, OSB a quarterly newsletter Winter 2014 • Vol. 20, Issue 1 62457 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 • 831-667-2456 • www.contemplation.com

Ego vobis, vos mihi.

I am yours, you are mine.

This is a modern representation of the Camaldolese stemma, coat of arms or symbol. It probably had its origins in where this image is famously found in various forms, especially the historic mauso- leum called the Galla Placidia. There are various interpretations of the two peacocks or doves drinking out of the single chalice: Christ and the church, solitude and community, the active and the contemplative life, even monks and . Our friend the Italian graphic designer Michela Petoletti has done a series of renderings of this for us which we hope to use in the issues ahead. Ego vobis, vos mihi is our motto: “I am yours, you are mine.” 2 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage Albert the Great: Fides et Ratio Consiglio, OSB Cam. Even though it was only an optional memorial, I decided to Paul II himself urged us Camaldolese to continue). “In preaching preach on the life and work of Albert the Great on his feast the Gospel, Christianity first encountered Greek philosophy,” he day November 15, because there were three things about him wrote, “but this does not mean at all that other approaches are that strike me as salient still in our day and age. The first two precluded. Today, as the Gospel gradually comes into contact go together. Saint Albert is credited with being the thinker who with cultural worlds that once lay beyond Christian influence, really separated theology from philosophy. Now, there can be a there are new tasks of …” Then he says that his down side to that, in the sense that this is the crossover period thoughts “turn immediately to the lands of the East, so rich in into , and the moment in that evolution of con- religious and philosophical traditions of great antiquity...” and sciousness when the rational mind starts conquering the mythic “Among these lands, has a special place.” That was par- one, and the slow decline of the sapiential learning that was more ticularly dear to my heart because of my deep attachment to the common in the patristic era begins. But the up side of it is the work of Fr. Griffiths and to our ashram in India, where I fact that the separation between philosophy and theology shows have been many times now, and also because I have immersed that there is no conflict between faith and reason; they are in a myself in the study of both Indian philosophy and practice. We sense two different kinds of intelligences. Saint Albert referred are constantly finding new ways to express the Gospel of Jesus to theology as “emotional knowledge,” whereas philosophy is for a new era, because we are constantly finding the truth spring- more rational knowledge. They need each other. The inheritors ing up in hidden unexpected places. of this tradition, of course, are John Paul II and Benedict. The third thing, right in the same line, is that Saint Albert was This is the argument that Benedict tried to make so often named the doctor universalis – the universal doctor (could we (mostly falling on deaf ears to the right and the left), that reason say, the “ doctor”?) because of his fascination with and lets us figure out such things as that terrorism is not true religion, writings on botany, zoology, physics, chemistry, and astronomy. even that fundamentalism is not authentic religion. There are His life shows us that not only is there no conflict between faith many examples of religion being used to condone all kinds of and reason; there also ought to be no conflict between faith and crazy behavior, but this one struck me recently, for instance: it science, even though there has been historically. Note the culture was about a group of ultra-traditionalist Roman Catholics from wars still going on over these issues! Recently Marcelo the Society of Pius X who also deny the Holocaust. They openly Sánchez Sorondo, the chancellor of the of challenged by disrupting an interfaith ceremony Sciences, was interviewed concerning the Church’s approach to that was meant to promote religious harmony on the anniver- evolution and science in general. He himself is a philosopher and sary of the beginning of the Holocaust, one of the pope’s favor- a scholar of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and said that he is comfort- ite events, in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires. That able with both the spiritual message of a reasonable church and might have been a good time for rationality to step in. the evidence-based lessons of science, such as evolution. They The second thing concerning Saint Albert and philosophy exist on different planes, he said, and “If we don’t accept sci- that gets pointed to often folds right into that. Albert, like