Monks attacked at Rabanal???

[sillydoll]

I received a copy of a letter sent to Marion Marples at the CSJ. Has anyone heard about this?

Dear marion,
Do you know anything about events in at the monastery in Rabanal del Camino? In the Spanish press there is news of the monks being both physically and verbally assaulted by a mob of about 100 people. The monks were ordered by their Abbot to flee the monastery under the protection of the Guardia Civil. Ecclesiastical intervention and protests to the local and regional authorities have been made but as fo 24th Aug the monks had still not returned.
The Spanish press mentions payments that the government of Castilla Leon is offering to keep the churches and monasteries on the Camino open and alive for the pilgrims.
The Monastery of San Salvador de Monte Irago is not far from Refugio Guacelmo.
Do you have any news?

http://www.religionconfidencial.com/ind ... &Itemid=78

Rabanal del Camino expelled the Benedictines for 1 million euros
The sad event happened this week in the town of Leon Rabanal del Camino has a single motivation: the struggle for the management of one million euros. The Castilla Leon decided to grant the execution of the restoration of the Romanesque church to the City of Santa Colomba de Somoza (which oversees Rabanal). That would be the underlying reason for which a local group, orchestrated by the neighborhood council has come to insult and threaten monks with physical aggression to the point of having to leave after 10 years of presence in the village escorted by the Guardia Civil.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

http://www.la-cronica.net/2009/08/24/co ... -47132.htm

 

[ivar]

Spanish National TV (TVE):
http://www.rtve.es/mediateca/videos/200 ... 9296.shtml

Saludos,
Ivar

 

[MichaelB10398]

May Spanish is not good, but I was able to translate (poorly) the written article. I was not able to grasp every ting, but it is an unfortunate incident. Those with better Spanish might occasionally fill us in as time passes and the situation develops would be appreciated. Thank you for your efforts to keep us informed.

Sil, you are ever vigilant. Thank you.

Michael

 

[Rebekah Scott]

An outside group comes into a town in transition and starts doing new things with old buildings, without asking Certain People for permission first. (even if Certain People don´t even live in town any more.)

Mix in some local politics and inter-family conflict. Add a sprinkling of foreigners eager to make friends in the town.

Conflict and misunderstanding and drama is going to break out. It´s almost guaranteed. Both sides of this are going into great histrionics just now. Like said above, let´s just wait a while and see what comes of this. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

I do hope the monks come back, though. They´ve added so much to Rabanal!

Reb.

 

[Anonymous]

Had a look at the news reports and the video (why doesn't the sun shine like that when I am there?) and it would appear that the locals, with their many hundreds of years of their own Catholic tradition hve been, for some years, rather upset by 'foreign monks' arriving and appearing to take over the religious aspect of their village .. the renovation money aside, traditionally (as in medieval times) the local Bishop would introduce newcomers, such as a new monastery, to parishioners and both the monks and parishioners would dialogue through the Bishop, avoiding conflict ... though .. if you look back in time monasteries seemed to have been founded where other traditions were not - hence secluded places .. so unless invited in, it behoved the monks to stay within their perimeter, rather than including a village in what they were doing without (if it was without) either permission or invitation.

Friars, on the other hand, traditionally act/work within a community but as servants of, not as changers of, the local traditions .. friars tend to be welcomed wherever ...

but, Beks .. please to explain, (and this is not in any way a preface to any argument or disagreement with anyone)

"An outside group comes into a town in transition and starts doing new things with old buildings, without asking Certain People for permission first. (even if Certain People don´t even live in town any more.)"

Rumour and secrets are what keeps television soaps going - but in the real world ... please speak clearly .. who/what are these 'Certain People' you speak of ?

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Dear brother
I am speaking in generalities because this situation is so common. Even if I named actual names, who would know them, out here in the bigger world? This is a small-town tempest, with involvement by sterling characters from the Partido Popular and PSOE, a new bishop, property owners, and plenty of other folks with axes to grind and personal control issues. The stories I´m reading and seeing are hatchet jobs from one side or the other. Don´t make up your mind either way, not yet.

