Monks, OSB a quarterly newsletter New Camaldoli Hermitage Spring 2014 • Vol. 20, Issue 2 62475 Highway 1, , CA 93920 • 831-667-2456 • www.contemplation.com

Brother Cassian Begins Novitiate, Other Formation and Vocation News Fr. Isaiah Teichert, OSB Cam. traveling around Egypt and conversing with celebrated monks, gleaning all their Br. James Makil became a novice wisdom and writing it down. His Confer- on February l2th, the feast of St. Bruno ences were called by Abbot Butler “the Boniface. At that time he received the first considerable scientific exposition monastic habit and a new name: Cassian. ever composed on the spiritual life, and it The novitiate clothing ceremony remains to this day in many respects the is a solemn and beautiful one. The new finest and best.” In the last chapter of his name (a closely guarded secret up to that rule, St. Benedict urges the monks to read time) is announced to the assembly, and Cassian’s works. then each piece of the habit is blessed, We also have a fine man from Loui- and the postulant is clothed with them. siana with us on observership presently, So, for example, with the tunic, the prior John Bick, who is a highly accomplished says, “May the Lord clothe you with chess master and carpenter. So the Lord the new person, created in the likeness is blessing us with fine men eager to try of God, in righteousness and holiness.” sents the Lord’s easy yolk, and the hood our life, and for this we are grateful. With the cincture (belt) he prays, “May which stands for the hope of salvation. A the Lord gird the loins of your body and young neighbor, watching all this, said Fr. Isaiah serves as our vocations direc- strengthen in the Gospel the resolve of the next morning, “It was wonderful to tor as well as guestmaster, so if you or your heart.” Each piece of clothing is see Br. James turn into a monk.” any man is interested in discerning a deeply symbolic, and the prior proceeds St. Cassian, James’ new patron, was vocation with us, please contact him at to invest with the scapular, which repre- a 4th century monk. He is famous for [email protected].

Hermitage Hosts Icon Writing Workshop Sylvia Deck, workshop participant Sixteen students, both intermediate and beginning, participated in a seven-day Icon-Writing Workshop in early March. Their teacher was master iconographer Dmitri Andreyev from the Prosopon School of Iconography which was founded by his father twenty-five years ago. The workshop introduced the students to the ancient Russian- Byzantine tradition of iconography, using only natural materials, in- cluding ground pigments in egg tempera. From the school’s website: “Apprenticeship in this discipline of the hand, mind, and heart can lead beyond technical competence; the method of study promotes the incarnation of the principles of the painting experience into all aspects of one’s life.” (www.prosopon- school.org) Participants agreed that the experience affected them profoundly Master iconographer Dmitri Andreyev. on many levels, and many are looking forward to the next workshop March 3-11, 2015 for beginners and March 12- 20 for intermediate students (which is almost full). The subject for next spring’s work- shop will be Michael the Archangel. 2 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage The Little Ones Prior Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam.

