New Camaldoli Hermitage ORDINARY TIME 2020

BE NOT AFRAID

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. –Isaiah 41:10

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BE NOT AFRAID Thoughts from the Editor Lisa Benner, Oblate, OSB Cam.

Welcome to the Ordinary Time newsletter, though these In This Issue times have been anything but ordinary. I had another theme planned for this particular newsletter. We were excited to 2 Thoughts from the Editor delve into it, then March happened, the month that things Lisa Benner, Oblate, OSB Cam. seemed to explode. The country (and world) shut down, people were getting sick, we started seeing death tolls 3 What We Train For increasing at alarming numbers—all because of this little virus. Prior Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam.

5 Do Not Fear—Working Through this Pandemic As all this was happening and the media reports were Paul Benner gloomier each hour, I sought my quiet space more and more. During these attempts at peace, I was continually 6 Benedictine Values During a Season of Pandemic reminded of the words “Be Not Afraid,” it was comforting Michael Mullard, Oblate, OSB Cam. and profound at the same time. We are called to not be afraid during times like this, to trust in our God and to utilize 7 Science­ and the Third Good prayer and rely on faith in equal measure. We are asked to Matt Fisher, Oblate, OSB Cam. trust and persevere and if possible do so joyfully. 8 Reflections on this Pandemic These days, I find most of the time I’m at a loss for words. 10 Update from the Development Office How to sum up what has happened? What has been lost— Jill Gisselere lives, jobs, normalcy and how are we all doing with this? Have there been any gains, any positive take-aways? There 10 Activities and Visitors was lots of chatter about how well the environment is re- 11 What the Monks Are Reading bounding now that people are not in the way. Animals are thriving, the natural world is beaming, and in some situations, repairing itself. This warmed my heart and felt like a silver lining amidst a very dark cloud which still looms over all of us.

As I was pondering all of this for this newsletter, I decided to call upon a few friends of the Hermitage. I told them our theme and they took to the task to write. And how beauti- fully they did, each with their own stories and information about how they have navigated this strange time and how we can too.

Prior Cyprian explores the rich qualities of the monastic life. Things that are part of daily life for the monks also became You might notice our summer newsletter part of ours during quarantine. Solitude and simplicity don’t is a bit shorter than usual. In an effort come easy to some, but when forced they can refine a per- to cut back on costs and still deliver a son and redefine existence. hard copy to our valued readers, we are experimenting with options. While sheltering in place, my family maintained an evening check-in program. During this time, my brother and I had If you want to opt out of receiving mail several conversations about all of this—we shared our fears from the Hermitage, please email jill@ and concerns and even the small wins now and then. He contemplation.com. graciously accepted my offer to write about how this pan- demic has affected his job situation. He remains rooted in Thank you for your continued support. God’s steadfast support and is a follower of Jesus relying on him to lead the way throughout trials in the workplace and beyond.

Dr. Michael Mullard, a psychotherapist and oblate, once again enlightens us with his knowledge and wisdom combining mental health and spirituality. These times have been full of fear and anxiety, and Dr. Mullard offers sound advice for navigating with God’s grace and strength.

2 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage contemplation.com ~ 3 Oblate Matt Fisher eloquently shares with us what is going on in the scientific community. There is hope! He shares how What We Train For the brave scientists of the world are unifying to collect and Prior Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam. share data, and how closely this resembles our charism’s Third Good. Another silver lining in this situation indeed! I imagine that heads of families, as well as leaders of other communities and organizations much larger than New These last few months have been strange, difficult and, for Camaldoli, found themselves in the same tense position in some, very scary. As we are all finding our grounding while which I have found myself these months—trying to negoti- in our own personal situations, I pray this newsletter fills ate between panic and complacency. Decisions had to be you with hope, comfort, and peace. made even in practical minutiae such as when we could start using ceramic tableware again instead of paper plates and disposable flatware, all the way up to the larger issues of quarantine, group social distancing and protecting our elderly, most vulnerable monks. And then of course there is For everything there is a season, the long-term vocational and economic perspective, having and a time for every matter under just successfully overcome two financial “challenges” already heaven: a time to be born, and a these last five years. All that on top of trying to make long time to die; a time to plant, and a and short-term practical plans with so much unknown and time to pluck up what is planted; dependent on outside authority and circumstances beyond our control. a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time In the meantime, it seemed just days into the crisis already to build up; a time to weep, and grand theories about everything, from the ultimate origins a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and causes of the disease to the “new normal” and the long- and a time to dance; a time to cast term effects on social interaction, the economy, workplace away stones, and a time to gather operations, new forms of ministry and governance began swirling about—as if anyone knew where this was going. stones together; a time to em- These usually fell along ideological lines and could have brace, and a time to refrain from often ended with the words, “See, I told you so!” As David embracing; a time to seek, and a Brooks wrote, “People trained in the art of rigid ideology time to lose; a time to keep, and a aren’t doing well with a disease that is so mysterious and time to cast away; a time to tear, seemingly random.” At the same time, he was worried that and a time to sew; a time to keep “the polarization industry’s false narrative of division and conflict” would “turn self-fulfilling.” silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time In the midst of it—and in the mist of it—the monks and sup- for war, and a time for peace. port staff here have calmly continued to live our life, a little quieter and simpler, more frugal and sober. And one phrase - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV kept coming to my mind: “This is what we train for.” No, even more strongly: “This is exactly what we train for.”