Reb.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Here is the Monks´ side of the story:
Queridos amigos
Esta carta circular se dirige a todos cuantos tenéis relación con el Monasterio. Con ella, os queremos informar de los sucesos acaecidos en Rabanal durante los últimos días. Resumiendo, una multitud instrumentalizada ha interrumpido con tal violencia la vida regular de nuestra comunidad y nuestra labor pastoral con los peregrinos, que nos hemos visto obligados a abandonar Rabanal del Camino escoltados por la Guardia Civil. En estos momentos, hemos sido convocados por nuestro Abad a nuestra Abadía de Santa Otilia, en la que pasaremos unos días de silencio y oración.
Se nos achaca el robo de imágenes de la iglesia de Rabanal, el no escuchar a las autoridades locales a la hora de organizar los actos litúrgicos, y nuestra pretensión de alterar no sólo la estructura arquitectónica del templo, sino de modificar, incluso, la configuración urbanística del pueblo.
Quienes han organizado este tumulto, no solo han utilizado el insulto, la injuria sistemática y la amenaza de violencia física, sino que se han valido de diversos medios de comunicación nacional, a los que no vamos a hacer ningún tipo de declaración.
¿Qué es lo que está sucediendo?
Por supuesto, el problema nace en la restauración de la iglesia románica. Desde hace años venimos trabajando, como sabéis, en este proyecto, que depende por ley de la Dirección General de Patrimonio de Castilla y León, al tratarse de un Bien de Interés Cultural. Tras muchas negociaciones, el proyecto está prácticamente cerrado. La Dirección General, por diversos problemas políticos, ha tratado de ejecutarlo, no directamente (como hubiera sido deseable), sino a través de terceras personas e instituciones. Su imprevisión ha consistido en ofrecer la promoción del proyecto al Ayuntamiento de Santa Colomba de Somoza (del que depende Rabanal).
La negativa de la Parroquia de Rabanal del Camino y de la Diócesis de Astorga a que dicho Ayuntamiento promoviera la intervención sobre el templo, gestionando una subvención de más de un millón de euros, parece ser lo que ha suscitado el conflicto.
En este sentido, resulta llamativo el hecho de que el día 13 de agosto, la Junta Vecinal de Rabanal del Camino, en concejo público al que fueron convocados todos los vecinos excepto el monje-párroco, también vecino empadronado en dicha localidad, propusiera el envío de una carta de protesta a la Junta de Castilla y León. Dicha carta, contenía datos de un proyecto todavía en fase de redacción. Estos datos (que solo constan en la Dirección General y en el estudio del arquitecto), se han utilizado de forma que han inducido al equívoco a los vecinos de Rabanal. Lo que hasta hace poco tiempo era aceptado, ahora es rechazado. Tenemos, pues, muy fundadas sospechas, de que la exclusión del Ayuntamiento en la gestión de tan importantes fondos económicos ha originado toda esta situación.
Por eso, los tumultos que hemos vivido nada tienen que ver con una disensión de aldea entre párroco y feligreses, a causa de la celebración de una fiesta.
Resulta llamativo, además, que sea una corporación municipal y una junta vecinal, ambos gobernados por el Partido Popular, en una Comunidad Autónoma, gobernada también por el Partido Popular, los que han provocado, de hecho, el cese de la vida de una comunidad benedictina, y su atención cotidiana a cientos de peregrinos en el Camino de Santiago, a causa de su injerencia en la libertad de la Iglesia Católica. Han pretendido aparecer como propietarios de los bienes de la Parroquia (torre, reloj, imágenes, el mismo edificio….), y han llegado, incluso, a querer imponer la forma de celebración de las festividades litúrgicas.
Resulta, también, lamentable, que el grito de “No os queremos aquí; fuera de este pueblo”, se haya escuchado en la Calle Real de un lugar del Camino de Santiago, cuya proverbial acogida a los peregrinos ha sido siempre tan ponderada (por supuesto, estamos hablando de no más allá de sesenta o setenta personas, que pretenden adueñarse de un patrimonio histórico multisecular que en absoluto les pertenece; y se trata, además , de personas que apenas residen en Rabanal del Camino más allá de un mes al año).
¿Qué hacer ante esta situación?
Por supuesto, ya no se trata de restaurar una iglesia románica, sino de restaurar la vida del Monasterio de San Salvador del Monte Irago, y su labor pastoral con los peregrinos. Para ello, pedimos vuestra ayuda, que puede ser muy útil como fuerza de presión, civilizada y dialogante, desde los argumentos y no desde los gritos. Son varias las vías de actuación:
1.- Llamar por teléfono, personalmente, al Sr. Obispo de Astorga, expresando vuestro rechazado de las zafias reivindicaciones publicadas, por ejemplo, en el Diario de León; y solicitando la inmediata restitución de los monjes a su Monasterio. Teléfono nº 987 615 201.
2.- Correo electrónico dirigido al Obispado de Astorga, en los mismos términos: obastorga@planalfa.es.
3.- Correo electrónico dirigido al Sr. Presidente de la Junta de Castilla y León y Presidente del Partido Popular de Castilla y León, expresando la rotunda condena ante la injerencia de las autoridades locales de su partido en las actividades de la Iglesia Católica, y pidiendo el inmediato retorno de los monjes con una reparación pública de su reputación. http://www.jcyl.es/web/jcyl/Gobierno/es ... 8822/_/_/_
4.- Comunicaciones a cualquier medio de comunicación, por el escándalo que supone la expulsión de un pueblo del Camino de Santiago de una comunidad benedictina por el daño espiritual, cultural y humano que conlleva para tantos peregrinos.
5.- Sobre todo, os pedimos vuestra oración, desde nuestro silencio y retiro en Santa Otilia, para que el Señor nos permita volver en paz a nuestra propia casa, desde la cual no hemos hecho daño a nadie, y en la que solo hemos pretendido buscar a Dios y ayudar a los miles de peregrinos que por ella han pasado.
Que Dios Todopoderoso y justo juez os bendiga a todos.

