Monks Among Us
March 1, 2011 No Comments
Tucked away in the rolling hills of Central Florida is a small Catholic monastery,
where the monks live a quiet life of prayer. They support themselves by the
work of their hands and pray for the intentions of the entire Church.
Their beautiful bells can be heard tolling several times a day.
The present accommodations at the monastery are unassuming,
a little house they have converted into a makeshift monastery set amid gentle hills far from their neighbors, with room for “the girls,” their small flock of hens.
Much of the space inside the old house is given over to a chapel, where they spend much of their time every day in prayer.
Several years ago, they began a building fund for a larger building.
They hoped to provide a meeting space for visitors and more room for their activities.
Although they raised enough for the building, the contractor went out of
business, taking their money and leaving them with a shell of the originally planned building.
The half finished building still stands waiting for more money to be raised.
The monks are serious about their vocation and their life, but occasionally meet
people who treat them with less than the respect they deserve.
Recently, one of the monks was at a grocery store, doing the weekly shopping. As he was leaving, a man stood staring, then spat at him and walked away. Similar incidents have occurred before. And yet, the monks still smile, they still pray for those who persecute them.
by JoAnne Thorn
Check out their website:
Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance
Mother of the Good Shepherd Monastery
2075 Mercers Fernery Road
Deland, Florida 32720
Featured Article, JoAnne's
