May - Mary:
In former days, the month of May was dedicated to Mary. Mount
Saviour has a daily ritual after Compline in the crypt
with the singing of a hymn to Mary. For many years, the monks are
gathering in front of the statue after Vigils for a prayer to Our Lady
for vocations. Every time we go to our rooms (in the east building),
we pass in front of a modern statue of the madonna and child by Jean Lambert-Rucki
who was born in Cracow in 1888 and settled in Paris in 1911. The
Abbey of St-Benoit-du-Lac (Quebec) has 3 of his sculptures and printed
Christmas cards by the same artist who died in 1967. We are grateful
to Otto Speath who gave us the 2 statues.
Sheep:
The lambing season went smoothly with 115 ewes giving birth to 189
lambs within 3 weeks. We had fewer lambs because one of the rams
who was to "serve" a group of 13 ewes did not have the "right stuff" and
left them barren. During the same period, our sheep were visited
by coyotes who satisfied their hunger with 12 lambs and 2 ewes. They
did not waste their victims; they ate all the bones and flesh and left
only the skin and the hoofs.
Visiting
Monks:
St. Paul's Abbey, in Newton NJ, have a program for continuous formation
for the monks of the St. Ottilian Congregation. Four Africans, one
German an one American, Fr. Bede, came for a retreat conducted by Fr. Martin.
Ecumenism:
Clergy and laity from all denominations have been welcome to Mount
Saviour since its beginning. On May 27th, we attended the Institution
and Induction of the Rev. Fr. Donald W. Matthew, rector of Grace Episcopal
Church in Elmira. The Solemn High Pontifical Mass was presided by
Bishop David B. Joslin, bishop of Central New York and the homily was given
by Bishop Arthur B. Williams of the diocese of Ohio. The ceremony lasted
two hours and a half with much signing with orchestra and well prepared
rituals.