Vol. LVlll, No. 1

Summer 2000

REFLECTIONS ON A PILGRIM

by Fr. Mark Stengel, OSB I used "pilgrimage" as a unifying image in the Spring issue of The Abbey Message. No doubt the choice of image came out of my immediate preparations for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I accompanied 26 other pilgrims to Israel and Egypt from May 22 to June 5. Outwardly, the sites visited, the events were the same for all 27, yet each one's inner experience was unique. A travelogue relates the common external elements of a trip. In this article, I will share several personal reactions which might continue to serve the returned pilgrim, as well as the "stay-at-home" pilgrim. "Make the Miracle" A refrain of the Israeli guide, in touting the achievements of his country was: "don't wait for the miracle; make the miracle." The Biblical promise to the children of Abraham of a "land flowing with milk and honey" does not seem to match the harsh reality of the dry, stony, resource-poor land of modern Israel. Yet our guide, Zwicka, kept repeating his faith in the promise. "The milk and honey is there." he said. "We just have to find it." He pointed with pride to the productive farmland wrested from swamp or reclaimed from the desert. He spoke confidently of massive water projects to come, and of high-tech industries that lead the world. "Make the miracle," he repeated. His secular hopes, his confidence in the ability of his people, spoke to me of the hope and the challenge that is ours in the kingdom of God. We too have a vision of a homeland, a Kingdom of peace, love and justice. The stark realities we encounter every day belie such a kingdom, and we easily relegate the Kingdom of God to "miracle" status, to Heaven. This enables us to turn a blind eye to the world's travail, or reject it as ungodly and try to live apart, or simply endure it until God makes things right, in His time. Zwicka would say, and I believe Jesus would say, "make the miracle." It is true that the fullness of the Kingdom will come according to God's timing, but we Christians cannot be on the sidelines waiting for God to do all that must be done. The Kingdom is now, already present around us and within us. We only have to recognize it, find it, and hasten its coming. Like Mary, we choose to be willing participants in the drama: fiat mihi. Also like her, we rely on more than our own strength: "He who is mighty has done great things for me." "All We Need is Water" We traced the entire length of the Jordan River, from the still-present snows of Mt. Hermon, to the Sea of Galilee, through the river valley to Jericho, and on down to the Dead Sea. We examined ancient ruins at Caesarea, Megiddo, Jericho, and Masada. Everywhere, now and 4000 years ago, the primary concern is water. We were constantly urged to drink water, and everyone, natives and tourists alike, carried bottled water.

Lush green fields, nourished by underground drip irrigation systems, flourished beside desolate desert. Where there is water, there is life. The politics of Israel, the Palestinians, and the neighboring countries revolve around water rights and access to water as much as land, or race or religion. "All we need is water," Zwicka repeated. We stood calf-deep in the Jordan River at Yardenit and renewed our baptismal promises. "I believe," we answered, as we drank again from the water bottle, and made our profession of faith. The need for water unites--and separates--the humans of the arid land of Israel. What a powerful symbol water becomes when it is scarce! How eagerly water is sought and treasured in the desert! What a potent weapon water becomes if it is selfishly controlled and manipulated. Jesus tapped into all these meanings when he accepted John's baptism, and when He promised life-giving water to the woman at Jacob's well. Standing in the Jordan, in real water, we renounced all illusory and tempting mirages. Such empty promises leave us dry and deceived. "All we need is water"---the real life-giving water that springs up within to eternal life. "Proclaim the Gospel to Every Creature" Abbot Jerome had exhorted the pilgrim group as we left the Abbey to "seek God's blessing and to be a blessing to all whom we would meet." In the final liturgy of the trip, in a Cairo hotel room, we heard the great commission to "proclaim the Gospel to every creature." Had we been "good news," a living Gospel, to those we had encountered? Had we presented a "word made flesh," a message of God's universal love, and an offer of saving grace, to the many peoples, religions and cultures we had experienced? Certainly we had been on the receiving end. We were blessed by the good will, expertise, and respect shown us by Jews, Muslims, Bedouins, and fellow Christians. We were impressed by the evident religious yearnings of the earlier pagan cultures, as left behind in their statues, shrines and tombs. Clearly, God calls to , and loves, all people of every age. What an undeserved blessing is ours to have been called, through no merit of our own, to know Jesus Christ, and the Father, and their Holy Spirit. We also glimpsed the poverty and squalor of the Bedouin life, and the Cairo slums. What have we done to deserve, to have earned, our privileged position in this world? This too is a gift and privilege, and not ours by right. "Of those to whom more has been entrusted, more will be required." Are we carrying out the commission, to be "good news" to every creature? I know that I was convicted by a Muslim on Mt. Sinai, who reacted indignantly to my rash judgment. On the other hand, we agreed as a group not to voice negative reactions, having noted the Egyptian guide's pride in her country. Whatever might be our specific role in proclaiming the Gospel, we learned that it must be done in humility, gratitude, and with great respect.

