What is keeping me busy? Ora et Labora ("Prayer and Work" - the Benedictine Motto). The regular prayer schedule is: Office of Readings (Vigils) and Morning Prayer at 6:20 AM, Midday Prayer at 12:05 PM, Mass at 5:15 PM, Evening Prayer at 6:45 PM and Compline at 7:30 PM - on most days. The work detail includes chores on Monday through Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings (for about 3 hours on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri, but only for about 1-1.5 hours on Wed & Sat). Work over the past 2 weeks - cutting grass, weed whacking, setting up and taking down for a picnic, kitchen cleaning, stairwell cleaning, picking tomatoes, etc... just whatever needs doing. We also have in house classes every weekday morning.
But it is not all work (& prayer) and no play... we have some recreation time also. We have official recreation time with the community a couple of times a week (Tuesday & Sunday evening), and less formal times everyday.
The novices take a class at our college (Benedictine College). I signed up for Natural Theology. What was I thinking?!? It started last Thursday and is going to be a handful!! The instructor is a great guy (and an excellent [though diligent] teacher by all accounts), but the upper level Philosophy class will take some serious effort from a lazy student who finished his philosophical studies more than 22 years ago! I am also auditing a class on the Synoptic (Matthew, Mark, Luke) Gospels. That one will be very enjoyable. With the start of classes we will have a shortened work schedule on those days (Tuesday & Thursday).
Football season is right around the corner... I am looking forward to seeing our NAIA team compete (we are picked to finish in the middle of our conference standings)... but I will definitely miss my trips to the Plains and the enjoyment of the massive tailgating at Auburn.
Until next time...
God bless you all,
FrD.
We missed you here on the Plains yesterday! The boys looked pretty good out there! I wore my "Chizik Republik" t-shirt! :-)
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
C
Whooo-hoooo!! Though I did not see any of the game, the score looked better after the game than it did at halftime. But I missed the tailgating!!
ReplyDeleteIf you get any FREE t-shirts let me know. Don't spend any actually money because I really already have too many t-shirts anyway!!
God bless,
FrD.
Glad that you decided to do a blog. It is great to see what your life is like on a day to day basis.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless and take care,
David G.
Hi, Father--
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have a blog. YOu don't seem so...far away. This is a great experience for you. Tuckers are all well.
Hilary Tucker