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| Fountain Welcoming Visitors to St. Peter's. Parish Church in Background. |
The weather has not been the best recently and I was told (and checked on the web to confirm) that my last Sunday at the Monastery was to be spectacular: Sunny and mid seventies.
After vigils I was in the guests’ refectory having my coffee as I watched the sun rise over the horizon. It was just before 7AM and you could already feel that today was going to be different. I knew I was soon going to sing those beautiful words in the Gospel Canticle of Morning Prayer: in quibus visitabit nos oriens ex alto (The dawn from on high shall break upon us). And, did it ever!
Everything was popping open. Well-watered flowers were opening everywhere. People too, were in a better mood. The only complaints came from the college kids studying for their exams. The choir and sanctuary of the abbey church is always bright because of the style of stain glass: today is was simply radiant as we gathered for Mass. After Mass I just walked around town. I was filled with groups of people who lingered after Mass.
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| Faithful Still Gathered in the Place Dom Gueranger. |
After midday prayers and a wonderful dinner, I went for a walk along the River Sarthe. There are wonderful and extensive walking/riding/horse trails all around. I was out for over three hours (unfortunately I missed vespers). But let me tell you, I wasn't the only one out. Seemed like the whole Loire Valley decided to step out and about and it was wonderful: families together cycling, young and older couples walking hand-in-hand, groups of kids playing soccer or sons fishing with their dads. Superb!
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| View from one of the many walking paths along the River Sarthe. |
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