A glimpse behind the walls of the monastery Santo Domingo de Silos

DoughnutANZ · Jun 21, 2023

Before I put my technology away and enjoy six days of silence with the monks I thought that I might share a small glimpse behind the walls. This is just the entrance really but I have not yet decided if I will go absolutely without technology and so no more photos. In the meantime.....

DoughnutANZ · Jun 21, 2023

Walking up to my bedroom

Bedroom

View from my balcony

nathanael · Jun 21, 2023

very nice thanks for sharing. I also made a sort of five-day retreat at Mondonedo Seminary or a former seminary the cathedral was completed in 1246. I enjoyed the time. Mondonedo is on the Camino Norte. Each morning, as I opened my window, I could smell the Eucalyptus forest. This small city is in a valley surrounded by a Eucalyptus forest.

Laurie Sanantone · Jun 21, 2023

@DoughnutNZ, you’re making a wonderful batch of lemonade!

AndreaCT · Jun 21, 2023

Thanks for sharing these pictures@DoughnutNZ. Please post your thoughts on your experience after your visit or if you have time, you could also PM me. One day I want to go on a silent retreat, but I never thought of doing it in Spain....

peregrina2000 · Jun 21, 2023

I will look forward to whatever details you care to share about this retreat, @DoughnutANZ. I have a question about something we observed two weeks ago, when we were at the Vespers service in Santo Domingo. At the conclusion of the chanting at the main altar, most of the monks (except for those who had difficulties walking) came down the main aisle and then went into a smaller chapel on the left side of the church (on your left as you stand facing the altar). I can’t remember exactly what they did in that chapel, whether it was singing and/or recitation of prayers, but I distinctly remember that when they finished and turned out the lights, at least two of the people who had been present in the church during the service followed them and the doors closed behind them.

I’m wondering if those people were participants in a retreat like you are. And I was surprised to see that one of them was a woman, and am also wondering whether women can participate in these retreats.

So many questions, but they can wait till later of course!

joeboybollo · Jun 21, 2023

Laurie Sanantone said:
@DoughnutNZ, you’re making a wonderful batch of lemonade!

Yes,loving the lemonade

joeboybollo · Jun 21, 2023

DoughnutANZ said:
Walking up to my bedroom

View attachment 149755 View attachment 149756

Bedroom

View attachment 149757 View attachment 149758 View attachment 149759 View attachment 149760

View from my balcony

View attachment 149761

Throughout my life as a Catholic boy and man, I've heard the call to retreats and I've thought, ' not on your nelly mate' but strangely as I've got older I've started thinking I wonder what it would actually be like .And after recently finishing the Portuguese and now,reading your ',lemonade line of chat' I'm thinking, 'Well, why not?' Doughnut,thanks for this thread (I think,)

VNwalking · Jun 21, 2023

peregrina2000 said:
And I was surprised to see that one of them was a woman, and am also wondering whether women can participate in these retreats.

I thought not. But if so...wow!

Kiwi-family · Jun 22, 2023

Do we start a new thread for places that women can do a retreat or is there going to be a big yes here (and will other suggestions trickle in?) I’m very drawn to the idea and have sometimes wondered if there is somewhere in Spain.

timr · Jun 22, 2023

peregrina2000 said:
I will look forward to whatever details you care to share about this retreat, @DoughnutANZ. I have a question about something we observed two weeks ago, when we were at the Vespers service in Santo Domingo. At the conclusion of the chanting at the main altar, most of the monks (except for those who had difficulties walking) came down the main aisle and then went into a smaller chapel on the left side of the church (on your left as you stand facing the altar). I can’t remember exactly what they did in that chapel, whether it was singing and/or recitation of prayers, but I distinctly remember that when they finished and turned out the lights, at least two of the people who had been present in the church during the service followed them and the doors closed behind them.

I’m wondering if those people were participants in a retreat like you are. And I was surprised to see that one of them was a woman, and am also wondering whether women can participate in these retreats.

So many questions, but they can wait till later of course!

Usually last thing is a 'Marian Anthem' either Salve Regina, or in the weeks after Easter, Regina Coeli. It is the traditional way to end the day, sometimes done in darkness, or with a single light on an icon - as I saw in Sobrado dos Monxes (where in the very modern chapel, in the very old building, lighting was used creatively and effectively).

Kiwi-family · Jun 22, 2023

Interesting article on topic

Monastery Stays in Spain

DoughnutANZ · Jun 22, 2023

peregrina2000 said:
am also wondering whether women can participate in these retreats.

Kiwi-family said:
Do we start a new thread for places that women can do a retreat or is there going to be a big yes here

As far as I know, women are not permitted beyond the columned courtyard. Sorry. There is a smaller, very dark chapel just off to the left as you come in through the main external church doors but this is still an area open to the public. This may be the chapel that @peregrina2000 is referring to.

There are also some areas that are not open to anyone except the monks who live here.

It is a little bit (big bit) confusing to me as I am not a Catholic nor do I speak Spanish and virtually no one here speaks much English and, in general, they expect me to follow as best I can. I am okay with this as it pulls me out of my comfort zone.

Some bits I can relate to childhood religious experiences.

It is a bit like them singing Happy Birthday to me today at lunch in Spanish. You know the tune and you know what the English words would be and so it makes sense in a way.

Today at 14:10 we had Nona, actually everyday at 14:10 is Nona but today, instead of it being in the big church it was held in the private part of the Abbey and the monks were all dressed in their hiking gear with hiking poles and after prayers we all went for a hike. That was interesting.

Not sure what Nona is, translator says "ninth".

Anyway, you are tempting me to play with technology instead of clearing my mind, which is hard with all the stuff that I have going on so I had better finish now and get back to clearing it.

SabsP · Jun 22, 2023

DoughnutANZ said:
As far as I know, women are not permitted beyond the columned courtyard. Sorry. There is a smaller, very dark chapel just off to the left as you come in through the main external church doors but this is still an area open to the public. This may be the chapel that @peregrina2000 is referring to.

Not sure what Nona is, translator says "ninth".

Anyway, you are tempting me to play with technology instead of clearing my mind, which is hard with all the stuff that I have going on so I had better finish now and get back to clearing it.

For those who want to learn more about the rules of St Benedict.

Regla de San Benito - Enciclopedia Católica

ec.aciprensa.com

And the different praying times.

Horas canónicas - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

es.wikipedia.org

Pathfinder075 · Jun 22, 2023

I'd love to stay in a monastery and switch off for a couple of days, but ruled it out some years back when I researched it. Seems i would fail on health issues and food related issues. Better to not tempt fate.

Still, glad it works out for you.

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A glimpse behind the walls of the monastery Santo Domingo de Silos

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