January 22-29, 2023 – Each year, the communities of the Order are required to take at least one week for a retreat. For the past few years, the Abbey of Gethsemani has taken its retreat sometime in January. During this time, our regular duties are suspended. The retreat house is empty, no fruitcake or fudge is produced. Internet access is severely restricted. We usually have a guest retreat director who gives us conferences to guide us through this time of prayer and reflection.

This year, we were privileged and honored to have Dom Bernardus, the Order’s recently elected abbot general, to be our guide and touchstone through the retreat. His conferences focused on two talks given by Pope Benedict which addressed the Cistercians. In doing so, Dom Bernardus emphasized various aspects of our life in community, our relationship with God, and our place in the Church. In particular, he kept returning to the notion of the monastery as a school of the Lord’s service.

Dom Bernardus was accompanied by his secretary, Fr. Raphael, whose home monastery is Cîteaux, the motherhouse of us all. He can be seen in the group photo, in the front, second from the left, beside Br. Paul. On the Thursday evening before they left, we held a gaudeamus in their honor, replete with pizza and ice cream.

We were grateful for the retreat, for the time of quiet and prayer, and for the presence among us of Dom Bernardus and Fr. Raphael.

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