Five areas came to mind immediately, not meaning to be exhaustive, that hopefully we have passed on to our friends and oblates through witness, spiritual direction and/or formation. I shall try to be brief, though I feel as if each of these could be an entire chapter or retreat conference!

• The first and perhaps most obvious issolitude . There’s a line in our hymn for feasts of monks, “Each with the other lives alone…” If this is true for regular observance monks, it is certainly true for us Camaldolese who live as “hermits in community,” to use Raniero’s phrase. Living in soli- tude—now experienced as quarantine, social distancing, and shelter-in-place—healthily is not as easy as it sounds. It takes discipline and maturity, and a certain self-contain- ment. Equally, in order for it to remain rooted in a healthy understanding of church and community, it needs ways to stay connected for discernment and support. This is so in keeping with the spirit of Camaldoli.

contemplation.com ~ 3 • The line that ends Saint Romuald’s Brief Rule––“Like a else” is vitally important in monastic spirituality, especially chick that tastes nothing and eats nothing but what the Lectio in the broadest understanding of it, spending time mother hen gives it”—calls to mind an attitude of trust with the Word in the Scriptures, the psalms and par- and patient waiting. I often recall the day of the terrorist ticularly the Gospels. (How many missals are available attacks, September 11, what a remarkable sight it was now that offer the daily readings that one can meditate to look at my brothers calmly chanting the Our Father on anywhere, and stay close to the larger Body of the with our arms raised in the rotunda while the rest of the Church?) And remember, Vatican II teaches that Christ country was understandably terrorized. We are trained to is really present in the Word too. Remember also Fr. John wait and trust. Main’s best-known book, the title of which sums up our meditation practice: Word into Silence.

• And that leads to another ele- ment that we speak of even in the monastic community—the life within the life, one’s spiritual- ity within the greater communal spirituality. I spent ten years trav- eling the world leading retreats and daring to teach people the why and how of building one’s own spiritual practice of integral elements, not only liturgy and scripture, but exercise, yoga, meditation, service, or art. I used to say I wanted to help form peo- ple to have a spirituality that they could “carry in their pocket,” but even more, to carry in their being, in their bodies, in their minds, and especially in their hearts.

• And finally, we are formed in simplicity. How many people have had to economize, watch wasteful spending and mindless consumerism, and discern the necessary from the luxury, need from want? Our vow of poverty is more corporate than mendicant, as we say, but our Constitutions remind us that our simplicity and sobriety ought to be visible and real.

