Seventh Seminary Reflection

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I began my year at West Springfield as a new monk, fresh from the novitiate, eager to get on with my training in philosophy. My understanding of the Rule was that we would learn to reflect on God, and the Passion of Jesus in particular, and then share our reflection with the world in various ways.

I was disappointed to find that Our Mother of Sorrows Monastery seemed to me even more isolated than St. Paul’s in Pittsburgh. We did have a country club and golf course next door, but, of course, it was not available to us. We also had little contact with the outside world, other than occasional interaction with benefactors and brief interchanges with others on our trips to places such as Boston.

I felt that living in a hothouse for a year was long enough, but here we were continuing to be shut away and protected from the world. Part of the sheltered life I wrote off as related to the isolation of West Springfield. I also had a sense that our superiors either did not trust us to stay in balance with our vows, or did not trust their indoctrination of us. I never liked being considered fragile. I also never heard a good explanation for why it was necessary for us to live such a protected life, or at least one which made sense to me.

When I learned we would be moving to Long Island, I started to fantasize about greater educational and social opportunities. I was aware of the extensive educational and cultural resources there and was ready for our Liberal Arts education to finally become liberal and well rounded. I left West Springfield looking forward to a vacation but also excited about the prospect for a much richer education.