NOVEMBER 2015
Sunday 1st. There was quite a group from town
at Mass again this Sunday morning. At lunch we heard Hank Snow once again, and after lunch Brother Leo sang from heart the
refrain of a radio commercial Hank had once done for ‘Royal Feed.'
Monday 2nd. In Chapter,
Dom Bede distributed copies for each of us of this year's visitation card. It is the first time this has been written
in English. He asked us to each read it on our own, and think about it, in view of discussing it when he returns from England
and Rome, a voyage which begins for him tomorrow. Brett our computer technician was in this morning to replace the computer
which provides Brother Henry with a Skype feed of the chapel. Good day for him to be here, because the accounting computer
also had real problems. Brett took it away with him, and set up another accounting computer as a temporary replacement, just
in time for issuing this week's paycheques. Tuesday 3rd. Two of our
many cats were profiting from daylight savings time to do a little early hunting this morning on the back lawn. They did not
appear to be having much luck, but they have their stalking moves down pat. His bags packed, Dom Bede went in to Moncton and
its airport shortly before lunch, stopping in to see our brothers in Dieppe on the way. On the farm, dumptruck loads of corn
are still arriving: there will be no need to buy extra corn this year to get the cows through, as we have had to in the past.
Wednesday 4th. Having received his own copy of the visitation card from
Dom Bede yesterday, Brother Henry said that the whole idea of visitation cards has changed over the years. He remembers the
day when they were laced with criticisms. Seems it was routine back then to take monks to task in front of one another. Thursday, November 5th. John and Brother Michael have been working on the generator shack this week. An electric jack hammer
has had to be rented twice in order to break through cement and hook up the electrical. Friday 6th. A hi-hoe has now covered over the electrical trench leading to the generator shack. Descending
the west staircase, I noticed the floor heating unit had been newly switched on. In that corner of the building is Dom Bede's
office, an icon of Jesus watching Jesus' feet, and a photo portrait of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, taken during
their 2005 visit to Canada. Saturday 7th. After the better-than-usual
summer, it has been very humid. The grass is still green, and moss and mold are now growing around the back door. Some of
it is bright green like you'd see at the seaside. Sunday 8th. Brother
Henry says that the new laptop computer is sending a better video image and sound from the chapel to his residence in Dieppe.
Monday 9th. A parish priest in his late 80's
has arrived for a little retreat. He explained that having taken a few weeks off, and gone hunting at Plaster Rock in the
heavily wooded southwest of the province, he had no success. So after a few days he decided to call the hunt off and drop
by here instead. Father Roger consulted someone today about the well for the chicken barns. The filter for the water is clogging
all the time due to silt in the water. The first solution the fellow had was to decrease the power of the pump: too much horse
power can mean churned-up water. Tuesday 10th. Father Maurice's condition
has been gradually worsening. He is now in a palliative care situation at the residence in Dieppe. Different people are at
once saddened, and struck by how he has been able to beat the health odds for so long. Brother Henry is often by his side,
as well as Maurice's younger brother Jacques. Father Graham went in to spend some time with him today. Tomorrow it will
be Father Innocent who'll go in and so on, a monk each day throughout the week. Wednesday
11th. We received messages from Canadian superiors who had heard of Maurice's trouble. In the kitchen, the spice
rack has been re-arranged, with each spice in the same sort of glass jar. A sign in refectory now reads: "McIntosh apples,
courtesy of God and Father Adrien." Father Adrien took care of the orchard before Father Clovis, and for a time conjointly
with Clovis, who posted the sign. Thursday 12th. The Chiassons charged
with buttressing the dairy barn's east wall were back around the farm today to complete their work. In Dieppe, Brother
Henry's friend Brian took him out to look for a window thermometer. No luck. He returned to Father Maurice's side.
Maurice is now virtually unable to speak. However, he could still make his entourage laugh heartily today. Later, Henry recalled
the first time he saw Maurice. At the time, Henry was a monk, Maurice not. Maurice was 14 and working on the farm in the summer.
Back then, the silo was packed by people climbing up and in, then walking back and forth over the contents. Friday 13th. Today was the feast of all the saints of the Benedictine Family. Dom Bede said Mass for us and
especially for Maurice in Rome, where Bede is presently at the monastery of Tre Fontane. His proficiency in Italian helps
him to assist their Father Immediate, Dom Guerric of La Trappe. Our generalate is just up the street from Tre Fontane, facilitating
visits with the Abbot General. Saturday 14th. Lucien has been undoing
the wiring in the dismantled south wall of the dairy barn. The wiring was done by the monks themselves many years ago and
there are considerably more wires and connections than usual. Father Adrien, though not an electrician, threw himself into
that task. Sunday 15th. Father Maurice was breathing easier for part
of the day, and trying to say more. He felt well enough for the nurses to bring him to the residence chapel, to his delight.
Different friends have dropped in to see him this week.