A CHRONICLE OF EVENTS

True to form, our two ailing "elders," Fr. Harold Heiman and Fr. Meinrad Marbaugh, returned home from treatment. Both are slowed a bit, but both resist the efforts of the Health Center staff to hold them back. Fr. Harold was trimming hedges a day or so after his return.

Zebo and Zelma arrived. These miniature Sicilian donkeys, gifts of Mr. Pat Wardlaw, are now a "must-see" for abbey visitors, especially children. Random outbursts of braying punctuate their placid existence, along with the occasional tiff when Zelma enforces a "me first" policy at the feed trough.

A team from ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) visited the Academy in early April to assess the educational program. Among their recommendations: MORE HOMEWORK!!

Many monks participated in a cardiovascular exercise promotion, "CardioBlast 2000." Brother Augustine Konitzer lapped all rivals, with his early morning walks and rigorous fishing expeditions.

Easter saw the return of several Holy Week regulars who like to celebrate the Triduum with the monks: Fr. Brendan Miller's mother, Carmel, was here, as were Brother Anthony Pierce's parents, Jay and Pat Pierce. Nancy Labiak (the hat lady), and her friend, Mary Helen Flanagan, were here from Chicago, as was Mr. Tom Gagliano of Memphis. He was a college classmate of several of the monks.

The monastic community traveled to nearby Morrison Bluff on Easter Monday for a day of fishing, card playing, horseshoe pitching, tall tale telling, and overeating. Br. Edward Fischesser is the horseshoe champ. I am not brave enough to list the winners in the other categories. Many expositi (monks stationed away from the abbey) joined us for the day, including Fr. Nicholas Fuhrmann, Fr. Gregory Pilcher, and Fr. William Wewers.

May began with the bombshell announcement that President Clinton and the First Lady would attend a wedding in the Abbey Church! Mercifully, the news broke only on Tuesday for the Saturday wedding. Five days of Secret Service and media attention left us bemused, and thankful that we are normally "off the beaten track." On Saturday morning, the bomb-sniffing dogs and their handlers took a break in the Abbey refectory: coffee for the humans, saucers of milk for the dogs.

The President and First Lady spent about half an hour meeting and mingling with monks, faculty, and students in the inner courtyard after the wedding.

Br. Benedict Silva spotted wood ducks investigating nesting sites in East Park. Eventually they went elsewhere. This little bit of wilderness below the wall has also been visited this spring by deer and coyotes.

Thirty-eight seniors graduated on May 13 in the class of 2000. Abbot Jerome (as permanent stand-in commencement speaker) had some anxious moments until the stranded speaker arrived by rental car from Dallas.

Br. Anselm Allen began a rash of foreign travel with his visit to Einsiedeln Abbey with his sister, Theresa, in March. Fr. Leonard Wangler followed with his trip to St. Peter Abbey in Saskatchewan, Canada, for the Formation Directors' meeting in April. Fr. Mark Stengel, Fr. Raphael DeSalvo, Fr. Leonard Wangler, and Br. Jude Schmitt pilgrimaged to Israel and Egypt in late May. At the same time, Br. James Lindsey and Mrs. Joann Lynch led a student volunteer team to Belize. Br. James Casey is with another student group and Spanish teacher, Jose Aznar, in Spain. Br. Joseph Heath accompanied Fr. Gregory to Lourdes, France, to "give Mary a shot at" Fr. Gregory's failing lungs. Fr. Gregory's faith always includes a touch of irreverence and good humor.

Monday, June 5, was Jubilee Day. Fr. Raphael celebrated 60 years of monastic profession, and the Golden Jubilarians were Fr. Sebastian Beshoner, Br. Patrick Hogan, Br. Louis Fuhrmann, and Br. Michael Fuhrmann.

That same evening, Archabbot Lambert Reilly of St. Meinrad Archabbey opened the Monastic Retreat, which ended with the Renewal of Vows on Friday morning. Abbot Lambert gave us much wisdom and pertinent anecdotes gleaned from his many years of retreat work. Retreat was followed by the annual Chapter Meeting, in which reports from all departments are presented and new business discussed. This is the one time each year when almost all the monks are home, when our numbers swell close to 60.

The summer Diaspora follows, with the ranks depleted by vacations, summer assignments, summer school, etc. Presently our three Junior monks, Br. Isaac Youker, Br. Gabriel Bryant, and Br. Joshua Fry are attending the Juniorate Formation program at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California. Fr. Timothy Donnelly is spending the rest of June at Santa Familia Monastery in Belize, while Prior Richard Walz enjoys some vacation time here and at Poplar Bluff, Missouri, with his aging mother, Bertha Walz.

The spring and early summer have been moderate in temperature and in rainfall. The grounds are lush now, but deeper moisture is lacking. Still, compared to the fire, flood, and drought all around us, we count our blessings, as we wait for the arrival of "real" Arkansas summertime weather. The week of Summer Boys' Camp (June 18-24 this year) can be counted on for normal, i.e., unbearable heat and humidity, and at least one violent thunderstorm. We shall see...