So, as I say, this is exactly what we train for. I am pleased to say the brothers here have been edify- ing as always in their adaptability and patience. I hope that we have modeled that for you and helped form that in you if we are your spiritual companions. We’re so delighted to call you our friends, sisters and brothers, because you in turn have edified us with • In no way diminishing the importance of the Eucharist your strength of character, the diligence you have shown in or the Mass itself, they are not the sum total of our spiri- watching over those in your care, and your unflagging sup- tual life, private or public. Even if everything else leads port and friendship for us. And may Christ bring us together to to and flows from the Eucharistic feast, the “everything everlasting life. 4 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage contemplation.com ~ 5 Do Not Fear—W­ orking Through A Different Sense of FEAR this Pandemic If you are like me, this pandemic came at us somewhat unexpectedly and with an unrealized impact as to what Paul Benner was about to happen. I read and watched the news daily. I had heard and read about COVID-19 being in China, then Coming out of FEAR Italy, a few other locations. I knew it was a bad illness, but I certainly had a false sense of security thinking it wouldn’t hit here in the US or wouldn’t be so devastating. Heck, we “Whatever you do, work heartily, as were in Disneyland days before the shut-down started for the Lord and not for men, knowing and the stay-at-home orders were given. It turned national quickly, and the global impact seemed like a reality from that from the Lord you will receive the a movie. inheritance as your reward. You are My children, now older, the two girls and a boy, asked serving the Lord Christ.” questions and sorted through the same things I was going –Col 3:23–24 through. My wife and I kept an open mind and we made some plans regarding budgeting and finances. I still had my job, but two weeks into the quarantine period, much of our work was going away. My company filed for and was This was the scripture verse that was on the website of the granted paycheck protection. A few weeks later, we had a company I was interviewing with back in 2002. I was com- staff meeting about payroll reductions and possible future ing off a year with no job. My previous job was eliminated furloughs. The fear was two-fold. Fear of a nasty virus that after the company I was with was purchased and they we knew little about and fear, once again, about how to decided not to proceed with the unit I was affiliated with provide for our needs. So many of the same feelings came (in fact they ended up shutting down the whole division). I rushing back. How do I keep my children safe (my son has was working in a temporary position that was going to turn asthma)? How will I contribute if my work goes away? What permanent when this new opportunity surfaced, and I took can I still do to help mitigate this situation? I was older the scripture on the website as a sign. It was more pay for now, and my focus immediately went to prayer. my growing family and the skillset was better suited for what I wanted to do. Nightly prayer sessions with my family were comforting. Rosaries with the kids and scripture reading sustained me. The year with no employment was humbling and ridden It was about two weeks in when the owner of the company with stress and anxiety. It filled me with fear. Fear of called and asked how I was dealing with it all and if I was losing our house, fear of not being able to provide, fear able to come in to discuss direction. I was alright with of no food on the table. My self-esteem was low, I felt I going out to familiar places and keeping the distance rules had let down my wife and two young daughters. I was in place. The meeting was about turning our warehouse overwhelmed at the prayers and graciousness of family, into a virtual training studio. It meant being in the office friends and community as I filled my days with sending more and being around others. But it also meant a chance out resumes, going on interviews and keeping up with the at sustainable projects for the near future. That night the unemployment insurance verifications. I felt the prayers scripture read Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the and the love, but it wasn’t always easy to accept them and valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are it didn’t always provide comfort. I recall one card I received with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” It was that included a line from Luke 12:22–26 “Do not worry another answer in a way. I decided to take the chance and about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what help to engineer our space. Today as I write this, we have you will wear…who of you by worrying can add a single clients who are going to purchase our new opportunity hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, and we have shifted to offering a product that works in this why do you worry about the rest?” I recall thinking how new way of training, remotely and virtually. hard it was to put these words into actual life action. But I tried. And that’s when things started to turn. I latched on I don’t know what the future holds. Although we have to doing some editing for an online college and my family some good news with the virus, it’s still here. Although, we never went hungry and we never went without our needs have some projects with this new offering, we still don’t being met. We sacrificed and we grew. know if it will sustain us as a company. Despite all of this, I press ahead with Him at my side, and without fear. As I started at this new company, I had a new outlook on blessings and steady income. We tithed and gave back Paul Benner is a husband and father of three beautiful having a new sympathy (or empathy now) for others in our children. He lives in Gilbert, Arizona. He is a production situation. I have worked at this company now for almost director for a training company and loves to watch sports 16 years. and hike during his free time.

