The Community

Thought you all might like a taste of the monastery where I've been staying the last few days. No, it's not the grand buildings in the front of the photo, it's the little one nestled in the trees right in the middle of the picture.

The community has rebuilt and adapted an eleventh century Benedictine foundation which was more recently occupied by the Franciscans. There are only five of them at the moment; this is the small chapel where they worship together (with their guests and visitors) three times every day.

The refettorio is where everyone shares the common meals: simple country food, mostly grown by the monks in their grounds, and very tasty. Olive oil is abundant and used liberally in everything.

The buildings are surrounded by agricultural land belonging to the monastery. Here, just west of the church, is the sizeable vineyard; round the other side is the olive grove in which the cicadas sing all day.

And everywhere, Christ is present.

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