Thanks to reader Francis for letting me know that all episodes of the BBC program The Monastery has been posted on YouTube. It never aired here in any form, so I've not yet seen it - but it was highly praised.
At the OSV blog, Mary DeTurris Poust posts on an episode of a BBC documentary, "Extreme Pilgrim" in which an Anglican Vicar explores asceticism around the world - in this he follows St. Anthony into the desert.
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blog hog warning (the intemperance of eros is obviously my vice)
More on Tony's story here:
http://www.worthabbey.net/bbc/tony4.htm
Something worth pondering: just how does BBC's approach to broadcasting produce such engrossing testimonies that the 'canned-processed-bland' EWTN has not? Could the "freshness" factor, alike unto using cut flowers not silk flowers on the altar, have something to do with it? The courage of risking entering the empty void, permitting the Holy Spirit to dwell among us, rather than our own preconceived notions -- a type of 'contraceptive' mentality -- of what 'it' is?
[n.b. production budgets surely help, something U.S. Bishops need to be more aware of, perhaps? The tools at the disposal of their Renaissance forebears bequeathed us beautiful devotional art. What evidence will our descendants find of 21st century devotion in the richest nation on earth? How do we chose to use the gifts of technology and industry we've been made stewards of? What does a Catholic education mean - training the appetites for a 'numb' secular career in the upper echelons of international powerbroking, or instilling the courage to do battle with demons in all our human frailty?]
FYI. perhaps intending to honor the monks on God's Holy Mountain in an ecumenical sense Fr. Peter's choice of "All my springs Are in Thee" from Psalm 87 is perfect for Mother's day:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_20021113_en.html
Some scholars think this sung prayer may have been penned by diaspora Hebrews at Pentecost, which of course, is the true "mother's day" no?
God Bless, and now out to my own bed of stones and weeds before the forecast deluge stops my gardening for the day!
BXVI and JPII commentaries on Psalms here http://members.wri.com/billw/psalter/jp2-b16-commentaries.html
I was kind of put off by The Monastery clip. Having recently been on two retreats to a Trappist Monastery here in the US it was hard for me to get over the "Reality Show" element ... men standing around smoking, dressed in tank tops in the church, etc.
Where I went, the men living within the cloister wore a kind of hoodie jacket, and were extremely respectful and blended in far more than was portrayed in the series.
Then I realized maybe its the difference between Benedictine Anglican and Trappist. I don't know.
But if anyone is looking for an extremely interesting and gripping peek inside a monastery I highly recommend "Voices of Silence" by Frank Bianco http://www.amazon.com/Voices-Silence-Lives-Trappists-Today/dp/0385424302/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241789860&sr=8-1
It is one of the best books I've ever read. It touched me far beyond the idea of monasticism, and really illuminated the human journey to God.
Cindy- I still would recommend you see all of the Monastery (it's all on Youtube) and not just the clip. Some one the changes the men undergo is very striking. Keep in mind that the men in the show are none of them Catholic, and only a couple of them practicing any sort of Christianity at all.
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