 

[Anonymous]

Rebeka - thank you for the good and honest answer but please ignore my previous question .. it is difficult to get close to what has happened there but I read your quote and to me this stands out

"We blamed the theft of images from the church Rabanal, not listening to local authorities in organizing the liturgy, and our claim to alter not only the architectural structure of the temple, but to modify, even the setting within the urban village."

my italics ... first, I have no clear idea but it does seem, as Rebeka has suggested, that to enter a long-standing community and start to change things without invitation is a good way to dig a very very deep hole ...
I agree with you Rebekah .. perhaps (I am writing this without sufficient information of course, though I have been in the chapel down the hill with those monks) they would have done better to attend to the religious desires of the community first, with the invitation and permission of that community, then attended the pilgrims second - but I don't know.

Oh for an empty building on an abandoned hill or deep within an empty valley - found something there, as in the tradition.

Sorry Rebekah if I was presumptuous.


Rather gripping stuff isn't it, in the year 9 - !

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Personally I am sad about this, and I hope it can be resolved well. Rabanal was one of my favourite places along the Camino Frances. Partly this was because I found the CSJ albergue was so welcoming thanks to the hospitaleros, and so relaxing thanks to the large lovely garden. But Rabanal was also special for me because of the prayer led by the monks in the church.

I know that the churches along the Camino are for the locals, and I was just a visitor passing through. But as a lapsed Catholic, the little church at Rabanal was one of the few places on the CF I felt peace as 'part' of the Church. I was asked if I would read the English version of the reading, something I would usually balk at, but in the small gathering of pilgrims, it was a privilege to read it aloud. I was grateful for the peaceful place of prayer that the monks nourished, so I am most sad to read of the dissension and problems.
Margaret

 

[ajp]

Sounds like a local matter to me and probably none of our ( non Spanish citizens) business.

AJP
Victoria

 

[Former member 2537]

American Pilgrims has just posted this news item on its site (americanpilgrims.com) on the News page. Nothing new in the text here but the links might prove useful.

----------
• 8/26/09: Benedictine monks in Rabanal del Camino (León) forced to leave village: A decision over the award of funds for the restoration of the 12th-century Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Rabanal and the subsequent vociferous demonstration by a group of villagers against the monastery resulted on August 18th in the monks leaving under the protection of the Guardia Civil. At this point exactly how this developed depends on which particular sequence of events one puts stock in. The website of the Spanish radio and television system RTVE has a video from August 18. (Spanish) Various other online Spanish media are reporting the story: La Chrónica de León, Periodista Digital (8/26) and Religión Confidencial (8/25). The monastery has issued a statement on the website InfoCatólica (8/25). (Spanish)

http://www.rtve.es/mediateca/videos/200 ... 9296.shtml

http://www.la-cronica.net/2009/08/24/co ... -47132.htm

http://www.periodistadigital.com/religi ... ?o=1234276

http://www.religionconfidencial.com/ind ... &Itemid=66

http://infocatolica.com/?t=noticia&cod=4098
----------

(My personal, non-webmaster reaction is that this is a sad event indeed. The various reports are quite confusing so it is essentially impossible to know from here, about 8000 miles distant, what happened. Having served at Gaucelmo during the past two summers one thing I would say is that none of those in the crowd in the video look like any villagers that I ever saw. Who the heck are they?)