his ence, we don’t accept reason, and reason was created by God.” famous student Thomas Aquinas after him, accomplished this I’m reminded of Teilhard de Chardin’s phrase: we don’t separation of theology from philosophy by using Aristotle. That worship creation, but nor do we merely worship God. Rather, may not seem shocking to us except for the fact that Aristotle we worship God through creation. This year on the feast of Saint had two things going against him: first, he was a pagan; and, Albert the Great we heard a reading from the Book of Wisdom second, his philosophy was being translated and diffused around from the lectionary that turned nicely into a prayer for our own Europe by Arab Muslims. This was a shock to people of Al- mindsets: bert’s time, especially church people. How could you use a pa- gan philosopher translated by who-were-thought-to-be-heretics If out of joy in the beauty of creatures, we think them gods, to explain Christian theology? Again, the argument not only for may we know how far more excellent faith and reason, and their compatibility, but the argument for is the original source of beauty that fashioned them. semina verbi, the “seeds of the Word” that Saint Justin Martyr Or if we are struck by the might and energy of creatures, taught had been scattered everywhere and were bearing fruit, let us realize how much more powerful is the One who even in the philosophy of a pagan translated by someone from a made them. faith that was at the time usually considered to be antagonistic to For from the greatness and the beauty of created things Christianity. their original author is seen. That brings me to John Paul II in his encyclical Fides et Ra- (Wis 13:1-9) tio, paragraph 72 of which I practically memorized as a defense of the study of comparative religion and work that I did for ten years in inter-religious dialogue (work, I might add, that John www.contemplation.com 3 Ignatius Makes Simple Vows; Other Formation, Vocation News

Fr. Isaiah Teichert, OSB Cam. martyr peacefully gazing forward. God grant our brother a share Br. Ignatius Tully made his simple vows on the feast of All in his patron’s serenity. this past November. He has entered into simple profession Our youngest and newest brother James has just completed with love and enthusiasm. This is all in keeping with his name his postulancy and we are looking forward to receiving him into and patron saint, Ignatius of Antioch. Br. Ignatius said he read the on the 12th of February. (Over the Christmas season he and our prior Cyprian made some beautiful music together, including two songs which were filmed and posted on You Tube!) Men looking into a monastic vocation here are asked to make an observership, a 2 month period when they are expected to full enter into our way of life, working when the monks work, praying when the monks pray. Recently we had 2 candidates here who hope to take that serious step in the not too distant future. One is John Bick, from Louisiana, a genuine chess master. The other is Doug Herbek, a lawyer from Chicago, who has spent some time in the Peace Corps. Another man, Jeff Pickerill, has actually begun his observership and hopes to complete it by the end of January. Jeff comes from Santa Cruz and brings with him a very cheerful spirit and lots of energy. Please keep these three and all those aspiring to the Camaldolese path in your good prayer. Br. Ignatius Tully made his simple vows in November. Also, many will remember Chad, who spent 2 happy years with the letters of St. Ignatius when he was a teenager and was bowled us. He’s now begun his postulancy with the in Spencer, over by them. He’s read them time and again since then, so the and resumed his monastic name of Charbel. He treasures his assuming of the saint’s name was a natural, something he’s long time at the Hermitage and delights in the name making for a had his eye on. Ignatius says of his patron, “He was formidable continuity with his time here. saint and I don’t think I am anywhere near having his incredible burning love of God, but my aim is that at least by the time I Fr. Isaiah serves as our vocations director as well as guestmaster, die I’ll at least have a fraction of that.” St. Ignatius was thrown so if you or any man is interested in discerning a vocation with to the lions and had no fear of his martyrdom. Of the beasts he us, please contact him at [email protected]. said, “They are my way to God.” One friend gave Br. Ignatius an icon showing the saint with two lions biting his head and the

Preached Retreats at New Camaldoli for 2014 Please visit our website for more information on these weekend retreats. www.contemplation.com

