Our class went to the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, also called the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, on December 9, 2009. The monastery was founded in 1944 by a group of Cistercian monks known as Trappists. They were sent from Kentucky’s Abbey of Gethsemani to Georgia. Situated on slightly more than 2,000 acres in a rapidly growing suburban area southeast of Atlanta, this monastery has a unique connection to its surroundings. The Trappist monks place importance on beauty and seclusion for their contemplative lifestyle.
The Cistercian Order values the land as a place of solitude and silence, which they invite everyone to appreciate. St. Benedict created a Rule, similar to St. Basil’s Rule for the Benedictine Order, in 529AD. The Benedictine monks operate as a corporation led by an abbot who serves for life. Any man, regardless of wealth or social status, can join the Benedictine monastery and must take a vow of obedience.
The postulancy typically lasted for one month, while the novitiate lasted for one year, after which simple vows are taken. The solemn vows of Medieval monks were taken four years later, but once a person joined the monastery, they remained a Benedictine monk for life. Benedictine monks live according to strict discipline and uphold the vows of obedience, stability, and conversion in their way of life. These vows form the foundation of St. Benedict’s rule and the life of Benedictine monks. By the tenth century, the rule of St. Benedict was prevalent throughout Western Europe, including England. Medieval monasteries were established during the Middle Ages.
In the Middle Ages, various orders of monks were established, such as the Benedictines, Cistercians, and Carthusians, each having different religious practices and adherence to rules. In England, the number of monasteries declined over time. By the twelfth century, 418 monasteries were founded; however, this number decreased to about one-third in the following century. Eventually, by the fourteenth century, only 23 monasteries remained (The Middle Ages Web Site, n.d.). Notably, at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit exists an inclusive conservation burial ground called Honey Creek Woodlands (HCW), which welcomes individuals from all faiths.
The HCW, short for Honey Creek Woodlands, is a significant part of the Mount Arabia Heritage Area. Covering an extensive 8,000 acres of land, this greenway extends alongside the South River. It connects various locations, including the Mount Arabia Nature Preserve, Panola Mountain State Park, and the monastery located in the southeast. Notably, almost 1,000 acres of the monastery’s land are under permanent protection. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit owns and operates the HCW, with support from Memorial Ecosystems, Inc. This organization played a pivotal role in establishing the nation’s first conservation burial ground called Ramsey Creek Preserve in South Carolina. The monks sustain themselves through small industries.
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit operates several businesses, including a stained glass studio that designs windows for churches in the Southeast, a Bonsai Greenhouse that sells high grade Japanese Bonsai pottery and supplies, a Catholic bookstore and gift shop, and the production of specialty food items like fruitcakes and fudge. The Retreat House also receives income through donations. Additionally, at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Gregorian chant, which is a central tradition of Western plainchant and a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity, is sung during Mass and other ritual services.
Gregorian chant, named after Pope Gregory I, Bishop of Rome (590 to 604 AD), is attributed to his efforts to simplify and categorize music used in church celebrations. It is also recognized as the earliest form of music to be notated in a system that eventually evolved into modern musical notation. The learning process for chants involved following oral examples, an approach known as the viva voce method, and required extensive experience in the Schola Cantorum.
Gregorian chant has its origins in monastic life, specifically in the practice of singing the Divine Service multiple times a day according to the Rule of St. Benedict. The singing of psalms was an integral part of monastic community life, with a smaller group and soloists leading the chants. Over time, Gregorian chant has undergone gradual changes and occasional reforms. The term “monk” derives from the Greek word “monos,” meaning single, and both celibacy and poverty were inherent aspects of being a monk. The Benedictine rule prescribed that monks should possess nothing, although it was not formalized as a vow.
The vow of obedience in the modern understanding of Benedictine monks includes poverty and celibacy, indicating their adherence to the rules and guidelines set by their order, congregations, and monasteries. It is important to note that the vows of poverty and celibacy were introduced later in the development of church doctrine and rule-making. These vows are obligatory for religious institutions that emerged after the establishment of the Benedictine Rule, such as Franciscans, Dominicans, and Jesuits. It should be acknowledged that the Benedictine Rule had been in existence for 500 years before these other orders were formed. (Middle Ages Website, n.d.)
