Some see the financial wealth of the Church as money poorly spent. I see the other side.
Welcome to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Pax Peace
I went to Conyers Georgia to watch my oldest granddaughter compete at an Archery Competition. We had much fun and Aubrey did get a silver medal in her division. On the second day we finished early enough to do a little sightseeing. My daughter Sussette suggested we visit a Monastery for the Trappist Monks.
Now as a little background. I grew up in Bradford, Massachusetts and went to the Sacred Hearts Church and School. I still remember Sacred Hearts Church as being somewhat large, ornate, and inspiring. Since then I've lived in Nebraska, South Florida, and now North Central Florida. For the past forty years, the churches I attended have been more humble in appearance. Same Roman Catholic Traditions, same Prayers, same allegiance to His Holy Father in Rome in quest to be faithful to the Teachings of Jesus Christ. None-the-less, I forgot the "Feel" of walking into a larger church with what I see as traditional design.
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit was a very inspirational experience. The impressive and beautiful structure and grounds surrounding it did, for me, enhance a spirit of reflection and a reminder that the Church has the strength of long traditions. After all, the purpose of the Church and Religion is to give Glory and Praise to God. Helping those in "Need" is only one way to give thanks to God..... not the only way.
Over the past two thousand years a subset of mankind has built large Monuments to give Glory and Praise to God. Some have built and organized schools to teach the Word of the Lord. There are many examples of people doing their best to worship God in the way they think is best. All work done in the honest attempt to praise God is good. I know many churches are criticized for spending money on material things. Some people feel that the churches' only purpose is to help the needy. This is a most worthwhile venture. However, I also wish to thank people that sacrificed in order to build the Sacred Hearts Church that I used while growing up in Massachusetts. I want to thank those that built the Monastery of the Holy Spirit so that I could enjoy the strong feeling of the Presence of God. I want to thank the people in Nebraska, South Florida, and North Central Florida for doing their best to provide a structure for Worship.
Here is the outside of the Monastery at dusk. The inside reminded me of Churches that I took for granted as a child.
The GROUNDS are also impressive and most conducive to reflection and prayer.