contemplation.com ~ 5 was, perhaps, the most significant factor that maintained Benedictine Values During a Season and improved mental health. Belonging to a spiritual com- of Pandemic munity, no matter what tradition, provided an emotional safety net of stability to the adherent. The more contact Michael Mullard, Oblate, OSB Cam. the member had with his or her community, the greater the protective effects. Like everyone else, I’ve been caught up in the maelstrom that we’ve come to know as COVID-19. This tragic, odd, During times of stress, it is not uncommon to experience and interesting time has caused a distinct reordering of my anxiety. One of the greatest antidotes is to reach out to personal rhythms. From working at home full time, to loss others in service to their needs, whether it be calling or of my physical fitness plan due to gym closure, to providing seeing an older family member or working at a homeless direct service to the poor and homeless on a weekly basis, shelter. Any act of hospitality, love, compassion, or solace I’ve adjusted my life to the demands of a new, and hope- to another person can quickly lift anxious self-focus. I be- fully temporary, reality. All of these rapid changes have lieve that this is why St. Benedict, based upon his love for increased my level of anxiety. There have also been days the Gospels, made it one of the centerpieces of his Rule when I’ve felt listless and lethargic without good reason, of Life. which are, to me, clear signs of mild depression. Finally, taking some precious moments for internal silence As a licensed mental health professional, I have reviewed and full body relaxation, can lower levels of cortisol, help- hundreds of websites and articles offering coping re- ing the body heal and return to healthier functioning. Full, sources, especially for those who are on the front lines of deep abdominal breathing throughout the day can help patient treatment. All of the websites had something im- the mind stay calm, centered, and able to focus on the im- portant to say, but none mentioned the use of spirituality mediate needs at hand. as a means of coping with stress. As I read, I remembered that over the past 30 years, there has been an explosion of Hopefully during this time, we can take some quiet clinical research on the psychological effects of spirituality moments to re-explore our amazing tradition and as a means of effective coping. The results were significant consider how deepening our awareness and practice of and robust. People who belong to a spiritual tradition and Benedictine principles can help us to weather the storm have a regular spiritual practice not only live longer (on of COVID-19 more effectively. Let Benedict and Romuald average 7 years), but also maintain better mental health show us the way. during periods of crisis and throughout the lifespan. As a Camaldolese Benedictine Oblate, I began to think about the core values we share that can be critical in helping Michael Mullard is a licensed marriage and family therapist with us maintain our equilibrium during this time: e.g. silence, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, emphasizing depth psychology. He stability, community, solitude, hospitality, and evangelization. has been an Oblate of New Camaldoli Hermitage since 2004 and has been hanging out with since 1980. He lives in I began looking at websites of Benedictine monasteries Southern . and landed on Quarr (pronounced “Core”) Abbey (Quarrabbey.org) on the Isle of Wight, just off the southern English coast. You may remember the book Father Joe: The Man Who Saved my Soul by Tony Hendra. Fr. Joseph Welcome, welcome, welcome. Warrilow, a monk of Quarr, helped the author move I welcome everything that comes to me today through young adult angst over a sexual relationship with a married woman, and the use of drugs and alcohol to because I know it’s for my healing. escape internal pain. Fr. Joe was like a lighthouse in the I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, midst of a gale, modeling Benedictine wisdom and values, situations, and conditions. the one constant in Hendra’s life, to whom the author turned again and again for solace in turbulent times. Those I let go of my desire for power and control. ancient values that Fr. Joe shared with Tony were the balm I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, that finally calmed the confusion in the young man’s soul. approval and pleasure. Each Benedictine value and practice alone can be a means I let go of my desire for survival and security. of coping. Together, they provide a framework, par excel- I let go of my desire to change any situation, lence, for maintaining mental health during stressful times. condition, person or myself. Reflecting on the principles and practices most important to me during these turbulent times, I would like to focus I open to the love and presence of God and on three: community, hospitality, and silence. God’s action within. Amen

One of the core findings from the research on spirituality was that “social support,” a key variable in religious coping, Contemplative Outreach granted permission for use of this prayer.

6 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage and the health and even survival of hundreds of thou- Science and the Third Good sands of people hang in the balance? Matt Fisher, Oblate, OSB Cam. In some ways, the response was beyond what anyone The coronavirus pandemic has been unlike any other could have predicted. Almost overnight collaborations emerging disease I’ve seen in my 40 years as a member of were established across national boundaries. Rather than the scientific community. The SARS-CoV-2 virus (the official worry about who would get credit for particular discover- name) was new to humans; research to date suggests the ies, researchers freely exchanged data and preliminary virus first infected humans in late November or early De- conclusions through pre-print manuscripts that had been cember 2019. Unlike other outbreaks in people observed written and made public by researchers before going in 2002–2003, 2012, and 2015 that involved different coro- through the collective process of initial vetting known as naviruses, SARS-CoV-2 is much more easily transmitted peer review. Some forms of data, like the genetic sequenc- between people. The global spread of the virus and the es of viruses isolated from patients around the world, were speed with which infections were reported in numerous deposited in large publicly accessible databases so that countries were unparalleled. At the very beginning, when other researchers could use this data in their own analysis SARS-CoV-2 first started to infect people, we knew almost (such as tracing how the virus was introduced and spread nothing about it. in various regions). Academic and industrial researchers

