This past weekend a few of my high school students and I drove down to the Dominican Monastery of St. Jude in Marbury, Alabama. On the long drive down, between talking and snacking, we listened to some tapes on Holy Silence by Fr. Basil Nortz, ORC, in order to prepare ourselves for the "retreat" part of the weekend we had planned. Once we finally arrived we took some time to get settled in to the guest rooms adjoining the monastery. The girls had never actually stayed at a monastery before (two of them are entering the Church this Easter!) and took great delight in the parlor, the grill, the turn, and the door to the chapel right next to our little guest room cells. After settling in, we spent the next 24 hrs in silence, trying not to distract each other so we could all focus on God. Since they were quiet, I couldn't tell whether they were having a good time or just getting bored, but afterwards they told me they LOVED the silence! It was so wonderful, they want to spend a few minutes in silence every day. "I didn't think about anything except what I was supposed to be thinking of!" (namely, God)
The next day and a half we spent time visiting with each other as well as with Our Lord. We explored their guesthouse, walked around outside, and sat talking about life before going in to join the nuns in praying the Divine Office. (They sing the Office in both Latin and English.) Throughout the weekend, we listened to spiritual audio tapes during meals, and got to visit with the nuns in the parlor during thier recreation! The Sisters are so young, despite their age in years--even the girls commented on that. (They do have some young people applying, however!!) Entranced, the girls sat in rapt attention, listening to the nuns' vocation stories from years ago, and other stories of their monastery life.
When we finally had to drive home, singing rounds and knotting rosaries along the way, they begged me to bring them back again soon! Although I love the nuns and the monastery, it still astounded me that the girls responded so joyfully and immediately. Praise God! I hope to go down again with some girls, perhaps after Easter.
Just sharing that happy experience with you all! I have some wonderful highschoolers (guys and girls) and God is doing great work in them. And the Monastery is awesome.