Downside Abbey Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery

GENTLE DAWN CHORUS

RUNNING WATER

DRAIN GURGLES

CLOCK TICKS HEAVILY

DOOR CREAKS

FOOTSTEPS

DISTANT BIRDSONG

HINGE CREAKS

Hmm.

KNOCKING OF WOOD

BELLS RING

RINGING CEASES

WHISPERING

KNOCK OF WOOD ON WOOD

GREGORIAN CHANTING

GREGORIAN CHANTING

WOOD PIGEON COOS

GENTLE BIRDSONG

INSECTS BUZZ

GATE CREAKS

STEMS SNAP

DOOR CLOSES

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

-Benidicite.

-Benedicite.

GREGORIAN CHANTING

The rule of our Holy Father, St Benedict, Chapter the 38th -

The Weekly Reader.

During meals, there shall be complete silence,

disturbed by no whispering.

Nor should anyone's voice be heard except the reader's.

Everyone in the community should be attentive to

the needs of their neighbours as they eat and drink,

so that there should be no need for anyone to ask for what they require.

However, if such a need should arise, there should be agreed

signs for such requests,

so as to avoid the sound of voices.

No-one should venture to ask a question about the reading

during the meal times, nor about anything else,

for fear of provoking a breakdown in silence.

Chapter the 39th -

The Amount Of Food To Be Made Available.

Whether the main meal each day is at noon or in mid-afternoon,

two cooked dishes on every table should be enough to

allow for differences of taste, so that those who feel

unable to eat from one may be satisfied with the other.

Two dishes, then, should be enough for the needs of all, but if there

is a supply of fruit and fresh vegetables available,

a third may be added.

The full pound of bread every day for each

member of the community should be enough, both on days when there is

only one meal and on those when there is a supper as well as dinner.

If the community is to have supper, the cellarer must retain

a third of each one's bread ration to give them at supper.

Ye must always be careful, however, to avoid excessive eating,

which might also cause indigestion.

Nothing is so opposed to Christian values as overeating,

as we can see from the words of our Lord -

"Take care that your hearts are not weighed down by overeating."

GAVEL BANGS

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

METALLIC WHIRRING

BELLS RING

RINGING CEASES

GREGORIAN CHANTING

CHANTING IN CHORUS

FOOTSTEPS