An interesting piece of liturgical trivia appears on Thurs- And that is the second part of the moral imperative of the Eu- day of the 7th week in Ordinary Time Year II. The 1st reading, charist that follows from the reception, what Nathan Mitchell from the Letter of James (5:1-6: Come now, you rich, weep calls an “economy of the Eucharist” that we are not free to ig- and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted nore: to go out and be Eucharist, broken and poured out for the away, your clothes have become moth-eaten…), which is on its world. own cycle, is paired with this reading from the Gospel of Mark What both of these readings also call to mind is how all of (9:41-50), which is also on its own cycle (meaning they are not intentionally chosen to go together): us are tied together, indeed how everything is bound together “Whoever causes one of these little ones in some way. And that is part of the mystical meaning of the who believe in me to sin, Eucharist. What I look out and see in that moment of realized it would be better for him if a great millstone eschatology is one body, the Body of Christ. And then I need were put around his neck to expand my vision to not only all of us gathered here, but to and he were thrown into the sea. all the baptized. But not only all the baptized: all of humanity If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. which is in some way It is better for you to enter into life maimed one body, as Saint Au- I sometimes think the most gustine said. But even than with two hands to go into Gehenna,” important word in the Mass What’s interesting to me about that is that those same two farther, to all creation readings collide in Year B on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, which Paul tells us is right at the end––“Go!” when they are also not on the same cycle. If this was not inten- Christ holds together in tionally calculated by the compilers of the Lectionary, which himself is one body too––‘til God be all in all. would have taken some manipulation and planning indeed, it Lucien Deiss has a good commentary on this reading from still calls to mind the adage that “There are no coincidences James. He says that, “The Christian religion cannot live solely with God.” I thought of a story (that I am not sure comes from in the bosom of beautiful liturgical celebrations, sheltered from Greek philosophers or from the monastic tradition) which sort social problems. Each one, for his or her part, must face and 1 of ties the two together. A man was seen throwing a bag of combat [the] ‘structures of sin’ which oppress the poor.” In gold into a well. When he was asked why he would do such a the Letter of James, the problem is not necessarily the riches thing he replied, “Better for me to drown it that for it to drown themselves; it’s the injustice that the rich are committing to me.” gain, shore up or protect their wealth. Behold, the wages you One of the teachings of our late liturgist scholar Cipriano withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying Vagaggini that I liked very much was his application of the aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of four senses of Scripture to the Sacraments. So, just as every the Lord of hosts, James scolds. That’s part of the moral mean- Scripture reading can be understood for its literal meaning and ing of the Eucharist too. Even if we are not necessarily con- symbolic meaning, in its moral sense and its mystical sense, fronted with abject poverty in our backyards, even if it is not every Sacrament too has a literal meaning, a symbolic meaning, our vocation to do active apostolate with the poor, or to involve and also a moral meaning. The moral ourselves with the political sphere, we are still part of a body meaning is the obligation that it implies. that is suffering mightily. Pope Francis That ache, that itch, and that is the loudest but not the only of the last And I think this teaching especially ap- groan become my prayer for the plies to the Eucharist: there is a moral five popes who have spoken about this imperative in preparation to participate little ones who have no voice. strongly. We live in a world where count- in the Eucharist. In order to approach less people are suffering from injustice, the altar worthily I need to make peace from exploitation, from the greed of with my neighbor. But even more than that, I need to wash his developed nations, from our culpable ignorance. What global- or her feet, the great choreography that we celebrate on Holy ization in this sense (not in the commercial sense!) could give Thursday. Then comes this the amazing moment––I think as a us is a sense of the human race as one tribe, one body. Even presider in a parish it was always my favorite moment at the someone who is considered a stalwart of conservatism and clas- Mass––when in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord we raise sic “old world values” as Pope Benedict XVI wrote as much in our arms or join our hands and sing Jesus’ own prayer, the his World Peace Day message in 2007, that the human family, Our Father. Just for a moment, I like to think, this is realized “which today is increasingly unified as a result of globaliza- eschatology; this is what the world was meant to be; this is the tion, also needs, in addition to a foundation of shared values, an way God created us to be here, like this, right now. But then economy capable of responding effectively to the requirements we don’t get to stay there. We get sent out. I sometimes think of a common good, which is now planetary in scope.” That too the most important word in the Mass is right at the end––“Go!” 1 God’s Word Is Our Joy, vol. IV, 296. www.contemplation.com 3

