New Skete Monasteries News

by Brother Luke   On September 27, 2000, I was busy attending to my usual chores, including cleaning the visitors’ bathrooms in our residence’s entrance hall. It was a beautiful sunny autumn day, but our minds were on anything but the weather. At mid-morning, the entire community gathered to meet with our Abbot, Father Laurence, in his office, which was located in his private cell.   At that time I had been a member of the community for only five years, and professed for only two years. But at that meeting I had been asked to read a statement to our Abbot that had been signed by every member of the community. Why me? Emotions were running high, and it seemed that since I was the newest member, I was more likely to be able to read the statement calmly. Well, I may have read the statement calmly, but inside I was as emotionally anxious as anyone. At the conclusion of the statement being read, our Abbot resigned, signed the necessary papers formalizing that action, and th...

  By Brother David 04: On the place of emotion in prayer 04.1 A brief overview of emotion Feelings may be intense or negligible; they may be “positive” or “negative;” they may be pleasant or unpleasant; they can be a source of great energy or they can drain us of all energy.   For example, the fear engendered during a car accident or the anger engendered during an argument or the feelings of sadness around the death of a loved one can move us to action or paralyze us or rob us of the power to do anything. The phrase “overcome by grief” describes a real state.   As with any sensation, emotions can be induced and even enjoyed for their own sake. We like rollercoasters and scary movies for the feelings of fear they engender even though (or perhaps because) there is no real threat to our safety. We like tragic stories, songs, and plays for the feelings of sadness they engender, even though (or perhaps because) no real personal loss is involved. Emotions are a ...

by Anna Chapman - Chapel Community Member “Movement from Sin and Alienation to Healing and Wholeness in Christ” was the theme of the one-day Lenten retreat this year. The day was marked by three major presentations, interspersed with group reflections, Q&A sessions, personal quiet times, opportunities for individual spiritual direction, and an excellent lunch. Those who attended were invited to reflect on biblical texts, other texts and commentaries, and visual images as aids to an expanded understanding of healing in the context of our journey with Christ. Sister Rebecca discussed the various meanings of the words wholeness, healing, connectedness, and repentance as they have changed through history and in different languages and cultures, and showed how the “contemplative eye” can reconcile the tension between our everyday concerns and the hidden aspects of the Holy.   Brother Stavros elaborated on the role of our faith and its relation to becoming whole, in a serie...