Dear Friend of Clear Creek Abbey,
We have often said it, but the monk truly lives by liturgical prayer. St.Benedict calls it simply The Work of God. This great prayer can be accomplished anywhere, even in a field where the monks may be working too far from the Abbey in order to return for one of the Hours. But the solemn celebration of the Divine Work — that is, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass — requires a special setting.
A recurring thought that has haunted the dreams and waking moments of the monks of Clear Creek for the past ten years could be formulated in words such as these: “Some day we will finish laying the foundation, and actually raise up walls toward heaven.” Of course one might point out the fact that rather imposing buildings have already been constructed. This is true, and we are most thankful. And yet, without the Abbey church, the core of our construction project is missing. Now, at last, the true “heart” of the Abbey is about to rise heavenward.
Alea jacta est. “The die has been cast.” On August 27th, a contract between Clear Creek Abbey and Manhattan Construction Company was signed for the construction of a significant part of the church. Owing to a rather competitive market in the construction world, we were able to include in this contract the building of a second side of our cloister, which is to say of the inner courtyard around which the various monastic buildings are grouped in the classic design. This was a great joy for us. Many good things are falling into place.
This phase of construction is to be completed in twelve months. However, unless Divine Providence sends us a rather unusual amount of financial support we will then have to stop the work for a while. We are quite ready to accept God’s will in this matter and His Providence that reaches far beyond our human foresight.
It does seem a favorable moment, however, for me to make a very special request. I have in the past tried not to overburden our friends with urgent appeals for material support — especially while the American economy is still trying to recover from its recent downturn. At the same time, it seems only right to share with you our needs at this crossroads of the development of our monastery — now “come into its own” as an Abbey.
As we all consider both the threats that loom ever greater over our decadent Western society and the current of faith and generosity that is clearly present in our younger generations, ready to meet the challenge, it seems that the hour has come to “strike a great blow” in favor of what counts most. It might seem slightly quixotic to try to build something of such a strong Catholic identity — something that will last a thousand years — amid the shifting sands of multiculturalism, not to mention the moral and spiritual quagmire that so characterizes vast sectors of the world around us. But is it not Our Lord Himself who tells us that “… the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent bear it away” (Mt. 11:12)? Don Quixote may not have been so foolish after all.
So here is what I am asking: Please help us to continue building heavenward.
This involves, of course, both material and spiritual help, beginning with the latter. I would suggest, as we have in the past, the recitation of the Chaplet of the Child Jesus for this purpose. On the material side, many are simply unable to send large donations at this time, due to the financial difficulties with which so many Americans are struggling. Whatever can be spared will be enough.
In the end, however, it is your friendship that we value most. The rest is but the fruit that falls from the branches of a life shared in the communion of a great ideal, in the Communion of Saints, in membership of the Mystical Body of Christ. There is really nothing left to say.
May God bless you, and may Our Lady of the Annunciation intercede for you before her Son.
+ br. Philip Anderson, abbot
Related Posts
Dear Friend of Clear Creek Abbey,
We have often said it, but the monk truly lives by liturgical prayer. St.Benedict calls it simply The Work of God. This great prayer can be accomplished anywhere, even in a field where the monks may be working too far from the Abbey in order to return for one of the Hours. But the solemn celebration of the Divine Work — that is, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass — requires a special setting.
A recurring thought that has haunted the dreams and waking moments of the monks of Clear Creek for the past ten years could be formulated in words such as these: “Some day we will finish laying the foundation, and actually raise up walls toward heaven.” Of course one might point out the fact that rather imposing buildings have already been constructed. This is true, and we are most thankful. And yet, without the Abbey church, the core of our construction project is missing. Now, at last, the true “heart” of the Abbey is about to rise heavenward.
Alea jacta est. “The die has been cast.” On August 27th, a contract between Clear Creek Abbey and Manhattan Construction Company was signed for the construction of a significant part of the church. Owing to a rather competitive market in the construction world, we were able to include in this contract the building of a second side of our cloister, which is to say of the inner courtyard around which the various monastic buildings are grouped in the classic design. This was a great joy for us. Many good things are falling into place.
This phase of construction is to be completed in twelve months. However, unless Divine Providence sends us a rather unusual amount of financial support we will then have to stop the work for a while. We are quite ready to accept God’s will in this matter and His Providence that reaches far beyond our human foresight.
It does seem a favorable moment, however, for me to make a very special request. I have in the past tried not to overburden our friends with urgent appeals for material support — especially while the American economy is still trying to recover from its recent downturn. At the same time, it seems only right to share with you our needs at this crossroads of the development of our monastery — now “come into its own” as an Abbey.
As we all consider both the threats that loom ever greater over our decadent Western society and the current of faith and generosity that is clearly present in our younger generations, ready to meet the challenge, it seems that the hour has come to “strike a great blow” in favor of what counts most. It might seem slightly quixotic to try to build something of such a strong Catholic identity — something that will last a thousand years — amid the shifting sands of multiculturalism, not to mention the moral and spiritual quagmire that so characterizes vast sectors of the world around us. But is it not Our Lord Himself who tells us that “… the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent bear it away” (Mt. 11:12)? Don Quixote may not have been so foolish after all.
So here is what I am asking: Please help us to continue building heavenward.
This involves, of course, both material and spiritual help, beginning with the latter. I would suggest, as we have in the past, the recitation of the Chaplet of the Child Jesus for this purpose. On the material side, many are simply unable to send large donations at this time, due to the financial difficulties with which so many Americans are struggling. Whatever can be spared will be enough.
In the end, however, it is your friendship that we value most. The rest is but the fruit that falls from the branches of a life shared in the communion of a great ideal, in the Communion of Saints, in membership of the Mystical Body of Christ. There is really nothing left to say.
May God bless you, and may Our Lady of the Annunciation intercede for you before her Son.
+ br. Philip Anderson, abbot
