For those like me whose heart yearns towards a monastery but whose vocation is found in wife and family, Br. Stephen’s observations on his first year as a Cistercian novice are a fascinating set of insights into a life that we’ll only ever know from the outside.
What struck me most about the piece is that a good number of the lessons learned would be very similar if one applied them to the first years of marriage or parenthood.
So true!
Lyngine, I thought the same thing.
I recently discovered Br Stephen myself (thanks to a referral from your site) and will be reading him regularly from now on. I think he might be the genuine article.
Br. Stephen is of particular interest here as he has traveled the road that some of us have—from liberal Anglican to Anglo-Catholic to Roman Catholic to Cistercian. And, several members of the Philly Anglo-Catholic periphery who participate here know him personally as he used to attend St Clement’s.
I know Bro Stephen slightly and find his observations to be always thoughtful.