from the pages of… Someone sent us this translated excerpt from Vita Monastica Dante Allighieri’s Paradiso, especially The prior likes to rummage through old copies of our Italian beloved of our Italian Camaldolese revue called Vita Monastica (“Monastic Life”) confereres due to to brush up on his Italian as well as to cull material for his Dante’s mention of Chapter conferences. Especially powerful and moving are Saint Romuald himself the writings of our former Priors General, don Anselmo [Paradiso 22, 49]. Giabbani and don Benedetto Calati, who in the mid-20th century were largely responsible for the renewal of the “The Love of God” Camaldolese congregation through a ressourcement–return to the sources. We hope to offer some of those pearls of The love of God, unutterable and perfect wisdom in each issue. This is don Anselmo writing in 1947 flows into a pure soul the way that light about our Camaldolese stemma, in an article entitled rushes into a pure transparent object. Colombe al calice, “The Doves at the Chalice.” The more love that it finds, the more it gives itself; so that, as we grow clear and open, …the immolation of Christ is the supreme ideal the more complete the joy of loving is. of the Camaldolese; And the more souls who resonate together, the thirst of Christ for the glory of the Father the greater the intensity of their love, and the salvation of his brothers and sisters is its secret for mirror-like, each soul reflects the others. and strength; to drink of, to be inebriated with, the blood of Christ, so that others may become inebriated and fall in love with Christ. This thirst gives wings to climb from the cenobium Continued from page 2 The Little Ones – to the hermitage, is part of the moral obligation of our participation at the Eucha- that is made precisely and solely for Deum vivum ristic table. sitientibus.* Our “preferential option for the poor” comes right from and makes them unfold for the supreme flight of love here, right from scripture, right from the example of the life in cupio dissolvi et esse cum Christo.** of Jesus who had a special love for “the little ones.” To harm Activity and contemplation meet each other thus or ignore them is to take a stab at or ignore the very heart of and base themselves in all three grades of Camaldolese the Gospel. So, we should not come away from the Eucharist life; satisfied. We now have a moral obligation. When Saint Basil, and these two doves nourish themselves on the same in his critique of the eremitic tradition, asks his famous rhe- vital nectar, torical question, “Hermit, whose feet will you wash?” I don’t on the background of blue which recalls a longing think we have to take that as a challenge to leave the mountain for the homeland: volabo et requiescam.*** and go out into the world. We have the poor in our midst and we serve each other in our poverty. But also, as our Saint Peter *“thirst for the living God” Damian reminds us, the Church of Christ is united by such a **“I wish to dissolve and be with Christ” bond of love that in each member the whole church is present, ***“I will fly away and be at rest” the church suffering, the church poor, the church persecuted. That’s what I see in the elevated host. After I receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, I am still aching with the rest of the Body, I’m still longing for that full unity, I’m still groaning with the oppressed maybe even more than before, and still itching to do something to gather the body that is still scattered. And I am called to be especially aligned, as Jesus always was, as his cousin James was, with the least, with the poor, with the little ones. At the very least I carry that ache, that itch and that groan to my prayer. Or, maybe it’s better to say, that ache, that itch and that groan become my prayer, my prayer for the little ones who have no voice. 4 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage

