summaries of a lot of reflection
and prayer,
of communication
and silent reflection,
reports pointing into one direction:
our life,
our Cistercian life,
our monastic life
is to seek God
in the common life,
in personal prayer
and Opus Dei,
in Lectio Divina
and manual work,
and by living this life,
and living it to the full
with all its challenges
and joys,
with all its demands
and graces,
with all its flaws
and mercies,
this life,
lived in truth
and in spirit,
in the truth of ourselves,
leading to real humility,
in the truth
of our common life,
accepting the true reality
of our brothers and sisters,
their strengths,
their weaknesses,
their histories
their joys
their struggles,
their battles,
their vulnerability
and their resilience,
in the truth of the Church,
a people of God,
a community of pilgrims,
wayfarers on the way
towards the fullness
of God’s presence
in this world
and the world to come,
in the truth of Christ,
in Christ, the Truth,
the Way
and the Life,
a life totally given,
a life broken,
a life of humble service,
of washing of feet of brothers and sisters,
touching and healing
people’s lives,
minds and bodies,
a life stronger then death,
a life beyond the grave.
Our monastic life,
our Cistercian life,
lived to the full
in the spirit,
in the spirit of our father Benedict,
in the spirit of our founders,
of Robert, Alberic and Stephen
and yet open for the Kairos,
for the signs and needs of the times,
the spirit of simplicity,
a spirit of creative frugality,
a spirit of love of
and for the brothers and sisters,
the Spirit of Christ
full of joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness
and self control,
a Spirit of God,
that breaths life into clay,
that prays in souls
and exclaims, Abba, Father.
This life then,
our life,
our monastic life,
our Cistercian life,
when lived to the full,
will become a prophetic sign,
for ourselves,
when and only when
we let our own heart
be evangelised,
and for the world,
for where there is secularism,
there will be God-centered life,
where there is individualism,
there will be fraternal love
and common life,
where there is continual change
and insecurity,
there will be stability,
where there is fear,
there will be solid faith,
where there is brokenness,
there will be wholeness
and healing.
We listened to the reports
of the Regions,
we heard what they said,
and sometimes what they did not say.
Now we have to listen again
with the heart,
poor as it may be,
and choose life,
our lived life,
a life
transforming us
wholely and holy
into the life of Christ
where we belong.
Fr Jan, Caldey Abbey
