Two years ago, my husband and I packed up our three kids, and we drove from our little farm, across the desert, into Arizona to visit St. Anthony the Great Monastery.
Growing up, this was a place that my parents and I traveled to on several occasions in pilgrimage. It is where my parents' spiritual father lives and has been a place of refreshment and healing for many other faithful.
This was the first time I had gone after getting married because the idea of towing along my children filled me with immense trepidation. It took two years of attending services at the women's monastery before my girls were relatively behaved **** this is used very loosely. If you come visit the monastery, I will be the frazzled mom in the corner lecturing one crying/crazy/angry child or two.
But we arrived. And it was one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had with my children. It was difficult. No lie. Because it was July, and we were in the middle of the desert, and the schedule is hard---midnight services, and quiet hours for three energetic children can be an adjustment, but they loved it there.
I think little ones can feel Grace in a way that is much harder for someone like me--jaded and disillusioned and far too much enmeshed in "the world" could ever. The neighborhood community and the visitors we spent time with were so understanding and welcoming. My girls loved the services, even if we spent the majority of the time in the Narthex to keep quiet. Trapeza with the monks was a treat. They splashed in all the fountains and ran up and down all the winding garden paths. And they bubbled with such excitement to get a blessing from Geronda Ephraim, my parents' spiritual father, and the holiest person I have had the blessing to meet.
To this day, they still talk about the time we went to the red monastery. Any red building we passed for a year afterwards they would point and shout and say, "Oh look! It's St. Anthony church!" I had no choice but to record their experiences in the second of the Katherine Monastery books... perhaps we will go again soon.
I think many people are intimidated by monasteries.... I know that was the case with me, and I had grown up visiting them my entire life. It's the strict schedule, the change in dress, the quiet, even. But every time I go, I feel refreshed and peaceful, and wondered why I had been so nervous about going in the first place. The monastics who live here, although outwardly are silent, austere, strict even at times, are loving, funny, and such beautiful souls. It is a blessing to get to know them, to visit their homes, to ask for their prayers because they pray for the whole world every day!
As hard and ugly and yes, perhaps, evil, as the world is... can you imagine what it would be like if we didn't have their constant intercessions, their tears, and their prayers protecting us every day?
Experiencing monasteries through the eyes of my children, I have felt my heart burst on countless occasions as they soak up this most beautiful, critical part of our faith. They love "our sisters," as they call them here at the Life-Giving Spring. And they felt so comfortable and yet equally reverent at St. Anthony. It was natural for them to be immersed in that life, and I am so grateful to be a witness to that.
I am excited to see what the future will bring, and what monastery we will visit next!
Katherine and the Desert Monastery is available for pre-order at a discounted price in our family store! And the celebrate a new book, Katherine and the Monastery is also available at the discounted price. Our new book will be shipped out at the end of September, when it will sold at the regular price, so order early!
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