Making Nothing Happen Deborah Smith Douglas, Oblate O.S.B., Cam. A monk friend of mine told me re- ness—a depth of silence—that can be the ise of deliverance, immediately sending a cently that the community often get let- beginning of our awareness of God. A triumphant message to the king to prepare ters from people who have come to the “nothing” that can let the healing foun- to get very wet indeed. “In a little while Hermitage on retreat—heart-felt letters tains start. A “nothing” that can allow the heavens grew black with clouds and thanking them for making possible some God to happen within us. wind, and there was a great rain” (I Kings enormous transition in—even transforma- Saint Romuald’s “brief rule” recom- 18: 45). tion of—their lives. mends the deliberate creation and recep- Out of nothing, out of the implacable Some letters, for example, are from tion of this spacious “nothing” quite spe- vast emptiness of the desert sky, a tiny troubled clergy who came to the Hermit- cifically: “Empty yourself,” he urges, “and cloud appears. Not a Cecil B. DeMille age having decided to leave ministry but sit waiting, content with the grace of God, Technicolor boiling of sudden black thun- who left with quieter hearts, knowing they like the chick who tastes nothing and eats derheads shot with lightning, but a small, were called instead to stay. Others arrive nothing but what his mother brings him.” silent change that had to be patiently persuaded that they are helplessly trapped This is also perhaps akin to the con- watched for, had to be recognized for the in some difficult situation or relationship, cept of nada, the Spanish word for “noth- inconspicuous action of God that it was. and come to realize their freedom. Some- ing” that is at the heart of Carmelite spiri- Later in the story Elijah must learn times people simply find the strength to tuality. to hear the voice of God beyond the ca- bear with unbearable pain. “To come to the knowledge of every- lamitous noise of earthquake, wind and “But,” my monk friend continued in thing,” the 16th century Spanish Carmelite fire. Once again, the sign he was waiting bewildered consternation, “often these Saint John of the Cross famously advises, for, the message God was sending, was to letters are from people we don’t know. “desire the knowledge of nothing.” (As- be found only in waiting, listening, being Sometimes they don’t even sign their cent of Mount Carmel, Book I, chapter still, paying attention to small things. names. We haven’t been particularly 13) Our lives are tyrannized by drama, aware of their presence, much less aware Discovering—and beginning to de- crowded with urgencies, cacophonous of their struggles. We would have been sire—the mystical wisdom of this para- with noise, beyond anything Elijah could glad to listen, to offer counsel, to pray doxical “nothing” has occupied contem- have imagined. It is hugely important with them. But we do nothing, really.” platives for centuries. for us to learn to desire the profoundly Hopelessly hard-wired English major In his diagrammatic rendering of the counter-cultural “knowledge of nothing.” that I am, these final words resonated in mystical ascent of the mountain, Saint And there are precious few places left my mind with a line from the English poet John wrote the word nada not once but in the world where we can do that. W. H. Auden’s poem “In Memory of W. seven times above the peak—a lot of Monasteries offer this priceless gift B. Yeats.” nothing, to be sure. And a significant clue of “nothing.” At New Camaldoli, what Grieving Yeats’ death and celebrating to the mystery of nada. our friend Pico Iyer calls the great blue the undying power of his poetry, Auden As a Carmelite, John would have silence surrounds us on every side. cryptically stated, “Poetry makes nothing been intimately acquainted with the story On retreat, we are given the great gift happen.” Despite that apparent declara- in I Kings 18 of Elijah’s own ascent of of those fathomless empty skies above the tion of the uselessness of poetry to affect Mount Carmel, and of his contest with mountain—emptied, as Saint Romuald meaningful change in the world, within King Ahab and the priests of Baal to see urged us to empty ourselves, that we the context of the poem it is clear that that whose god had authority over the rain— might know the purposes of God—emp- “nothing” is not an object but a subject. whether Yahweh or Baal had the power to tied as the skies over Mount Carmel that That “nothing” is not negative, but posi- end the devastating drought. Elijah might receive the promise of re- tive. It is an event; it happens; it is myste- Elijah and his servant climb the demptive rain. riously alive and powerful. mountain. Elijah bows himself to the In that emptiness, we are invited to Later in the poem in fact Auden states ground in an embodied prayer for rain, wait, like Elijah—to see what tiny cloud, that poetry is “a way of happening,” and sending his servant to the top of the full of blessing, might rise from the sea. he ends with a rousing charge to poets to mountain to search the sky for the longed- To listen beneath the earthquake, fire and “follow right to the bottom of the night,” for approaching storm. “There is noth- wind for the still small voice of God. to find and share a specific kind of healing ing,” the servant replies. Again and again Those people who write letters of and freedom and (yes) worship: to “let the Elijah sends him back to look toward the thanks to the Camaldolese are, I suspect, healing fountain start,” to “teach the free sea; each time the servant reports that thanking the brethren for exactly that man how to praise.” “there is nothing.” “nothing” that they do (thank God) for us This “nothing” that Auden’s poem The seventh time, the servant comes all. identifies and celebrates has a lot in com- back and reports a tiny cloud, “no bigger Making nothing happen—now that is mon with the “nothing” that Camaldolese than a man’s hand,” rising in the distance really something. hospitality provides. A positive empti- out of the sea. Elijah recognizes the prom- contemplation.com ~ 5

The Reading List We often get asked what the monks are Lectio Divina: reading these days, so we have decided to let you know. If you are interested in any The Christological of these titles please contact Rich Veum, the manager of our bookstore, at rich@ Reading contemplation.com.

Fr. Robert: Prayer of the Heart, George Maloney, S.J; The Practice of the Pres- Then Peter came and said to Jesus, ence of God, (critical edition), Brother “Lord, if another member of the church Lawrence of the Resurrection. sins against me, how often should I forgive? Fr. Bruno: The Disappearance of God: As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, Five Ninteenth Century Writers, J. Hillis Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times.” (Mt 18:21-22) Miller. Fr. Thomas: Quo Vadis, Henryk Sien- In our meditative and prayerful reading of Scripture, we might kiwewicz (latest read); also goes back to take the above text as simply an exhortation to us to forgive again J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. and again and again. Indeed, an alternative reading of that last Fr. Isaiah: The Betrothed, Alessandro line has not just “seventy-seven times” but “seventy times seven.” Manzoni; Witness to Hope: The Biogra- That would be 490 times! And in any case the text’s immediate phy of John Paul II, George Weigel. intent is certainly to urge us to never stop forgiving. But there is Fr. Zacchaeus: Alter Christus: Saint Paul another reading of the lines, found in the New Testament itself and Speaks to Priests, John J. Gilchrist; Forty the Fathers and medieval writings, based on the conviction Years Behind the Wall, Fr. M. Raymond, that Jesus would never lay on us a requirement that he himself OCSO. would not, first of all, live himself. He “walks the talk.” With this Bro. Michael: Manual for Interior Souls, “Christological reading” the text immediately acquires a whole Jean Nicholas Grou, S.J. new depth and foundation. It is Christ first of all who is prepared Fr. Cyprian: Surprised by Hope, N. T. to forgive us again and again and again—without limit. And so Wright; Transatlantic, Colum McCann. with many other texts of the New Testament, such as “go the Bro. Ignatius: The Cappadocians, extra mile,” and “turn the other cheek,” etc. it is Christ who first Anthony Meredith; Introduction to the of all is revealing himself to us in his tender mercy. The Beatitudes Devout Life, Francis de Sales. are primarily a portrait of Christ himself. So also in the Parable of Bro. Cassian: Thoughts Matter, Sr. Meg the Good Samaritan it is Christ who is represented by that caring, Funk, OSB. merciful figure, etc.

