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Archived chronicles 2005 - text only December 2004
Monday 20 – Alan, our postulant, is busy renovating the reading room on the second floor where the community
reads the newspapers and reviews. It was once the novitiate. Wednesday 22 – In the evening we enjoyed a festive meal with our workers and the last executive committee
of the Friends of the Trappists. This association has now been dissolved. The meal was to express our thanks for all that these people have done and continue
to do for us. At the end some of our guests played their guitars and sang songs. The
meal was catered by the local restaurateurs from “Chez Doris”. Thursday 23 – Brother Stephen gave us a singing class in preparation for Christmas. We have not had much snow this winter so far, but today and yesterday the weather was so mild that the little
we had all melted. The river is flowing over the dam like it were spring. The abbot was able to get out on his bike. Saturday 25 – Christmas at last! Nothing extraordinary about our
Christmas exteriorly. But we trust the grace of the celebration was with us and
all with whom we were united in prayer. We had the Mass of Christmas night at
Sunday 26 – Fr. Maurice celebrated the Mass on this feast of the Holy Family. His homily wasn’t too bad, in it he spoke about…the family. Several
couples and their children gave point to the feast. Monday 27 – The abbot left by train for Wednesday 29 – I had a Christmas visit from my family, a get-together in honour of the festive season.
January 2005 Saturday Sunday 2nd January – We watched on video a documentary on the recent tsunami disaster in the Monday through Thursday – Quite a quiet week without the abbot. Friday 7 January – Dom Bede came back from his travels to his former monastery at The abbot was happy to see his former monastic brethren again and Brother Graham on top form, enjoying his visit to
The previous chronicle said that Dom Bede left in the midst of a snowstorm. In
fact, the storm lasted all through his train journey to Join the Trappists and see the world! Saturday 8 January – The abbot discretely completed the 62nd year of his life. Brother Henry got some volunteer visitors making some carrot juice by the gallon. Seemingly it is extraordinarily good for health, almost miraculous. The net result, however, was a major blockage of the drains, which required the skilled intervention of Rhéal, our maintenance man. The drains are now clearer than they have been for years and Br. Henry’s health is just the same.
Monday 10 – In chapter we had our last Visitation Card re-read and a short exchange
about it. We are grateful to our Father Immediate for an encouraging report. Wednesday 12 – This evening we had a discussion about
the time of the Sunday Mass. Usually we have had the Mass at Friday 14 – Today we had really mild weather which took away all the snow. This evening we had a special chapter discussion concerning the acceptance of Alan as a
novice. He has been accepted, which means a reception of the habit ceremony shortly. Alan has shown himself a capable decorator in renovating the periodicals reading room. Saturday 15 – We watched a video of the funeral of Louis Robichaud, which had taken place in Moncton Cathedral on January 12th. Louis Robichaud was the Premier of our province from 1960 to 1970. He proved to be a very dynamic leader who completely transformed the province from every point of view. He was the first Accadian to be elected to this office Monday 17 – From time to time Martin Cormier lives through some difficult moments. This evening he was getting ready to ship out the chickens. Everything was ready and the trucks had arrived. But the team of catchers was not here. After waiting a bit Martin got onto the telephone. There had been a mistake and the team of catchers was not expecting to be here this evening. They said they would come. But they were more than 100 kilometres away. While he was waiting Martin called round locally and got together a team of catchers. He came up with 9, of whom 2 powerful women. Ultimately the chickens got shipped, but very late in the night. There is no question of cancelling the operation because the slaughter-house has to have its quota every day.
Wednesday 19 – Our dishwashing machine has not been working satisfactorily for a long time. We were only half conscious of it. Bobby
Pitre from Collette came and identified the problem. We needed a part. The repair man was not at all confident it could be found. However
with the help of the abbot on the internet and Brother Stephen’s technical and local knowledge, we had located it within
24 hours. The abbot discussed with us what we should do to mark Lent: Lenten reading, food restrictions etc. Thursday 20 – At 7 pm, while we were watching a video about the Eskimos of the far north of
Friday 21 – This morning there was a lot of snow to shift. Fortunately we have a really powerful blower and shovels to clear in front of the doors. Monday 24 – The abbot is continuing his conferences on the Rule. He has got to chapter 3 on consulting the brethren, all of them including the youngest. Alan likes this chapter. Tuesday 25 – Feast of the Conversion of Wednesday 26 – Feast of our Holy Founders, Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen Harding. Father Maurice celebrated the Mass, with a nice homily, as is his wont. Thursday 27 – The weather makes news, even if it is not the most exciting of subjects. For the last week or so it has been like Friday 28 Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas. We remember to pray for students
in philosophy and theology, and, especially, for our own student at the Saturday 29 – At 7 pm, singing class to practice for the Abbatial Blessing of Mother Alfreda Gaudet. The sisters have asked for our support. Sunday 30 – A great joy for the community: our postulant Alan received the habit and became Brother Damien. His name was already Damien-Alan, in fact. Br.