June 27-29: Fr. Michael Fish, “Camino III” July 4-6: Fr. Cyprian with Gitanjali Lori Rivera, “Retreat for Musicians.” August 1-3: Fr. Cyprian with John Marheineke, “The Eight Limbs of Christianity: a catholic approach to yoga.” August 8-10: Fr. Daniel, “Dreams in Spiritual Stewardship of Discipleship.” August 15-17: Bro. Bede, Fr. Raniero and Bro. James, “Come and See – Explore your Life Path,” a vocation discernment retreat for young men and women. August 22-24: Fr. Robert, “Christian Contemplation.” September 26-28: Bro. Ivan Nicoletto, “The Groaning of God and of Creation” October 24-26: Bro. Bede and Mike Mullard, “Spirituality and Therapy through a Monastic Lens: A Retreat for Mental Health Professionals.” October 30-November 1: Fr. Arthur, Fr. Andrew and Toni Bettschart (theme to be announced). November 14-16: Bro. Bede and Paula Huston, “Seeking God’s Path for Us: The Monastic Perspective on Discernment.” 4 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage Book Review: A Land Without Sin, by Paula Lectio Divina: Huston, OSB Cam. Reviewed by Deborah Smith-Douglas, Oblate OSB Cam. The Transfiguration of Jesus After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John Eva Kovic is a thirty-something war-hardened photo-jour- his brother, and led them up a high mountain nalist, deliberately estranged from her miserable Croatian immi- by themselves. And he was transfigured before grant parents, her own past, and the . However, them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes when her brother, an idealistic priest whom she has not seen in became white as light. And behold, Moses years, disappears in the jungles of southern Mexico on the eve of and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with the Zapatista revolution, she decides to use her experience with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, rough travel and good cameras as cover, to make her way into it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will the wilds, find her brother and bring him home. make three tents* here, one for you, one for Thus begins this amazing novel. Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still Author Paula Huston brings formidable gifts to bear in the speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow writing of this, her first novel in nearly twenty years: a lifelong over them,* then from the cloud came a voice interest in anthropological archaeology, decades of discipline in that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I the craft of writing, her own travels in America, and years am well pleased; listen to him.” (Mt 17:1-5) of study in theology. Huston weaves her tale at several levels at once: the book is Lectio Divina is a series of moments: close reading, patient simultaneously a riveting political thriller, a fascinating histori- reflection, heartfelt prayer, and contemplative silence. These cal novel (not only about the uprising in Chiapas in the 1990s but moments can come together in the time we sit down with dark days in the Balkans in the 1940s), a moving coming-of-age Scripture, but these moments also happen throughout the day, story, and a brilliant exploration of ancient Mayan mysteries in every day. The ancient monastic practice of Lectio Divina is tension with provocative contemporary theology. central to the life of a as well as all those with a monastic And she does all this superbly well. heart. Our Prior General has this to say: This book has been compared to Graham Greene’s The Pow- er and the Glory, an accolade which it richly deserves. In the Lectio begins by reading the Gospel in the graceful way it braids issues of public importance with private cell…God’s Word entering our lives begins a concerns, it also merits comparison with Barbara Kingsolver’s work of discernment, of purification, of krisis Flight Behavior and Ann Patchett’s Run (which from me is high – transformation and conversion. Monastic praise indeed). practices [including lectio] are dimensions of Both those who have admired Huston’s six non-fiction books the spirit…they are a magnetic field in which and those who have never heard of her will immensely enjoy A we seek God and are found by God, where we Land Without Sin. experience strong temptations, where we know This is a book to read and re-read, to give to friends, to pon- our own poverty and fragility, where we even der and remember, for a long time to come. sometimes sin. But in humility and grace, we are able to remain in this field of transfiguration. (Alessandro Barban, Privilege of Love) The quarterly newsletter is published by the Camaldolese of America for our friends, oblates, and sponsors. We pray that we may experience the power and movement of Editors: Father Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam. and the Spirit in our lives and that we can make our own the deeply Brother Bede Healey, OSB Cam. felt cry of Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration: “It is Public Relations & Design: Susan Garrison good for us to be here, Lord!”

