Receive All Guests As Christ

Today our alarm clock went off at the very monastic hour of 5:30 a.m. Mary Fran went off to meditation and I took a shower--both I understand are close to godliness. Then it was breakfast at 6:30 and on the bus shortly after 7:30. We prayed lauds on the bus. Three hours later we arrived at Montecassino for the day. After a bit of time to walk around, the Abbot celebrated Eucharist with us, saying it in English for the first time. During the Eucharist all the Oblates renewed our own vows. The Baroque church is magnificent, still waiting some of the final restoration after the bombing of the monastery in 1944. The church structure has been rebuilt exactly as it had been originally. There is a magnificent high altar and behind the altar are the relics of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. After Eucharist we feasted in the monks' dining hall. The monastic community served our tables, and what a meal it was with course after course appearing while we savoured every mouthful. We even captured a photo of a monk serving us coffee, a reminder that we are all called to serve. As you can also see, Mary Fran and I appreciated the celebration. Following the meal we were then taken on a very instructive tour of the monastery, finally ending the day with sung Vespers in the church with the community. The gift of their monastic hospitality is something we shall never forget.