Damien is the first novice since May 1996, not surprising that there are so few of us. After the reception of the habit, the abbot announced a few items concerning the future. He is looking for a retreat giver for our community retreat. It is possible, however, that we might have to have one without a preacher this year and have a proper one in the early part of next year. The report at the end of our last Regular Visitation remarked that on-going formation was a bit of a neglected area. The abbot suggested that members of the community might be prepared to give conferences on the theme of the year of the Eucharist. Then, we have to get on with preparing our house-report for the next General Chapter.
Monday 31 January – At supper time, the abbots and abbesses, including Dom André, retired abbot of Rougemont, arrived. Dom Marcel of Prairies and Dom Jacques Garneau of Saint-Benoît du Lac had not been able to come. They had supper with us in the community refectory and we were joined by Mother Alfreda from Assomption.
Tuesday 1 February – The abbots and abbesses held a mini-meeting which lasted most of the day. They had their meals with us and the Wednesday 2 – Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord and the Abbatial Blessing of Mother Alfreda, the
new abbess of Assomption. We all went over to Assomption for 10h30. But Brother Urbain was not able
to come because he had to wait for the district nurse who is coming in every day at the moment to change the dressing on the
open sore on his leg. The liturgy was presided by Archbishop André Richard of Thursday 3 – On the dot of Saturday 5 – Greg Kennedy, an applicant, arrived from The temperature went up above freezing for a few days. Monday 7 –
This morning we had our monthly day of prayer for the dead. It is our last until
after paschal time. A district
nurse from the hospital comes to attend Brother Urbain: he has an open wound on his leg which is not healing as quickly as
it should. Father Maurice
went to We have nobody
that is really sick, just some who have to have periodic check-ups. After a long
wait, Brother Gilles got his appointment for Wednesday
9 – The Mennonite Pastor, Werner DeJong, from Peticodiac, to the south of The Pastor
took five points to illustrate the teaching and approach of the
The Mennonites
have known a lot of persecution. Rev. DeJong was a lively speaker. Thursday 10
– There seems to be a certain spirit of nostalgia at large in the community. This
evening we were discussing whether to re-adopt the liturgical posture called in ceremony (the arms by the sides with
the cowl sleeves let down) which we suppressed after Vatican II under Abbot Alphonse.
We also decided to put the crucifix beside the altar during Lent. Saturday 12
– Our cows are too good. Brother Stephen has difficulty in keeping the
milk production within the limits imposed by the quota we have. Wednesday 16 – This evening we worked on our house report for the next General Chapter of the Order. We are basing it on the last visitation card, adding the developments that have taken
place since. Thursday 17 – This evening we watched a further episode of Mel Gibson’s film. People don’t seem to be getting much out of it. Elmer Aucoin, one of our workers, has been re-painting the refectory. Friday 18 – The guesthouse is full. Something that doesn’t
happen often. Sunday 20 – Our little chapel was packed for the This evening Father Maurice went by train to Rougemont, at the invitation of Dom Raphael. Since we use the same accounting computer program Father Maurice will be able to help Dom André learn it. Monday 21 – Dom Bede has been able to get out on his bike despite the cold. Brother Urbain likewise, at 87 years of age has been riding his tricycle, in minus 6ºC. Wednesday 23 – Brother Graham sent us a copy of the Beda Review.
Hidden away in one corner we discovered a picture of him, all smiles. Thank
you, Brother. Thursday 24 – We are following the Pope’s illness by internet and we are praying for him. We have been reading in the refectory a little work by Timothy Radcliffe: “The Seven Last Words of Christ”. But we have interrupted it to listen to the latest circular letter from the Abbot
General. Friday 25 – Three sisters of Myriam de la Paix spend a day of recollection here. They are from Tracadie-Sheila. Saturday 26 – Father Maurice came back from his week at Rougemont where he had helped Dom André familiarize himself
with the computer accounting program. The Abbot and community of Rougemont expressed
great satisfaction. Monday 28 February – Our electronic organ is showing increasing signs of wearing out and is beyond
the limits of any guarantee. Brother Stephen’s dream would be a pipe organ,
but such a thing is beyond our financial possibilities. On the other hand digital
computer organ technology has made huge strides forward and they come at reasonable prices.
