniversary of their life profession this past week; Br. Carl quietly reading in the East Atrium Conservatory; a gift of an amaryllis bulb brought to bloom.

As part of the move of our belongings from our Santa Barbara Monastery to West Park, we received 22 boxes of books from the monks' library there. The books had been pre-selected by the care of Br. Adam McCoy, the librarian in Santa Barbara and our own librarian Br. John. So we know that there will be no (or very few) duplicates in what we received. Our library volunteer Susan Barbarisi and Br. John have started opening the treasure and folding it into our online catalog and on our shelves. We give thanks for this enrichment of our monastic library.

Lotsa books! From top, clockwise: 22 boxes of pre-selected books from our house in Santa Barbara; intern Renée Fischer and alongsider Demarius Walker look at the duplicate cast-offs in view of adopting some before we box them to give to the public library in Poughkeepsie; Susan Barbarisi and Br. John cataloging some of our new acquisitions.

In the last two weeks, the weather has definitely turned wintery. We are having our second snow storm of the month. The previous one left us with an accumulation of two feet. Snowdrift accumulated on windowsills where the snow usually doesn't last long. Whenever the sun shines again, we enjoy the winter wonderland. The deer seem to enjoy it also as they gambol in the snow. For those of you in the Northeast United States, we hope you are safe, comfy and warm wherever you are.

Snow, beautiful snow. From top left, clockwise: it snowed so much that snowdrift covered the floor of the little cloister; a Southeast view of the meadow and the Hudson; snow accumulation on the window sill behind the stained glass in the Pilgrim Hall; a Northeast view of the meadow and the Hudson; thank God for Anthony Marguglio, our snow plower who keeps our driveways practicable.

Stay safe, stay put, wear a mask when needed, get a vaccination when you can, and continue to save lives. We shall overcome!