Service at Weston Priory

Benedictine Monks

After the services, I spoke with Brother Daniel about the origins of the Priory and some of the missionary work he has done in different parts of the world. All the while, thinking that it is amazing for him to be here, as a monk, in this small northeastern village in America. His wonderful Spanish accent gave his descriptions of travels around South America an exotic appeal. Brother Daniel spoke with enlightened eloquence about the exotic exploits of Brothers in South America.

The ceremonies, he told me, go back to the founding beliefs of the church. Ancient practices that predate the Romans were incorporated into early Christian liturgical services. Just as the sharing together of the baptismal promise is a commitment renewing vows, so to speak. We call forth the spirits of the dead to help and guide us, an honorary system that still survives in cultures around the world such as Native American Indians, Aborigine tribes in Australia and Roma people of Central and Eastern Europe.

Benedictine Monks, performing a liturgy honoring the dead with melodic intoned chant of names, start with “Abraham and Sara, Moses and Miriam…Joseph of Nazareth,” with a refrain sung back by the whole congregation, “Be with us.” Some of the notable honored mentioned were… “Joan of Arc, Thomas Moore, Gandhi Mahatma, Ann Frank, sisters and brothers of the Holocaust, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Malcolm X, Martin Luther, Oscar Romero and the Jesuit Martyrs of El Salvatore.”

The remergence of ancient practices brings us closer to nature and finding; Evolution of the spirit.

This list just names a few. Some others are “Thomas Aquaintis, Albert Einstein, all teachers and theologians, and all renewers of society who gave of themselves for life and for others.” This eclectic mix is inspiring to find under a dogma that traditionally hasn’t included blessing members of other faiths. It is reaffirming to see that brotherhood can be so inclusive and open- minded. These men have integrity in their practice and a spiritual presence that is both amazing and familiar at the same time.

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