Monk-ey Business

Yesterday we left New Norcia, about 150km inland from Perth. It is a small town owned by a self sufficient order of Benedictine monks who came in the 1800's. In its heyday it had 80 monks living there producing a variety of foods such as honey, bread, olive oil, beer and wine. Now there are only 9 and they aren't getting any younger, so while you can still get some of the produce, they get it made by other people. The bread was delicious and Garry took a particular liking to the Abbey Ale, consuming several, just to help out the monks of course. I even liked it and had 2, so with it being 7.5% alcohol it was an interesting evening!

The old hotel at New Norcia (all owned by the monks)

 Being interested in history we found the guided tour very good and learnt that the New Norcia monks are different in that way back  they chose to break away from the control of the catholic church due to 'philosphical and managerial' differences. Go monks! Unfortunately this means they have to be self sufficient, and change with the times to generate income.
 Part of the tour was the opportunity to join a 15 minute prayer service with the monks, purely optional. I was just about to decline, being a heathen and all, when blow me down Garry has a brain explosion says he wants to go! Those of you that know him will be just as astounded as i was ,he's even more of a heathen than me!. After I picked my jaw up off the floor we went into the chapel to quietly sit in on the service.
It was very still and quiet and the monks came in wearing their white cassocks (white for summer, black for winter), and they sat in their own spots, where some of them have sat for 50 years! While they didn't get up a full blown Gregorian chant session or anything, they did sing their prayers in a peaceful, harmonious manner that I found soothing.
Afterwards I asked Garry if he had been struck by the spiritual feeling that he dismally failed to achieve back at the desert sculptures in Broken Hill, and while he found it interesting, sadly he is still waiting for the feeling. Oh well, maybe a few more Abbey Ales will help.

Here I go off to one of the churches