Gene McCullough
Webmaster
American Pilgrims on the Camino

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a local matter to me and probably none of our ( non Spanish citizens) business.

AJP
Victoria

perhaps .. but ...

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

 

[Former member 2537]

Re: Rabanal: Monastery statement in Spanish, English and German

The communbication put out by the Monastery of San Salvador del Monte Irago is available in Spanish, English and German.

http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddn2rsph_2d6trkzd8

http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddn2rsph_4hrr9krgg

http://docs.google.com/View?id=d8mxv3f_14hqrf93g9

In addition there is a communication (press release) in Spanish and German from the Archbishop (Bishopric) of Astorga. (The diocesisastorga.es link was working a while ago but then starting coming up as garbage. Don't know why.)

http://www.diocesisastorga.es/media/Not ... CAMINO.pdf

http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddn2rsph_5hk746vtg

 

[ajp]

I read the communication put out by the Monks, and Br David's "no man is an island" quote.

That quote is a convenient rationale for all sorts meddling into other peoples affairs ( a few recent "interventions" come to mind).

I still think it is none of our ( non Spanish citizens) business.

AJP
Victoria

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Since the Camino was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993, as well as being proclaimed the first European Cultural itinerary by the Council of Europe in 1987, I guess it can be expected that people from outside the local area will be interested in what has happened here.
Margaret

 

[Janeh]

I just think it's sad that part of the camino I really enjoyed is no longer there for other pilgrims behind me. I am not catholic, but even went to the 9am mass, after having been to the previous evening mass at 7pm! I just loved the peaceful atmosphere and the intimacy of the little church. What a shame. Why is there so much bad feeling within the community? (not just Rabanal, but everywhere.) We all operate on only 2 emotions at the end of the day - love & fear. (think about it - every emotion can be traced back to either being done out of love or out of fear). There seems to be a lot of 'fear' in Rabanal, a lovely little village. Sad.

 

[MichaelB10398]

I would agree that there is nothing for us to "do" about the situation; but it worth our attention, our thoughts, and prayers. Rabanal has been a favorite place for many pilgrims for some time. These monks have played a significant role for many of those who have walked the Camino. It is hoped that the situation is easily remedied so that pilgrims might once more enjoy that blessing that thousands of others have enjoyed in the past.

Interesting conversation and certainly not to delve into in detail, but when I think of other places in the world where atrocities have occurred and the every government in the world stood by to watch. I just returned form the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. Outside its doors reads a comment that we witness the absolute cruelty to man and pray that it never is to be repeated. Unfortunately, it is an utter farce to contemplate such a thing! Each country, each of us, has stood by while the massacres took place in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Darfur...nothing was done but stand and watch the blood flow. We have learned nothing and massacres will continue to happen until such time and the world says with a unified voice it will not be tolerated. Thank God for those who are willing to die so that the poor, the minority, the unloved, the ugly, the lonely can be saved when the hand of tyranny is raised. Each time we allow the thought that it is not our business when evil happens in the world to prosper, we surrender so that the atrocities of man may continue. Just thoughts and no need for response on this thread.

 

[ajp]

Michael wrote in part:

" Each country, each of us, has stood by while the massacres took place in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Darfur...nothing was done but stand and watch the blood flow..........Each time we allow the thought that it is not our business when evil happens in the world to prosper, we surrender so that the atrocities of man may continue."

Now how the heck does one jump from a conversation about a very local dispute going on in a small town in a western democracy with an elected government, freedom of expression and religion etc, to comparisons with Cambodia, Bosnia, massacres, atrocities and watching the blood flow?? It boggles the mind. Speaking of the merits of interventions ( or alternatively standing by) I did not see Iraq or Vietnam mentioned. Guess it depends on who is doing the intervening, or committing the atrocities.

To compare this particular incident to genuine human tragedies is to demean and trivialize those tragedies.

AJP
Victoria

 

[ivar]

...let's not get into politics... pleeeeease.. It always ends in a "train-wreck"....

Saludos,
Ivar

 

[Marion]

The CSJ has this statement on its website today.

Refugio Gaucelmo and the monks of Monasterio San Salvador del Monte Irago, Rabanal del Camino.

