My dad, Brother Anthony, is a Benedictine Monk ,
and has been for the past 12 years or so.
He made this decision
after my mom passed away very unexpectedly
and un-fore-warned.
and un-fore-warned.
We all (I have six sisters and three brothers)
were so in shock to have our mom taken away
..Yet I'm sure I grieved and cried more
for my dad.
My parents were high school sweethearts
and shared everything they had with who ever needed.
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Peaceful , Prayerful Hands |
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Comfort me Oh Lord |
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| God's Loving Arms |
I went to the Abby at St Bede's Abbey
in Peru, Illinois to spend
Thanksgiving with Dad along with my family
and one of my brothers and his wife and son.
Dad was not feeling well and as he came into the dining room
to join all the monks and all the visitors for the Thanksgiving meal
I saw his face .
and I knew he was very ill.
He tried to sit with us and carry on a conversation.
He could not
He left, after apologizing and walked out of the room very slowly.
I thought to go lay down again.
I got up and decided to look around the hallways a little .
I couldn't get his pained face out of my mind
I spotted him far off sitting out in the long breezeway area.
I went back into the dining hall and asked my brother to go to him
and check on him and tell him to please go lay down
... that we are fine and will see him later in the day.
Danny agreed and went out and sat with dad.
then they both returned to the dining hall and
Danny whispered to me
as my dad was whispering to his Abbott
the plan was to go to the E R at St Margaret's Hospital.
He was also in great pain. He came over to me
and tried to apologize and his voice cracked
.. I knew tears where starting in his eyes so I told him
I loved him and do not worry..we will come over and check on him.
He had to go with Dan to the hospital right away
and not worry about us all.
I am happy to say he was given a medication
that relieved his pain almost entirely right away in the hospital.
They are doing " tests" and he is feeling very much better today.
Another two of my sisters who live closer to the Abbey
came to stay with him today and I returned home with my family.
Please keep my dad,
Brother Anthony,
in your special thoughts and prayers if you can.
I believe in the power of love and conversation with the lord!
Photos from Thanksgiving at the Abbey
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Thiis on one of a dozen or so simple little watercolor paintings given to my dad for his book His big project thoughts and Lectio Divina on the scriptures |
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More of the little illustrations for my dads book |
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a cardinal for my dad hopefully to keep in his room at the monastery although he is not supposed to have any possessions. I think he will make an exception for this gift My mom loved Cardinals he mentioned that to me yesterday as he looked at this bird . It broke my heart a little He misses her (his sweet Margaret) so much |
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| The Abbey doors Dad was not there... |
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| My Pie I'm wearing my red rose apron at the Abbey Kitchen |
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| Thanksgiving Pie saving a big piece for my dad |
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| The abbey kitchen |
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| My brother, Danny carrying the gifts we brought for our dad. |
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| Trees at the Abbey |
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| A wonderful Jesus greeted us at the St Margaret's Hospital to go visit with our Dad there. God please comfort him hold him in Your loving arms sharing this to inspire and ask for your prayer |