This Christological reading is most illuminating when applied to texts of the Old Testament, with the conviction that the inspiring The quarterly newsletter is published by the Camaldolese Hermits of America for our Holy Spirit offers those central, heroic figures to us as preparation friends, oblates, and sponsors. for, prefigurings of Christ himself. As Moses led his people from slavery, through the Red Sea, into a covenant with God, to the Editors: Father Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam., promised land, so Jesus leads us from the slavery of sin through Brother Bede Healey, OSB Cam., the baptismal waters into the New Covenant, and to the Kingdom Deborah Smith Douglas, Oblate OSB Cam. of God. Etc. The New Testament itself presupposes this Christo- Public Relations & Design: Susan Garrison logical reading of the Old Testament.

If you have questions or comments about this “The incarnate Word is not only the synthesis of revelation, in publication, please address them to: grounding in his Person Word and Sacrament, but he is also New Camaldoli Hermitage 62475 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 its interpretive criterion.” (Innocenzo Gargano, Gregory of Nyssa) (831) 667-2456 • Fax: (831) 667-0209 E-mail: [email protected] May we find our living, loving Lord in our reading of Holy Scripture. R.H. or visit us on the web at: www.contemplation.com 6 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage

Our Camaldolese presence in now stretches from Berkeley through Big Sur all the way down to San Luis Obispo Monastery of the Risen Christ with the beginning of this new phase with the Monastery of the Risen Christ. Please remember our brothers of these two com- In San Luis Obispo: Developments munities which are affiliated with New Camaldoli. At Incarnation Fr. Daniel Manger, OSB Cam. Monastery, Fr. Andrew Colnaghi is the prior administrator with Fr. Thomas, Fr. Arthur, and Bro. Ivan Nicoletto who is on an extended The Monastery stay with us from Italy. In San Luis Obispo, Fr. Daniel Manger is of the Risen Christ the prior’s representative, along with Fr. Ray, Fr. Stephen, and Bro. has for the last two Michael. months been very much in transition to the Incarnation Monastery Update Camaldolese monastic Fr. Arthur Poulin, OSB Cam. life and witness with the monks Ray, Ste- Here at Incarnation Monastery, we continue to discover phen and Michael, and extraordinary things in the very ordinary rhythm and events the oblates in San Luis of our daily life together. Recently, we have had a series of Obispo. At present wonderful retreat days one after another. Starting on Febru- we are developing the ary 1, Michael Fish offered a Day of Prayer to a full house retreat/hospitality min- on the spirituality of the human body. On February 22, Mary istry, located as part of McGann, RSCJ, presented a very powerful and challenging the Chapel complex, to receive retreat guests in the not too seminar on Ecological Spirituality entitled “Water: A Sacred distant future for solitude retreats. It will feature 3 spacious Trust.” Then on March 1, our oblates Marty Badgett and Bill suites. After an appeal at the opening blessing Mass two McLennan led us through a Silent Day of stillness and con- months ago for furnishings and other immediate needs, much templative prayer. Finally on March 8, Sandra Schneiders, has been donated that has enabled us to get the suites nicely IHM, broke open the word of God for us in the Gospel of furnished. The monks here have been very enthusiastic in John with a provocative theme entitled “What’s in a Name?” the developments and the process of affiliation with New Our new house (or Cloister as it is affectionately called Camaldoli Hermitage. They deeply appreciate the prayers by our oblates), continues to take shape and form and is and financial support that has come. Once our website is gradually becoming a home. Andrew recently created a small constructed we will be able to do the necessary promotions chapel that has become a special place for the monks for of retreats, days of in-service and various speakers who will prayer and meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. join with the monks to address spiritual practice and other Perhaps the most significant event was the celebration of issues from science and religion, to poverty, monastic and our very successful fundraiser on March 9th that was held in environmental topics. We hope the chapel will become a the home of Frank and Aurora Roselli in Napa Valley. This place of deepening the encounter of God and support for the was truly a labor of love that was the fruit of many months contemplative hunger in all who come to share our monastic of hard work and prayer by our oblates and friends. The pro- life of prayer. ceeds of this benefit will go to the continued creation of our The monastery is just below the Serra Rumaldo, an Spiritual Center and Guesthouse next door. interesting synchronicity with St. Romuald, the founder of We are now looking forward to this sacred season of our Camaldolese Congregation! The property of the mon- Lent that will help us grow more deeply in our human and astery is among the hills of the Seven Sisters located off of spiritual lives with God, others, and creation. Every Tuesday O’Conor Way behind the campus of Questa College. It is evening during Lent, we will have a shared Collatio based on pastoral country; the view is breath taking with the greening the Gospel for the coming Sunday. This will be led by one of of the mountains, especially since we have had some rains the monks or members of our praying community. these past few weeks. The monastery of the Risen Christ is enabling us to develop another rural monastic presence in the cenobitic way of living the Camaldolese charism. We have hopes of discovering water that will enable us to sustain our life. Please pray for this endeavor as we get hydrologists to explore for water on the property. Then it is hoped we can put in a garden for food production for the community and to share some of the produce with the poor in the area. Please support us with your prayers, donations, These are the two houses that make up Incarnation and above all with a visit to our 44-acre monastic place in Monastery: on the left is the spirituality and retreat the shadow of Serra Rumaldo. center, on the right the monks’ residence. contemplation.com ~ 7

