Posted on 12/17/2010 7:20:35 PM PST by thecodont
Reporting from Big Sur, Calif. — The peal of the church bell splits the predawn darkness like a summons from God himself.
The hermits of Big Sur rise from their beds, slip on white robes and emerge one by one from their quarters — concrete-block cells heated with propane stoves and adorned with third-hand furniture and framed inscriptions of St. Romuald's Brief Rule For Camaldolese Monks.
Sit in your cell as in paradise. Put the whole world behind you and forget it.
If only it were that easy.
The Catholic monks of the New Camaldoli Hermitage have lived a world apart in the inspirational majesty of Big Sur for half a century. They know well the power of prayer and contemplation.
Money management is another matter.
Never did they imagine their most vexing problem would be finding a way to close a $300,000-a-year budget deficit. Or reviving a flagging fruitcake business that has helped support them for decades.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Have you ever been there?
No, I’ve been to Big Sur and Santa Lucia, but not there.
Maybe they never contemplated the fact that nobody goes around saying, “You know, I could go for a yummy fruitcake today!”
Interesting article 15 men down from 25 a decade ago. I understand there plight but the land they own is worth millions of dollars. Perhaps their now newly appointed finance advisor could help them sell a few acres. The Fathers say they do not wish to sell because their own are buried there.
Oh my, I will pray for these devoted men.
I like some fruitcakes.
The most significant aspect is the chant/worship. Or at least it was in years back, according to the testimony of many, and my own value system.
With diminished populace, I'd hope there would still be heard or sensed the divine presence, inhabiting the praises of (some of) His people.
Meanwhile, it sounds as if they could use some help, yet those whom might wish to do so might well remember --- some of the monks there are under (various forms of?) vows of silence. So be sort-of quiet if one can...out of respect for them.
I do hope they can continue to worship there.
Father Bernard was always gracious and patient with me the times I visited, though never staying overnight as many have. I was invited of course, as many are, but didn't. Regret it mildly now that I didn't.
The setting is quite nice.
Otherwise, my thinking turns to basic infrastructure since it was mentioned.
I'm not enough of an insider to know where they get their water, or how they manage their septic, but I had many friends who lived South of there, and those type of things would always be important. They are quite often a do-it-yourself, or at least fix-it-yourself, keep an eye on regular maintenance type of affair on that stretch of Coast.
Outside plumbers who don't know about hillside boony living would have to charge a bundle just to DRIVE there, then be brought up to speed on what's what, and why. Many of the things much of the rest of the nation all but takes for granted can be a bit more difficult in Big Sur, and very pricey if done by labor from "outside". Hire the locals, if one is going to hire. Haggle with them to get a fair price, (it can be done!) before calling in outsiders with an open ended bid! The locals know, but unless one knows who's who, one wouldn't know who to ask. Father Bernard knows...or at least used to.
Coming from Morro, go North past the CA HWY 1, Naciemento Ferguson Road intersection. The turn to the monastary is probably less than a mile North, on the right. If you go as far as Lucia, and see the Lucia Lodge, restaurant & gas station on the left or ocean side, you've gone too far.
It has been a while since I was there...there may be another "drive" or two between the Naciemento Rd. intersection and the monastery, or at least there was a drive or two between it and Lucia.
But there on the right-hand "land" side headed North, the road up is defined at HWY 1 by "wider than a driveway" wide, flat spot, on which one would see a dumpster, and near to it a rather tall slender steel cross. You won't see either the dumpster or the cross if you don't slow down and LOOK, though...
If you see all of those things as described, you'd be in the right place.
And please --- to any lurkers, the mention of the dumpster and the cross, used to be included in the directions Father Bernard would give out over the phone, lol...
Did Fr. Bernard lurk at ba.mountain-folk on USENET? Santa Cruz Mountains denizens called it their home on the Internet. Many stories are posted there about self-sufficiency and mountain living.
Though he did have a wide circle of acquaintances. Remember, up until fairly recently, lacking a cable connection, one would need a dedicated phone line connection to access the internet, or be blocking their own "incoming" phone capability. I don't think there is cable, but maybe, along the Coast road? The monastery has long had phone service. My own friends live down the Coast a ways, but up nearer the ridges, living far out of range of things like electrical utility or phone lines.
A local monastery was holding a fish-and-chips fundraiser during which the question was asked,
“Are you the fish friar?” The reply came,
“No, I’m the chip monk!”
;^)
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