The process of science is inherently provisional, with communicated with each other much more easily than uncertainty that is gradually resolved over time through they had in the past. Pharmaceutical and biotech com- community-based processes of review and critical scrutiny. panies put aside questions of how much profit should be The nonprofit and nongovernmental National Academy generated by their products. of Sciences (USA), one of the most prestigious scientific societies in the world, has long maintained that scientific At the same time, the rush to learn everything possible knowledge is achieved through a collective process of dis- about the coronavirus and use that information to inform cussion and debate. As historian of science Naomi Oreskes actions and policies to protect the public’s health has been has pointed out, the reliability of scientific knowledge is incredibly stressful. I remember a post on Facebook by a rooted not in a single unique scientific method, but in this friend of mine who had just started working with one of collective process by which scientific claims are vetted. All the groups trying to develop robust mathematical models of this takes time. But how can the scientific community that could provide useful predictions of infections, hos- collectively scrutinize claims when time is critically short pital demands, and deaths for different scenarios. She

contemplation.com ~ 7 wrote about how hard it was to do this work knowing that so many people around the country were looking to their models for guidance on what to do. What if the research- ers made mistakes in the models? What if the way they answered questions from journalists or government officials resulted in confusion and misunderstandings? Reflections on this Pandemic And it wasn’t just my friend’s fears and concerns that I found myself thinking about as I started writing this article. Perhaps for the first time in modern history, the collective process of review and scrutiny of claims by scientists is taking place in front of the public. The provisional nature of scientific knowledge means that some claims are found to be the product of flawed experimental design or analy- sis and discarded. Some ideas turn out not to be relevant. “You are the Song,” wrote Sr. Macrina in sign- Some things that were initially thought to be not important ing her book of this theme to me not too in understanding the coronavirus turn out to be much more important than we thought. The well-publicized shortages many years ago Just 4 months ago we did in testing mean that the composition of the data sets are not expect that God, in the midst of this constantly changing in major ways. But now all the flaws season, would release her from our shel- and shortcomings and warts are being viewed by the gen- tering. And so, as I celebrate the life of this eral public, and many times it seems that the public is very beloved “big sister,” my first “live” Benedic- unsure of what to make of all this confusion and potentially tine spiritual guide and mentor, one who contradictory pieces of information. became a dear friend for 9 precious years, I grieve…alone. As I hold her, she continues What relation does all this have with the theme of this to remind me of my “belovedness,“ while newsletter—“Be Not Afraid”—and the Camaldolese tradi- tion? As I started working on this article, I found myself gently teaching me to “Listen with the ear thinking of words that Fr. Cyprian spoke at the 2014 Camal- of my heart.” In this imposition of isolation dolese Assembly in his talk on the New Evangelization and with its pervasive silence, I can now em- the Camaldolese response: brace this as a time for listening that deepens, a time to realize that looking “…that it’s not just any kind of evangelization that we are and seeing are not the same, a time to be called to do; there ought to be a specific need that only wholly present. A time when I can continue we can address to make us leave the Paradise of the cell to learn how to live out the oblate call. I am and the comfort of and commitment to stability in com- “the Song of the Seed”… if just in those fleet- munity. I like the phrase “the soft spots,” the places yet ing moments as I walk the streets and paths untouched, the places where nobody else wants to go and to those to whom no one else knows how to speak.” of Berkeley, waving and greeting others, gifting what I can, sometimes just a smile “…that, in my mind, is the best description of our Third from behind my mask. Good—absolute availability to the Spirit, always asking the question, “Where would you have me go, Lord? What And as Sr. Macrina reflects in her final book, would you have me do, church? How may I serve you, The Flowing Grace of Now: brother, sister?” “To see requires learning to live awake. Maybe, without fully realizing it, the global scientific commu- When we realize this hallowed way of be- nity has been exploring aspects of what we see as the Third Good during the past few months. Perhaps there are things ing in the world, our teacher will no longer we can learn from the collective experience of scientists in hide. When we begin to live awake, we will terms of how we might move forward into unknown, uncer- see teachers everywhere.” tain terrain and do so in a way that is “not afraid.” Maybe there are ways that we, as members of the larger society May I learn to live awake throughout each that scientists are working to help, can let the scientific pandemic that life brings. community know that being uncertain and perhaps even afraid doesn’t have to be the final word. Maybe we can sup- –Arlene Acuna, Oblate, OSB Cam. port each other in working to be absolutely available to that larger Spirit that calls us to serve all people.