Below the translation of a Letter from D. Emanuele of Brazil , who knew D. Benedetto intimately and was himself Prior General for 18 years after D. Benedetto. Born in a little town in the deep south of Italy , D. Benedetto entered Camaldoli and professed monastic vows at the young age of 18. He deeply studied St. Gregory the Great and other early and medieval monastic figures, seeing their relevance for our time, and taught courses on them at St. Anselmo, the International Benedictine College in Rome. He had a deep awareness of the challenges and possibilities in the present day, and was sought out by bishops and theologians of Vatican II for his insights. For his personal warmth and deep spirituality he was beloved by all the monks and by so many others, both laity and priests. (RH)

Dom Benedetto – 100 years

Monastery of the Transfiguration, Brazil , March 11th, 2014

Dear brothers, sisters, friends,

Tomorrow, March 12th, will mark 100 years since Gigino, our future dear Don Benedetto, began his life with a cry that accompanies the birth of all babies.

That slight infant cry, that indicated a presence and drew attention, then through long years A collection of essays by of silence, of study, of prayer and reflection shared with the brethren and sister, friends and Fr. Benedetto Calati entitled companions of the journey, near and far, became transformed into a sweet friendly voice, in “From the Grace of the Walls suffered participation, in joyful animation, in powerful and emphatic witness and prophetic to the Grace of the Faces.” protest, and, at the end, again, in a quiet syllable of voice, almost an ascetical thinness of sound, to allow the sound only of the Voice of the Word that dwelt in him and Whom he sought to echo. Synthetic and almost elliptic phrases, which at the end expressed the substance of an entire existence, palpable of indicating the pillars on which he constructed his life as a man and a monk—wonderful “history of salvation” interwoven with the fantasy of God—and opening horizons of mystery which he felt himself surrounded by and in which he felt definitively received. He didn’t like toward the end to give responses, but to draw attention to the mysterious ways of God in the history of everyone, without distinction or preference. -“Don Benedetto, how is your prayer, after so many years of study and of monastic life?” – a friend asked him with benevolent curiosity. “Like the prayer of a poor old man: some Our Fathers, some Hail Marys, some Glory to the Father” he responded in a natural way. -“Stay with the Word!” he repeated, to indicate the center and the ultimate reason for every choice and every evaluation regarding structures and moral and juridical norms. -“God is a kiss!” as another surprising and concise synthesis of intimacy and of freedom, written in the history of the love of God for us, witnessed on all the pages of Scripture and of the life events of every one of us, the final page realized in the always open Book of life. In remembering with gratitude to the Lord the gift that has been and is D. Benedetto for many of us, for the Camaldolese family, for numerous friends near and far, we would wish this day to be a renewed experience of the “sacrament of friendship” so warmly celebrated by him, even to the last night of his life, the 21st of November 2000, feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple of the Lord. That is his home forever. Wherever you are, and in whatever form you are celebrating this holy memory, we of the Mosteiro da Transfiguracao are with you.

