May 2011 The Road to Daybreak A Spiritual Journey by Henri J M Nouwen

Continue from ...... Poverty and Wealth Monastic Life Since this is Peter's first visit to Europe, it seemed good to see more than just the little village of Trosly and its surrounding willages. So we decided to spend a day and a half in Paris, enjoy the beauty of this great city, and get a sense of its spiritual life. Tonight we attended Vespers and Mass at the Church of St Gervais, undoubtedly one of the most remarkable centers of new religious vitality in France. St Gervais is the spiritual home of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem. These parallel communities of men and women have chosen the city as their place of prayer, in contrast to the great contemplative orders of the past, which built their monasteries and abbeys in the peaceful countryside. Being at St Gervais and praying with the monks and nuns and the several hundred Pasisians who had come directly from their work to the service was a deeply moving experience for both Peter and me. The liturgy was both festive and solemn, a real expression of adoration. The monks and nuns wore flowing white robes. The music had a prayerful, polyphonic quality reminiscent of Byzantine rites. There were icons, candles, and incense. People sat on the floor or on small benches. The atmosphere was very quiet, harmonious, prayerful, and peaceful. To come from the busy, restless city streets into the large church, and to be embraced by the simple splendour of the liturgy, was an experience that made a deep impression on both of us. Peter picked up a flyer describing the spirituality of the brothers and sisters of Jerusalem. There I read: Life in the city today is a wilderness for the masses of men and women who live alone, some worrying about the future, some unconcerned, each unknown to the other. The brothers and sisters of Jerusalem want to live in solidarity with them, just as they are now, and wherever they are. The wish to provide them with some kind of oasis, freely open to all, a silent place alive with prayer, in a spirit of welcome and sharing, where real life means more than mere talking or acting. A peaceful place where all people, whatever their social background, their age, or their outlook on life, are invited to come and share in a common search for God. At St Gerais, we found what these words describe. I have often thought about the possibility of living a truly contemplative life in the heart of the city. Is it possible? Or just a romantic dream? At Cambridge I had tried to start something like that among my students. But my own busyness, restlessness, and inner tension showed that I was not yet ready for it. I needed much more inner discipline than I could develop at a highly demanding university. But the Brothers and Sisters of Jerusalem are doing it. Their self-description continues:

- To Be Continued - © Copyright Shalom 2011. All rights reserved.