Matt Fisher is a chemistry professor at Saint Vincent College who teaches undergraduate biochemistry through the contexts of public health issues. He has been an oblate of New Camaldoli since 1998.

8 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage During the pandemic, I have sensed the Lord’s invitation to take me further into the practice Reflections on this Pandemic of “selah.” This word, famously found in the Old Testament 74 times, has always intrigued me as a contemplative. To pause and reflect—on the meaning of a verse of scripture before continuing—has been expanded to my daily life in ways that only could have been illumi- nated by the loving presence of Christ and His abundant grace and mercy. We all face change in our lives. Some dislike the disruption of the way things had been, Many times in daily life now, as I have served whether or not that way has been healthy or as my 13-year-old daughter’s teaching assis- positive. Others embrace change and view it as tant and supported my wife in expanded ways a possibility for growth. Before this world-wide around the house, I have felt the Spirit’s beck- shelter in place occurrence, there were people oning to pause, consider, and be more inten- living every day of their lives sheltered in place. tional about my next step. And I’ve noticed that Perhaps due to disease, abuse, poverty, or the next step, in really any situation, has had a fear. During this journey through the corona- lot more to do with proceeding from a place of virus pandemic, I have been blessed to be in heightened presence, compassion, and service. a beautiful, safe place with loved ones. I have been able to go outside, connect with others via It is my prayer that “selah” continues to work technology, not have to worry about paying bills deeply in my heart. And Lord, help me learn because I have suddenly lost my job. My loved to rightly pause and reflect, and step boldly on ones and I are healthy. The little inconveniences the path of supporting equal rights and justice of wearing a mask, not going to the store in our hurting nation. Lord have mercy, Christ as often, canceling travel plans are insignificant have mercy. in the realm of eternity. These are some of the things I have missed…hugs, seeing smiles –Christopher Huber, Oblate, OSB Cam. on faces, gathering with friends, sharing Eucharist. With each of the things I have missed, I have been given the opportunity to experience something unique. Instead of a hug, the words “I love you,” “I miss you,” “I can’t wait to see you again” flow more freely than ever. Instead of seeing someone’s smile, I look over their mask and see the smile in their eyes. By using technology, I have connected with friends and family and have taught and taken classes. My husband and I have extended, unhurried time to spend with the Scriptures. We enjoy “attending Mass” globally. I pray for those who must continue to shelter in place due to their situation. My choice for the journey ahead is to practice compassion and to embrace change with awareness of the possibilities for growth that change provides.

–Mary Pat George, Oblate, OSB Cam.

contemplation.com ~ 9 Update from the Development Office Jill Gisselere

From Sheltering to Silence to Song “Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could say. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” –Alice Walker “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven” (Ecc 3:1) Dear friends, I would like to start with a heartfelt thank you for all your Sheltering in Pandemic generous donations and kind notes you have sent to the A Time of Silence. monks and staff during this Covid-19 crisis. I have the privilege of opening the mail and am so touched by the A time to Think without the usual distractions kind words and generosity of our donors and friends. and demands. These past few months have been difficult for everyone A time to Listen more deeply. and knowing that the monks are thought of during these trying times means so much. By the time you have received A time to learn the difference between this newsletter we hope to be open and welcoming you Seeing and Looking back to the property. And learning how to live awake. There are many ways to support the Hermitage. Now more A time when I can realize that I am ultimately than ever we need your support both financially and in not in control. spirit. Enclosed is a remittance envelope if you would kindly consider a donation to help us get back on solid fiscal A time of social distancing...for celebrations ground. You can also consider setting up a monthly gift and for mourning. directly through me or via PayPal. A time of tears in solitude. We have a fundraiser on the calendar in October, a benefit A time of masking my face, concert featuring James Marra and Jackie Chew at Cass But not my heart. Winery in Paso Robles, CA. Buying a ticket also supports us, as the venue was generously donated by the owners of Cass. A time of growing and understanding We hope you and your family are safe and healthy and we look forward to seeing you soon. what it means to be the “Song of the Seed” Realizing that I cannot make straight what Fondly, Jill God has made crooked (Ecc 7:33). For it is God who writes straight with crooked lines, Calling me to be the “Song”, “To bend, to tend and to mend”.*