The abbot and Brother Stephen went to look at one on sale in Miramichi. The
company, Irving Keyboard, agreed to let us have the organ here for a week to see how it suited us. March 2005 Tuesday March 1 – We recalled the seventy-first anniversary of Brother Urbain’s entry into the
monastery. Another big snowstorm today; will this be the last storm of the winter? Friday 4 – For the year of the Eucharist there will be a night of adoration in the guest house chapel
each first Friday of the month. The first one was held this evening, with Father
Clovis Chiasson, chaplain to the Trappistines, and some of the sisters and laity of the area participating. Saturday 5 – 71st birthday of the chronicler: So
I was born four days after Brother Urbain entered the monastery. Something he
reminds me of frequently. A meeting was held so that the brethren could give their opinion on the buying of the new organ. The sound of the new instrument was certainly considered a great improvement on the old one. Monday 7 – We have at last gotten ourselves a retreat preacher for next November. He is an Oblate of
Mary Immaculate, a Franco-American, Father Francis Demers. For next year Dom
Marie-Gérard Dubois has given us to understand that he might be able to come. Wednesday 9 – Father Rufus of We seem to have brought to a successful conclusion the text of our house report for the General Chapter. It is due to be submitted to the Father Immediate. Thursday 10 – Brother Damien and Elmer are busy painting and sprucing up a number of rooms for our hoped
for postulants. Friday 11 – The guest house is full of young people looking at their vocation in life. Saturday 12 – Two technicians came to install our new Johannus organ permanently. The price to us was $14,000. Sunday 13 – During the Mass Brother Stephen served up some marvellous pieces on the organ. Monday 14 – In chapter, the abbot is commenting on the liturgy of Palm Sunday and Good Friday. I received a nice letter from Dom Bernard Lefebvre. Dom Bernard was the last Abbot of Bonnecombe, which was the house which founded our monastery and is now suppressed. Since then Dom Bernard has had many and varied experiences and he is now at Aiguebelle
and 89 years old. Everything going on here interests him a lot. Tuesday 15 – For a variety of reasons several of the brethren had to go out today: six out of nine of
us! There were not very many at some of the Offices. Wednesday 16 – The chronicler was plunged into mourning.
Last night, at the Thursday 17 – At last Brother Gilles got to Saturday 19 – My sisters funeral at Acadieville, a country parish; the church was full. Sunday 20 – Palm Sunday. This year we began the liturgy
in the guest house chapel. This gave the possibility for the faithful to sit
down and we had a longer procession. Monday 21 – The abbot continued
his conferences on the Good Friday Liturgy. A team of
workers under Reginald Gaudet, Mother Alfreda’s brother, began the second phase of the repair work to the big chicken
barn roof. This chicken barn was built in 1963; it is 216 feet long, 35 feet
wide and has three storeys. Tuesday 22
– Brother Stephan is in the process of making organ pipes to be fixed as a façade to the speakers of our new organ. They call them “canons”, that is to say silent pipes. The abbot is keen on the monks making use of their creative gifts, especially when he knows that to buy
a set of dummy pipes from the company that made the organ would cost $6,000! Thursday 24
– Maundy or Holy Thursday: We have a very good group of retreatants very
recollected and silent and faithful to the services in church and to serious reading.
Among them there is a couple from Madawaska, Charlène et Julien Bossé. Julien is an expert
in trimming apple trees: he went over all ours to get them into their best condition.
I’ll have more to say about his wife later. At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, after the homily, the abbot washed the feet of all the monks (seven
in fact because Brother Leo was assisting him). Friday 25 – Good Friday. The Celebration of the Lord’s
Passion saw our chapel nearly full. Saturday 26 – Holy Saturday. As last year, the
Paschal Vigil was divided into two parts. At Sunday 27 – Easter Day: About 3.30 am a number of people,
youngsters among them, were already here praying before the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word, the Baptismal Liturgy
and the Eucharist. After the gospel, the abbot read a very beautiful homily by
Saint John Chrysostom. The abbot says that otherwise there is no patristic input
into the celebration of Easter Day. There is also an ecumenical value, in that
this homily is always read at Easter Mattins in the Byzantine tradition. It also
avoids the inconvenience of the abbot having to give two Easter homilies. At the Monday 28
March – In chapter, the Abbot looked back over the celebrations of Holy Week and thanked all the brothers who facilitated
the liturgy and the reception of the guests. In addition to the guests, there
had been an impressive number of faithful from the neighbourhood. Tuesday 29
– Father Wesley Wade, Vicar General of the diocese of Wednesday
30 – Meeting of the finance committee to examine last year’s accounts. We learned
of the transfer of Bishop Daniel Bohan, formerly a priest of the diocese of Thursday 31
– Like the rest of the globe we are following in prayer the development of the Pope’s illness. April
2005 Saturday 2 April
– The news of the death of the Pope came as no surprise. We remembered
him in our intercessions. Sunday 3 April
– The Abbot announced that the Mass would be that of the Sunday In Albis
but offered for the repose of the soul of the deceased Pope John Paul. A
Mass for the Dead will be celebrated on Tuesday and again on the day of the Funeral.
