Conversation this morning over coffee and pastries included lengthy discussions on whether or not us over 60 women could possibly make the trek up the hill and then to the top of this magnificent structure.
We were not only encountering rain, but also a long walk and staircases that we were warned were not for the faint of heart.....followed by the fact that if you did get all the way to the top, you had to come down!
Decision.....we climb!
We did not come all the way here to view from the bottom and we were going to be each others strength and encouragement for the hike!
Oh my....the beauty!
Built to honor St. Michael, it was a Benedictine Monastery for years and then served as a French prison for 73 years after the revolution.
The Monks lived at the highest level which contained the church, cloister, and refectory.
The amazing part of all of this is that this sets on on island off the coast and all of the stones for this massive structure had to be individually hauled across water and hoisted to the top one by one.
This was done by means of what looks like a hamster wheel, where men ran round and round while ropes lifted the rocks......years and years of work to accomplish what we were seeing.
There simply are not words to explain the majesty of what we were encountering.
Back at the bottom we walked the Rue full of tiny little shops built into the crevices in the stone.
This Monte has 45 permanent residences who are the shop keepers on this magnificent island.
At the highest point of the Monte is a golden statue of St. Michael the Archangel that was hoisted to the top by helicopter much later of course.
Such a beautiful view as we left. The sun was out and the grandeur of this place was even more apparent. As for the 20 women that walked to the top.....so grateful that we did. Exhausted but blessed by the journey.
Goodbye to hotel number two...not the nicest of our accommodations...and off to catch our bus to drive to LeMans to visit the Abbey of L'epau.
Before entering the Abbey we were given (as was the case the whole journey) a wonderful explanation of where we were and the importance it held in our church history.
Father Heines is working on a doctorate in church and spiritual history so what a perfect person to guide us on the pilgrimage.
As were were told, the beauty of this Abbey is in it's austere simplicity.
The monks that resided here were dedicated to a life of prayer and service.
Unlike much of what we had seen until now, the architecture was stark and unadorned.
The purpose was so that the monks could concentrate on prayer without any distractions.
In this space was buried the wife of Richard the Lionhearted, an unusual occurrence at that time.
The only color was in the simple stained glass window behind the altar which let in amazing light.
This for me is when the whole impact of our trip hit me. We were on a journey.
We were pilgrims tracing the roots of our Catholic heritage.
We were traveling together with a common purpose....to find God outside the hectic lives we all lead at home.
And the waterworks continued for me. Tears just flowed.
God was present and walking this path with us.
"Be still and know that I am God"
is real. Oh, to be able to recreate that stillness again.
I believe that in my mind I will be able to go back there in those crazy times in our normal life and know that feeling that was so overwhelming in that moment.
I was hard to leave the serenity of this Abbey. The peace was overwhelming. The memories are forever.
"Splendor and majesty are before him: strength and glory are in His sanctuary"
Psalm 96:6
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