P.S.: Within the year we hope to publish the Portuguese translation of the book of D. Benedetto, “Monastic Wisdom.” The translation is done and the publisher chosen.

With fraternal affection,

Don Emanuele Bargellini 8 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage

Activities, Events and Visitors

• February 12-20, Frs. Mario Zanotti and Gi- and God” at a symposium held at St Benedict’s useppe Cecchi, from Fonte Avellana and our Abbey in Atchison, KS. motherhouse Camaldoli respectively, were here • April 10-20 we are expecting a visit from one of in California for a fraternal visitation to both New our Indian confreres, Fr. George Abraham of Camaldoli and Incarnation Monastery in Berkeley Shantivanam. in preparation for the international formation gath- • April 30 New Camaldoli is hosting the Four ering at Camaldoli in September. Winds Council, a quarterly gathering of our com- • February 12th, the feast of our Saint Bruno Boni- munity with our friends from the , face, we welcomed our postulant James Makil as Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and Pachepas Na- a novice, now with the name Cassian. tive American Center, to share spiritual practice • February 17th we celebrated an inaugural event at and advocate for the wilderness. the Monastery of the Risen Christ to bless the • May 9-11 will be the 2nd Annual Camaldolese new Camaldolese presence there and mark the Gathering and Retreat at Presentation Center in beginning of the three-year trial period for the San Jose. Olivetan monks there to formally transfer to our • May 27-29 Bro. Gabriel will be attending the congregation. Nor-Cal Charismatic Convention. • February 21-24 Fr. Cyprian attended the Abbots’ • June 3-8 Fr. Raniero will be leading a retreat for and Priors’ meeting a St. Bernard Abbey in Cull- the monks of the Order of the Holy Cross in up- man, Alabama. state New York. • March 18-20 Bro. Ignatius and Bro. Cassian • June 14-28 Bro. Ignatius will be attending the accompanied Fr. Cyprian to southern California Benedictine Juniors’ Workshop at St. Vincent’s Ar- (where Cyprian had some work). The brothers got chabbey in La Trobe, PA, and following that with a tour of St. John’s Seminary, and Cyprian and two classes as part of the Monastic Institute at St. Cassian gave Ignatius his first ever whirlwind tour John’s University, Collegeville, MN. of greater Los Angeles. • June 19th is the Feast of St. Romuald, and the 50th • March 22 our infirmarian Fr. Raniero with Bro. anniversary of vows for Bro. Gabriel and Fr. Cassian and two of our workers, Jim and Wade, Thomas! attended a CPR class for first responders. • March 24-28 Bro. Bede spoke at three gatherings Bargetto Wine Honors Hermitage of the Saint Patrick’s Catholic Community in An- John Bargetto, friend of the Hermitage and owner of the gels Camp CA. The theme was “The Lenten Jour- Bargetto Winery in Santa Cruz, is releasing a wine on June ney: Growing into God’s Love.” In January, Bede 1st in honor of the Hermitage as part of the Winery’s La Vita presented a paper entitled “The Self, Community, program. Every year the winery produces a wine and a label to recognize a particular Santa Cruz non-profit group. At the end of the year $5,000.00 from the sale of the released wine is do- Please consider nated to the group. John Bargetto is making an exception this remembering us when year to step beyond the Santa Cruz region to honor the Hermit- making or revising your will. age! We are overjoyed! The La Vita wine honoring the Hermitage is a blend of 60% Our official name is: Dolcetto, 27% Refosco, and 13% Nebbiolo. For more informa- Camaldolese Hermits tion Google Bargetto Winery or Bargetto La Vita wines. If you of America are in the area for the Release Party on Sunday, June 1, from 3-6 pm, please join Cyprian and Raniero who will be there to Our federal ID # is: greet you. 94-6050278

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