At the end of the Mass the abbot read out the text that had been read that morning at the end of the Mass in Saint
Peter’s Square, the text prepared by the Pope for this Sunday’s A group gathered in
the guest house chapel for two hours of prayer and adoration in honor of Divine Mercy Sunday, under the guidance of Father
Clovis Chiasson, chaplain to the Trappistines. Saturday
2 April – The news of the death of the Pope came as no surprise. We remembered
him in our intercessions Sunday 3 April
– The Abbot announced that the Mass would be that of the Sunday In Albis but offered for the repose of the soul
of the deceased Pope John Paul. A Mass for the Dead will be celebrated on Tuesday
and again on the day of the Funeral. At the end of the Mass the abbot read out
the text that had been read that morning at the end of the Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, the text prepared by the Pope
for this Sunday’s A group gathered
in the guest house chapel for two hours of prayer and adoration in honor of Divine Mercy Sunday, under the guidance of Father
Clovis Chiasson, chaplain to the Trappistines Tuesday 5
– Early this morning I learned of another death in my family, that of my brother Leo, 79 years old. He died just 16 days after my sister Lea. Wednesday
6 – The abbot informed us about various decisions taken by the General Congregations of the Cardinals relative to the
Pope’s funeral and the date of the Conclave, as announced by the Vatican Press Office on their website. The Thursday
7 – My brother’s funeral at Grand-Anse; the presiding priest was a retired Holy Ghost Father from Friday 8
– We had the good fortune to be able to see the Pope’s funeral on television, live, at Saturday 9 – A large group of people took part in a three-day retreat preached by Father Melvin Doucet,
of the White Fathers. Monday 11 – A new adult tricycle arrived for Brother Frère Urbain.
It is bright red. Wednesday 13 – Our former Brother Shawn Daly spent a few days with his friends and our neighbours
and helpers Rhéal and Irène DesRoches. He came over to see us several times,
especially to meet with Fr. Maurice and Br. Stephan. Shawn is still looking towards
the priesthood. He is doing pastoral work in the Thursday 14 – Early this morning I went to the Georges Dumont hospital in Friday 15 – In chapter, before continuing his commentary on the Rule, the abbot spoke about the preparations
for the Conclave and the timetable the Cardinals would follow. He also explained
what we were going to do to be united in prayer with the Cardinal Electors. Saturday 16 – A group of the Catholic Women’s League, made up of representatives from
the dioceses of Sunday 17 – Before supper we had a holy hour for the success of the Conclave. It consisted
of Vespers, the singing of the Veni Creator Spiritus and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament exposed, followed by
Benediction. Monday 18 – The abbot took the train in the evening to Oka, in view of a meeting on Thursday at Rougemont,
where all the abbots and abbesses of Canada had been invited to meet with the superiors and delegates of the different houses
of the Cistercian Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of Lérins, who were taking part in the General Chapter of the
Congregation there. The Cistercian nuns
of Our Lady of the Valley, and the monks of Spring Bank, both in Dom Bede spent the remaining days of the week enjoying the warm hospitality of our brothers at Notre-Dame du Lac, Tuesday 19 – Br. Gilles went to When the news came through of the white smoke, the brethren rushed to the television just in time to see Benedict
XVI emerge on the balcony of St. Peter’s. Friday 22 – Br. Gilles came back happier than when he went to Saturday 23 – The abbot came back thrilled with what he had seen and with the representative of the communities
that he had met. Sunday 24 – We changed the time of Lauds to give us the opportunity to see the installation of the new Pope. A wonderful celebration that kept us riveted in front of the small screen for two
and a half hours. Monday 25 – The abbot gave us a detailed report of his visit to Rougemont as well as to Saint Jean de Matha. He certainly profited from
his journey. Tuesday 26 – Bit by bit we are preparing the greenhouse for the vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers,
etc. Wednesday 27 – The abbot drew us a picture of Benedict XVI from the first few addresses he has given. The abbot, knowing Italian, was able to study them on the |