In loving memory of Sr. Macrina, OSB, 1939–2020, spiritual guide, mentor, dear friend & “big sister”, who crossed over in the midst of sheltering. Save the New Date! Arlene Acuna, Oblate, OSB Cam Benefit Concert New Camaldoli Hermitage Sunday, October 25, 2020 Featuring James Marra and Jackie Chew *“The Song of the Seed, A Monastic Way of Cass Vineyard and Winery Tending the Soul” Paso Robles, California by Macrina Wiederkehr, 1995. For Ticket information please contact Jill Gisselere at [email protected]

10 ~ New Camaldoli Hermitage Activities and Visitors JUNE FEBRUARY We were able to partially re-open some retreat spaces We celebrated Fr. Thomas’s 80th birthday!; Fr. Cyprian with permission of the diocese and the county; we hosted gave a preached retreat on the Second Person of the Trin- out first Zoom retreat, “The Upanishads and Christian ity: The Word and Wisdom of God. In leading this retreat, Contemplation,” led by Jacob Riyeff with Cyprian helping he provided the next installment in a four-part series out; our Financial Advisory Board met—virtually; and as entitled “The Silence, the Word, the Music and the Dance,” always, we celebrated many anniversaries, birthdays, and which he has been presenting based on the work of our of course the Solemnity of Saint Romuald, a little more late Fr. Bruno and Raimundo Pannikar; Fr. Raniero made muted but festive nonetheless. his annual Lenten retreat; our long-time resident oblate Jack Daniels died after a long struggle with cancer, at- tended to with and surrounded by loving care; we hosted What the Monks Are Reading our annual Icon Workshop, led by Dmitri Andreyev, his father Vladislav Andreyev, and our oblate Valerie Sinkus. Fr. Cyprian: The Land Beyond the Sea by Sharon Kay Penman; The Book of Hours by Rainer Maria Rilke Fr. Isaiah: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer; Biography of Blessed Solanus Casey by James Derum Br. Timothy: Power, Gender and Christian Mysticism by J Grace Jantzen; The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel Br. Martin: Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young; Early Greek Philosophy by Jonathan Barnes Fr. Thomas: St. Gregory The Great: Dialogues translated by Odo John Zimmerman Staff Lisa Washio-Collette: The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Relaxation by Miranda Macpherson MARCH Br. Timothy visited his fellow Brothers of the Holy Cross in Rich Veum: How to Eat by David Katz Santa Barbara; we were relieved that Fr. Zacchaeus was able to make it home safely from Guatemala in the midst of the pandemic.