If you have questions or comments about this publication, please Liturgical Schedule address them to: Weekdays: New Camaldoli Hermitage 5:30 am Vigils 62475 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 7:00 am Lauds (831) 667-2456 • Fax: (831) 667-0209 11:30 am Eucharist E-mail: [email protected] 6:00 pm Vespers or visit us on the web at: Sundays and Solemnities: www.contemplation.com 5:30 am Vigils 7:00 am Lauds 11:00 am Eucharist 5:00 pm Vespers contemplation.com ~ 5 The Prophecy of Religious: Pope Francis and the Camaldolese In his brief remarks during As everyone else in the Vespers, Pope Francis spoke of church—and the world, it Mary’s unwavering hope even seems­­—, we have been following at the foot of the Cross, “when Pope Francis’ first year with everything appeared to be over and excitement and hope. It is often all hope extinguished.” Then he noted about him that he is a continued, “I often think to myself: “religious order pope” since he is We aren’t able to wait for tomorrow, a member of the , we always think about today, today, a Jesuit. The Camaldolese also get today… I wonder if people are still honorable mention from time to waiting for God’s tomorrow in time in this regard because the last .” “religious pope” was a member of During his evening to our congregation (before we were Sant’Antonio, the Holy Father also officially a part of the Benedictine Pope Francis and Michela. visited the cell of the recluse, Sr. Confederation), Pope Gregory Nazarena of Jesus, who lived within XVI, who was elected in 1863. and religious men and women have done, the walls of the . She too was The Holy Father’s exhortations to an American, nee Julia Crotta, born in religious have been sharp and challenging, from St. Anthony the onward. Being prophets may sometimes imply 1907, in Glastonbury, Connecticut, but calling religious back to their prophetic she followed her vocation to Rome to live stance in the church. For this reason, he making waves…. The charism of religious people is like yeast: prophecy announces a hidden life in a cell of strict reclusion. is always urging us to find the power in She is considered by many to have been a our vowed life. Otherwise, he said in the the spirit of the Gospel.” Then, to our delight, on November mystic. (See Fr. Thomas Matus’ book on famous interview for the Jesuit magazines, her, Nazarena: An American Anchoress. the vows can end up becoming a caricature. 21st, the Holy Father paid a visit to our at their Monastery of Sant’Antonio He was also interviewed by The vow of chastity, for example, he before the visit to give some background.) says, “must be a vow of fruitfulness.” Abate at the foot of Rome’s Aventine hill. It was the feast of the Presentation of the Pope Francis received one of her letters as Significantly, he singles out the great a gift during his private meeting with the Anthony, the father of monks, Blessed Mary in the Temple. It was also the Day for the Contemplative Life nuns in their Chapter Room. as a prime example of this prophetic When we asked our Prior General don stance. Here’s an (Pro Orantibus), instituted by Pius XII in 1953, dedicated Alessandro, who was also in attendance excerpt from that that evening, why the pope had chosen long interview: When we asked our Prior General don by the Church Alessandro, who was also in attendance to all cloistered our nuns out of all the cloistered nuns in “In the church, Rome, he replied that it was simply first of the religious that evening, why the pope had chosen our religious. The Holy all because Pope Francis wanted to pray are called to nuns out of all the cloistered nuns in Rome, with a contemplative community. But he be prophets in Father arrived he replied that it was simply first of all be- at the monastery thought, given the Holy Father’s great particular by focus on the poor, it might also have been demonstrating cause Pope Francis wanted to pray with a in his familiar simple Ford because every day our nuns prepare around how Jesus lived contemplative community. But he thought, 100 meals for the poor. Don Alessandro on this earth, Focus and was given the Holy Father’s great focus on greeted by wrote: …è un monastero contemplativo in and to proclaim città, è un monastero che prega e che how the reign the poor, it might also have been because Abbess Michela Porcellato. He ospita, e poi serve i poveri ... Tutto nella of God will be every day our nuns prepare around 100 tradizione migliore dei camaldolesi. “It’s in its perfection. then celebrated meals for the poor. Vespers with a contemplative monastery in the city, it is A religious must a monastery that prays and welcomes, and never give up the nuns in the typical then it serves the poor.” prophecy. This does not mean opposing the And then he added, “All in the best hierarchical part of the church, although Camaldolese fashion, singing the gentle chants mostly composed by our American tradition of the Camaldolese.” the prophetic function and the hierarchical Viva il Papa! structure do not coincide. I am speaking brother, Fr. Thomas Matus. Then there of an offering that is always positive, but followed a half an hour of Eucharistic it should not cause timidity. Let us think Adoration with meditation, much as we about what so many great saints, monks do here at New Camaldoli each evening. 