A peaceful time at the Abbey of Gethsemani

Intermountain Catholic

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The Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Ky., offers a quiet and peaceful retreat to commune with God. IC photo/Christine Young

TRAPPIST, Ky. — The Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky has as many as 90 retreatants every week of the year who spend time communing with the Lord.

"It’s best to call four months in advance of your stay to make a reservation," said Cistercian Father Damian Thompson, Gethsemani retreat master and former abbot. "The retreats are made on a donation basis and run Monday through Thursday and Friday through Monday for as many as 45 people twice a week. Each morning the guest master gives a one-hour conference, or spiritual talk, and then the guests are invited to spend time in prayer or rest and relax. There are various places on the 14 square miles of ground to read and pray. Guests may also spend time in the library and chapel. There are three dining rooms: one is silent, tapes are played in another and the third is for conversation."

Retreatants also come to Gethsemani to spend time listening to and praying the Psalms with the monks seven times a day. Vigils begin at 3:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist is at 6:15 a.m. during the week and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, and Compline ends the day at 7:30 p.m. Upon request, a monk is available for consultation or the sacrament of reconciliation during the retreats.

"When we pray the Psalms, we are saying we have a God who is interested in us more than we are interested in ourselves," said Cistercian Father Anton, former guest master. "He is more faithful to us than we are to ourselves. The key is to make the Psalms become our own words. They give us permission to express all of the human emotions. We pray the Psalms to thank God, ask for things, and say we are sorry for our sins. They are different for each person."

"Gethsemani is a piece of heaven on earth," said Linda Scally, a former Saint Olaf parishioner in Bountiful now of Massachusetts. "I tell people it’s my favorite place in the world. I’d rather go there than to Hawaii or Europe. It’s so peaceful and people can really feel close to God there. My family goes on retreats there during the summer to visit my uncle, who has been a monk for more than 40 years."

"It’s hard from this side of the wall to understand what people on the other side of the wall keep wanting to peek over and look at, because we feel this is such an ordinary life," said Fr. Damian. "Maybe the interest is because we found a conclusion to our search. The day I came here I felt I was home.

"Gethsemani began receiving guests in 1848, when it was founded," he continued. "The retreat house was built in 1952, and renovated mostly by the monks during the 1980s to accommodate women and make it co-ed."

The monks are also famous for making cheese, fudge and fruitcakes. They started making cheese for their own consumption and realized in 1955 they could make extra money by selling it. "They only produce a little more than they can use because they do not want it to become overwhelming," said Phyllis Burba, supervisor. "Cheese is the main item people order, but we do not ship cheese during June, July and August because it will spoil.

The monks started making fruitcakes in 1959.

For retreat reservations, call (502) 549-4133. For a group or day visit, call (502) 549-4129.