APRIL The triannual newsletter is published by the Amidst liturgical alterations due to the pandemic, the Camaldolese Hermits of America for our friends, monks celebrated the Easter Triduum in the Chapter oblates, and sponsors. Room; after looking forward to it since its release, some of the monks were happy to finally see, here at the Director: Prior Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam. Hermitage, the biopic A Hidden Life about Blessed Franz Editor: Lisa Benner, Oblate, OSB Cam. Jågerståtter on our Recreation Day. Editing Team: Aaron Maniam, Phil McManus, and Caitlin Lorenc MAY Design: Debi Lorenc Br. Martin had a short Development: Jill Gisselere retreat to end his Novi- tiate before professing Photo Credits simple vows, extending Debi Lorenc: All art and photos except on page 11 his monastic name to Valerie Sinkus: Page 11 (Icon Workshop) Martin Maria; reading and laughing over the If you have questions or comments, please email poetry of Billy Collins [email protected]. lifted our spirits as Fr. Isaiah led two poetry New Camaldoli Hermitage sessions. (He recom- 62475 Highway 1 mends Collins’ poem Big Sur, CA 93920 “Introduction to Poetry” if the poet is new to you. Visit us at www.contemplation.com and One lady said it really “New Camaldoli Hermitage” on Facebook. helped her approach the psalms in a fresh way). contemplation.com ~ 11 Dear friends, critical topics, the pandemic and racial injustice, are inter- twined and hard to separate. Migrant farm workers, the We three main compilers of this occasional newsletter— poor, and people of color have been more severely affected which we know has been so appreciated by many of you, and by the pandemic, not to mention all the cases in the Salinas are consoled by that fact—had a more difficult time than ever area here in our own diocese of Monterey, again mostly putting this issue together. We have tried for the past few among farm workers, many of them undocumented immi- years to stay with the mantra “one newsletter, one theme.” grants, who are trying to feed their families. We actually had something else planned for this edition, in keeping with our upcoming retreat for friends and oblates: Rather than trying to wrestle with and respond to yet “New Wineskins,” dealing with and dialoguing with various another important topic in these same few pages, we forms of religious and monastic life that have been sprouting made the difficult decision to stay with the one theme for up, and the problems the older forms are experiencing. now. We hope to devote our next issue to responding to the social situation. It seems like a feeble response, but But then of course the novel coronavirus hit. given our time and financial restraints, this is the poverty that we offer you for now. Let it suffice to point our read- Our main objective as usual has been to explore this phe- ers to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, nomenon through the optic of our Camaldolese spirituality, who has come down firmly and spoken loudly on the side soliciting input from various oblates. In this issue we have of combatting racism in all its forms. (And, as you may well reflections on jobs that have been reconfigured to release- fi know, the USCCB is no “knee-jerk liberal” body. Witness nancial burdens, ways to be more awake during this time of what many of our friends considered to be their harsh uncertainty, and on the power of scripture and prayer, and condemnation of the recent Supreme Court decision on reflections on how blessed we LGBTQ rights.) We highlight are by living in such beautiful the example of Bishop Mark places. But then we realized Seitz and the 12 other priests that most of the articles were from the Diocese of El Paso, written by folks who had not who knelt in silence with pro- really been touched by the testors for 8 minutes and 46 pandemic itself in any serious seconds on Monday, June 1st, way. And we suddenly wor- afterward receiving a grateful ried if we were being tone personal phone call from the deaf and somehow “spiritually Holy Father himself. And our bypassing” the real suffering, own local bishop, Daniel Gar- the fear and anxiety, going on cia, who asked us to observe around us, especially we here 8 minutes and 46 seconds of in Big Sur, which has been like silence in place of a homily at an oasis of safety. Mass on the day of Mr. Floyd’s funeral, which the monastic So we conclude this issue with a sad acknowledgement and community at the Hermitage did. And Archbishop Wilton a reverent honoring of how many lives this pandemic has Gregory of Washington DC, who decried it as “baffling and taken and how devastating it has been for people who could reprehensible” that a Catholic facility such as the Saint John not—and still can’t—be with their loved ones while they are Paul II National Shrine would have been so “egregiously fighting for their lives on ventilators, or hold their hands misused and manipulated” as it was by the administration while they are dying. (One of us had the devastating experi- for political purposes. Likewise outraged was the Episcopal ence of being with a friend whose husband is on a ventilator Bishop Mariann Budde over the use of St. John’s the day when she had her first FaceTime call with him.) We grieve before. with you. We know that we also have oblates and friends who are health workers and are in the throes of saving lives Suffice it for now to heed these words of Pope Francis while risking their own lives, how their spirituality has been from his General Audience June 3rd: “We cannot tolerate tested or helped them get through another day. We honor or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form. At you! Perhaps there are even those among our readers and the same time, we have to recognize that violence is self- friends who have had the virus and survived. Or someone destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by vio- working the fields, risking his or her life to provide for the lence and so much is lost. Let us pray for reconciliation and family. We honor you! peace.” And let us work for reconciliation and peace as well! Nothing is gained by violence against victims or perpetra- In some way it feels as if it’s too blithe a thing to say simply tors, against protestors or police. But sometimes silence is “Be not afraid,” as we have titled this issue. And yet these are also violence. May our contemplative spirituality give us a among the very first words of the risen Christ, the source of clear mind and a pure heart, hope and peace. And may it our Christian hope. also give us a prophetic voice to call each other, our church, our nation, and our world to true conversion, the conver- But then, as if that weren’t enough, we, like many of you, had sion of the Beatitudes, the conversion of resurrection hope. our attention suddenly diverted to demonstrations burst- And Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like ing out all over the nation and the world after the killing of an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24). George Floyd in Minneapolis. As everyone knows, this made the underlying racial issues spring up again, in what seems In solidarity, like an epoch-defining way, all over the world. These two The editors