The Confraternity of Saint James, responsible for, in partnership with the Asociación de Amigos del Camino de El Bierzo, the pilgrim Refugio Gaucelmo next door to the Monastery of San Salvador in Rabanal, is shocked and saddened by the situation whereby the monks have had to leave Rabanal and return for the moment to the monastery of St-Ottilien, their mother house.
The Confraternity has written to both the Bishop of Astorga and Arch Abbot of St-Ottilien, asking them to ensure that the situation is resolved speedily and that the worship offered for the village and particularly for pilgrims is resumed as quickly as possible.

Marion Marples
Secretary

 

[sillydoll]

Interesting article at American Magazine
http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/ent ... 6464948547

 

[Anonymous]

...let's not get into politics... pleeeeease.. It always ends in a "train-wreck"....

Ivar, I have not contributed to this discussion until now, but what you have said is the most controversial thing so far. When people are discussing news of enormous interest, such as this situation clearly invites, it is most extraordinary for you to wish to close down discussion on the topic by such a remark. It may be useful if you could clarify your role and your criteria in limiting discussions or warning Forum members that a topic is not to your liking.

The conflict between monastic and diocesan church spheres of influence goes back fifteen hundred years, and it is not purely of 'local' interest. The consequences are always broader.

Gareth

 

[sillydoll]

I saw the discussion going from the monks at Rabanall to Iraq and Vietnam - which had nothing to do with Catholicism or the camino in Spain.
I - for one - was pleased that Ivar put the brakes on.

Just as a matter of interest, these are the guidelines on a similar camino forum:

SANTIAGOBIS:
GUIDELINES:
A. The subject should relate to the Camino de Santiago in all the aspects. Politics, personal religious ideas and promoting Santiago related commercial enterprises by the member are strictly forbidden.....
F. Personal attacks or insulting are not allowed.
G. Do not tell the other members of the Santiagobis what to do or how to behave.....
I. If you have been personally hurt, offended or otherwise felt inappropriately treated, respond privately to the member in question, off-list, and tell him/her so.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Good post, Ivar. I put away my dictionary of inflammatory phrases, and hoped that the local issue would be solved locally. The factual stuff was interesting, and I did not sense that you were concerned about the factual stuff!

 

[MichaelB10398]

I was not offended by Ivar's comment and felt it was appropriate. I knew when I was writing my post that it would be controversial and I realized that my mindset at the time was heavily influenced from recently touring the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C. I was no advocating action in this specific situation, but the museum takes you by the ears and forces you to acknowledge that man is capable of the worst forms of abuse to others WHEN LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES. When terrible things happen in the world, governments should respond and should stop the massacre of citizens.

Here I go again and I will stop. Suffice it to say my comments were influenced by a rather jarring museum experience. I was not intending to begin or continue a long drawn out conversation on when is government intervention in a foreign country appropriate and when it is not. I was very interested in Rabanal because of its value to the Camino and it is sad that it currently is not available to pilgrims. Ivar, thank you for your comments. Gareth, thank you for caring about the forum.

It is best that my line of comments stop on this forum. On the other hand, if you ever visit Washington D.C., it would be worth your time to visit the Holocaust museum. Then IM me and I would enjoy discussing your perspective on Bosnia, Darfur, and Rwanda and what is the responsiblity of the world.

 

[ivar]

Now how the heck does one jump from a conversation about a very local dispute going on in a small town in a western democracy with an elected government, freedom of expression and religion etc, to comparisons with Cambodia, Bosnia, massacres, atrocities and watching the blood flow??

I guess after reading the above, I saw were the discussion was going and I don't think we should get into these conflicts that is happening around the world. I guess I consider that not pilgrim related.

Anything related to the Monks in Rabanal is pilgrim related and feel free to comment/discuss as much as you want.

Saludos,
Ivar

 

[Deleted member 3000]

And in Washington, DC, visit the National Museum of the American Indian. Remember that there were an estimated 20-40 million natives at the time of Columbus' arrival. The 2000 U.S. census showed a self-described 2.5 million. The rest were exterminated either intentionally or by disease in a Holocaust that dwarfs the one by Hitler. Just another perspective not meant to diminish Hitler's horror, a perspective that may be more about the winners writing history than Man's inhumanity to Man.

 

[Anonymous]

Anything related to the Monks in Rabanal is pilgrim related and feel free to comment/discuss as much as you want.

Good, thanks for clarifying that, Ivar. I agree that posts which have sailed away from the topic entirely are unhelpful, and it would be good for all of us if further comments on this subject could be informed by knowledge of the Rabanal situation, if anyone out there has further information.