Monday 16th. Dom André Laberge of the Saint Benoit du Lac monastery sent his
warm regards, to Father Maurice and to us all. Maurice was at SBL to study for the Priesthood in the 1970's, and the bond
has lasted. A visitor here remarked on the noise the new heater makes on his side of the chapel and asked if something could
be done to reduce it. As things cool down, the various heaters switch on in a bigger way and create a sort of air symphony.
From our stalls near the windows, the noise is not bad. Tuesday 17th.
Brother Stephan continues putting in time on repairs to the farm machinery. Poultry demands fewer machines than dairy; fewer
repairs, less money. In Dieppe, our friend John went to visit Maurice bright and early. The sisters were wondering where he
had rolled in from, as his truck was quite well-laden with snow. That was Shediac Wednesday
18th. A monk from another monastery, responding to news of Father Maurice's illness and Dom Bede's engagement
at Tre Fontane, in offering his prayers for Maurice wrote: "I met Bede only once, at the 1990 General Chapter in Rome-he
picked us up at the airport and gave us the wildest ride imaginable through Roman traffic. I never forgot it, or his great
kindness and hospitality." Bede flew from Rome to London this morning, and we look forward to his return here next week.
Thursday 19th. We are presently milking 90 head of cattle twice a day.
That makes for a long parade of generally friendly faces. Outside the parlor, there are 13 calves to feed with milk, twelve
in white hutches, one little fellow who is partially lame inside, in his own little area. Friday 20th. Last night we played a bit more of the documentary series ‘COAST'. Each time we watch
it Brother Léo remarks on how beautiful England looks. Saturday 21st.
Just off the main building off the monastery a music room is tacked on, above the novitiate and the present-day back door.
The music room is not on the geothermal heating grid. Some electric heaters now serve to warm it a little. It has a harmonium
in it, a piano, the late Brother Anthony's record collection (not in the best condition for playing, but the reflection
of someone who had a passion for music) some CD's and players. It is also where Father Innocent practices his guitar and
piano. Brother Michael is putting the last coat of marine varnish on the new road sign today. Then, out to the hall
for the sign to dry. And the exercise room he has been using to work in will be reconverted for muscle creation. Sunday 22nd. Environment Canada has issued a highly detailed bulletin: it should
turn bitterly cold here then snow on Monday. They do their best.
Monday 23rd. Father Innocent drove to
Moncton in the rain and brought back siding for the generator shack. Two technicians from Amherst NS arrived to install a
new, translucent screen wall covering for the barn. Two of our farm hands returned after three weeks off. We were happy to
see them and asked them how the hunting had been. Unfortunately like many NB hunters this year they experienced no success:
"No deers, only beers". Tuesday 24th. Simone put the finishing
touches on this year's meat pies, which will be served to the monks at Christmas. In Dieppe, Dom Bede prayed the rosary
at Father Maurice's bedside with those present, including Brother Henry. Bede then returned to Calvaire, after having
travelled many miles. Moncton was quiet today, almost as quiet as it was all the time not many years back. Wednesday 25th. John and Brother Michael set to work siding the generator shack, only to find out they had
been given some pieces of the wrong size, postponing some work until tomorrow. In Chapter, Dom Bede told us about his voyage
and his pastoral work at Tre Fontane. While in Rome, Bede managed to visit the Church of San Vito for the first time. This
was once a Cistercian Church, but like a fair number of Rome's Churches, is not open when you might hope it'd be.
Thursday 26th. Work continues on the generator shack. Without this, we
will have no heating during power outages this winter. The electrical hook-up is not yet complete but I'm sure it will
be before long. Many situations bring to mind Father Maurice's reflection on our community from years back: Calvaire,
under the gun, but with the worst not happening. Calvaire with just enough of this or that resource; all we really need arriving,
sometimes a bit at a time, sometimes in the nick of time. Maurice is now into the last days of his life. Father Graham went
in this morning. This afternoon Dom Bede went in to spend the next while close to Maurice. Friday 27th. Yesterday the brakes failed on the Kia (at a moment less dangerous than might have been). The
dealer in Dieppe restored the brake quality and today we had the front tires torqued in Rogersville. Brother Michael visited
Father Maurice this afternoon and prayed beside him. Saturday 28th. News
this morning was that Maurice had lived through the night, accompanied throughout by friends and family. Sunday 29th. Our very dear brother Maurice passed away today at noon, his brother Jacques at his side, while
we were saying grace here and the residents in Dieppe were at table with Dom Bede. Bede, upon hearing of Maurice's death,
went to his side and prayed the ‘In Paradisum': May the Angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs greet you
at your arrival and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of Angels greet you and like Lazarus, who once was
a poor man, may you have eternal rest. Monday 30th.
The father and son team working on buttressing the barn say they should be finished this week. As Father Maurice had been
so present in our thoughts and prayers these last weeks, his departure from our world was keenly felt. Dom Bede returned to
the monastery this afternoon. As we ate supper, he spoke to us about Maurice’s final days.
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