Here Come the Yanks!

Last night and this morning three deacons arrived from the American College in Rome (my alma mater) to spend the Holy Triduum with the Benedictines here.  There were supposed to be more of them but with Pope Benedict's resignation a few cancelled so that they could celebrate in Rome with the new Holy Father.  (I only hope they aren't attending the Mass of the Lord's Supper with the pope on Holy Thursday:  it's taking place in prison!)

So who is in this full guesthouse?  Well there are forty of us.  But it's a little difficult to say precisely since we experience these days in silence for the most part.  Besides myself there are six other priests.  They are mainly professors who have off during these days from school so that they have the luxury to be away at Holy Week.  I mentioned the three American deacons (one from Minnesota, two from California).  The rest are just laymen.  Some are wearing wedding bans, most are not.  A few appear to be in their sixties while the majority are much younger.  I would say that there are a few college aged men here as well.  The guest house also has a man or two who will be around for extended period.  Whether they are exploring a vocation or what not, they tend to stay longer, do more chores and pay less.

That's just the men.  Then there are women who come and pray with the monks while staying with the sisters across town at Sainte Cecile.  They might split their time praying with either the men or the woman of this great Benedictine family.

Lastly, there are the well-healed who stay at the beautiful hotel across the street.  For whatever reason (perhaps they are a couple that would like to stay together) they make the pricey but wonderful choice of three stars plus.  I will be honest one summer I came to the abbaye thinking I had a room in the guesthouse for the feast of St. Benedict on July 11 and there was no room so I had to go across the street for two nights.  I'll admit I wasn't exactly crying.

In addition to those who come for an extended period, the abbey church will be filled and the monks will put up chairs and speakers outside for others who live nearby or just come for one of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Triduum.  I hope they dress warmly because it is still kinda of chilly here.

So, like Incarnation, everybody is here for Holy Week - even the Yanks.  As it should be!