From my point of view, having had detailed conversations with both the Franciscan and Benedictine missions on the Camino, and hoped to see this flimsy and low-key Catholic presence expanding in future, rather than being hounded out (!) this is a very sad situation.

Pax et bonum, from Assisi.

Gareth

 

[sillydoll]

The post on the website of the American Pilgrims - http://www.americanpilgrims.com/camino/news.html - gave a lot of info, including links to news reports and a video.
I'm not sure what the latest news is.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I found this article, http://www.euroweeklynews.com/2009090363259/news/national/go-monks-told-to-get-out.html Most of this is written from the point of view of those villagers who are opposed to the monks.
One interesting addition to what I have read elsewhere is that the article claims that the monks "are backed by the Bishop of Astorga, the diocese to which the village belongs, who wants them back without delay but emphasised that he would not appoint a parish priest."

Margaret

 

[goonerpilgrim]

I really wish that this unfortunate situation will come to an amicable solution as soon as possible, I've read so many good things about this place, I was very eager to visit and experience this stage of the Camino.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

All along the caminos is a monastic history; monks and friars and sisters and nuns and priests and bishops and abbots all were key in creating and maintaining the pilgrimage over centuries. They were good and bad both, but most of them are gone now. They come, they go, they return.
This particular group has only been in Rabanal for a little while. It´s not like they´re an eternal fixture there, even though they´ve done some wonderful things. I think some of the villagers may view the monks and the pilgrims all as one, and their irritation and friction with All Things Pilgrimage may have focused on the monks -- a very visible and time-honored target.

Even monasteries have life-spans. I hope this is only a bump in the road for this one, and they´ll be back as part of some lovely story of redemption and forgiveness. But we also have to be ready to see their tenure as another nice episode in an old, long tale.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

With a population of 46, Rabanal has an economic need for pilgrims (and the monks, too, probably). The residents need to decide if they want the business or the solitude. The population could drop by half if the bars and refuges closed because pilgrims went elsewhere. There is a large grant to fight over only because of the pilgrimage, and the "local residents" need to understand that a bit better, which maybe they do when the TV cameras are not rolling! Never underestimate the ability of 15 minutes of fame to alter behavior. I suspect that it has been a while since any media stopped by Rabanal!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Just for closure´s sake: The monks returned to Rabanal a couple of weeks ago, and are back in business. Relations within the town are "strained," according to a friend who lives nearby, but the pilgrim services and chanting are going on as usual.

Rebekah

 

[j maguire]

Hi Rebekah,
Thanks for the update. It is good to hear that things are getting back to normal. We passed through Rabanal last month when the monks were missing and were sad to miss their presence.As well as providing Vespers for pilgrims [ and locals] they also provided daily Mass the absence of which must have been felt by the Local Community.

Hopefully things will settle down to peaceful normality and we will just have to retrace our steps if we want to hear Vespers in Rabanal...... another reason to return!

Buen Camino

 

[Anonymous]

The Confraternity has written to both the Bishop of Astorga and Arch Abbot of St-Ottilien, asking them to ensure that the situation is resolved speedily

I spoke with the brothers when I walked through Rabanal a couple of days ago. It appears that the situation has now improved but there is a long way to go before relations between monastery and village are properly restored. The abbot is making a visit there in a few days time to see first hand how things are.

Meanwhile, the monks will be very grateful for your prayers. This is one of the Christian mission houses on the Camino, so it deserves whatever prayer support that Christian pilgrims can offer.

Gareth

 

[oursonpolaire]

I, too, spoke with the monks when I passed through Rabanal in early October, and can confirm Gareth's observations. With patience, the unpleasant situation of some months ago will become part of Rabanal's history. The 2-3 monks' steady presence and their round of daily services have an impact well out of proportion to their numbers.

 

[sturla-pilgrim]

Hey there. I do not know much about this conflict discussed here, and I will not comment upon it either.

Rather...
In April-May 2007 I walked the pilgrimage with my video camera. In Rabanal I got the chance to film the monk's mass, which also has become a small part of my film. This is not to make some commercial for my documentary, rather to pay my respect for the monks. I experienced two really nice and dedicated monks back then, and by this I have put out a small video clip on Youtube, in order to thank them and to show my respect to their work and beautiful chanting.

Feel free to watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibqUPiRm9Mw

Thank you,

Sturla