Left Tabgha for Nazareth on Friday. Couldn't find an internet cafe in Nazareth, so no blogs. It's hard to adequately describe my four days in Tabgha; Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes and Primacy of Peter all within walking (or climbing!) distance, and all beside the Lake of Galilee. I think it was staying at the Benedictine Monastery that made my stay so enjoyable. The monastery is a superbly serene and peaceful place, especially when it closes to visitors from 5 p.m., to 8 a.m. There's a stillness, calm and certainly you feel a reassuring Presence during those hours. Two monks were there, Zacharias and Matthias; a few others were away. They're quite unconventional. For Vespers and Night Prayer, and around the monastery during the day, they dress in shorts. They turn their hands to anything that needs to be done: the gardens, shop, church, even hard manual labour at times. Lauds, Mass, Vespers and Night Prayer were call celebrated with a most impressive simplicity, dignity, and, above all, with an obvious faith. There's a community of five Benedictine sisters (Filipinos). They live in their own house in the monastery grounds. One of them, Sr. Salve, works at the monastery, looking after groups of visiting pilgrims. The others look after an adjoining Pilgrim House. They were so friendly, cheerful and full of lightness of spirit. When I was leaving, one of them came to me with a card, signed by all five of them, wishing me "Saleem - Shalom - Peace" and thanking me for my "gentle presence" amongst the community at Tabgha! There's about six volunteers, mainly young Germans, who do all kinds of work around the monastery. Most are young and do it as a community service, in place of military service at home. Very nice group. Another feature of the monastery is an outreach to handicapped people. There's a separate building and facilities for them. I was sorry to leave Tabgha after four very happy days there. It was right in the heart of the Galilee of the gospels; full of meaning and inspiration. The peacefulness was amazing; the environment very beautiful; and the liturgy celebrated with great meaning. (The first photograph is of the Monastery church at night; my favourite time there; the second is a quote from the scripture and from St. Benedict.)