6 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage Activities, Events and Visitors • November 1st we had the great joy of celebrating the simple • January 4th our good friend Pico Iyer spoke to the brothers at vows of Bro. Ignatius Maria Tulley! Saturday Chapter, revisiting the talk he gave at the Camaldolese • November 11-13, Bros. James, Randy and James Robert, Assembly at Asilomar. monks of the Episcopal Order of the Holy Cross, lived and • January 6-10 Fr. Daniel offered a retreat for the Capuchin prayed with us. During their stay they interviewed several of Western Province at San Juan Bautista, CA; our monks gathering ideas about leadership and congregational and Bro. Bede took part in a colloquim entitled Born of the structure for a revamping of their own constitutions. Spirit: Generative Communities at his former monastery, Saint • We have had two candidates try our new contemplative Benedict’s in Atchison, KS. immersion program, Ora et Labora. One of them, Jeff Pickerill, • January 17-19 Fr. Cyprian’s new Advisory Board met for the decided to stay on and do an observership. first time. It includes faithful oblates, trusted friends and even a • Fr. Cyprian, accompanied by Bros. Ignatius and James, bishop emeritus! offered a day or recollection for our oblates in San Luis Obispo • Fr. Cyprian will be offering a day of recollection for our on December 14th, centered on the Camaldolese charism, via oblates at Holy Cross in Santa Cruz on February 8th. Saint and the three-fold good. It was hosted by Kathy • February 12-20, Frs. Mario Zanotti and Giuseppe Cecchi, from Bornino. and our motherhouse Camaldoli respectively, will • New Year’s Eve we re-launched our vigil for peace, beginning be in for a fraternal visitation to both New Camaldoli with Compline and ending with Vigils of Our Lady and the and Incarnation Monastery in Berkeley in preparation for the singing of the Te Deum at midnight. In between there were international formation gathering at Camaldoli in September. periods of meditation interspersed with spiritual readings and • February 12th, the feast of our Saint Bruno Boniface, we hope music. to welcome James Makil, our , to begin his novitiate • January 1-3 our four brothers from Incarnation, Frs. Andrew, year. Thomas and Arthur and Bro. Ivan came down for some • February 21-24 Fr. Cyprian will be attending the ’ and holiday camaraderie. ’ meeting a St. Bernard in Cullman, Alabama. • That same weekend here at New Camaldoli, Bro. Bede will be “When I Am Silent” hosting the co-ordinating committee to implement the work that came out of last year’s Camaldolese Assembly and to plan for its When I am silent, I am fulfilled; follow-up, a Camaldolese Retreat and Assembly May 9-11 at the when I am about to speak, I then feel empty. Presentation Retreat Center in San Jose. (Mark your calendars!) • March 5th is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. My past life is dead. At this death I greatly rejoice, Other news… because I know from this death Last Fall the monks of the Monastery of the Risen Christ, that my life once existed. in San Luis Obispo, officially requested that New Camaldoli The dead life has decayed. accept them as a dependent house. They have been members of I greatly rejoice, Olivetan Benedictine Congregation, while we, of course, belong because I know from this decay that my life is not empty. to the Camaldolese. After many discussions and prayerful discernment among our own monks and the careful drafting of The soil of life has been cast upon the surface an official accord between our two congregations, we voted to of the land. begin a three-year trial period with that community, which began Tall trees do not grow from it, officially January 1st, 2014. Our Fr. Daniel Manger will join Frs. only wild grass. Raymond Roh and Stephen Coffey and Bro. Michael Rogers there on February 2nd and begin this new venture in monastic For this I am to blame. life. More details will be revealed concerning our oblates and the ministry and liturgical life there as it takes shape. Please pray for Wild grass has no deep roots, this, and for our brothers there and at Incarnation Monastery in it bears no pretty flowers, no pretty leaves. When it is alive, it is always trampled on, Berkeley as our Camaldolese family grows. cut down, until it dies and decays. At the end of December our longtime friend Dan Cronin, who most recently served New Camaldoli as Director of Operations But I am at ease, joyful. and Bookstore Manager, moved to Florida to attend to family I will laugh; I will sing. obligations.Vaya con Dios! He is greatly missed. At the same time we are happy to welcome Rich Veum, who comes to us Excerpted from “Wild Grass” by Lu Xun (1881- with a wealth of experience in the commercial and professional 1936), a leading figure of modern Chinese literature. world. Rich is now managing the bookstore and may expand his Translated by Ng Mau-sang. involvement with the community after he settles in.