Father Patrick at Glendalough

I wanted to make a few reflections before I depart for dinner and an evening at the Merry Plowboy traditional Irish music pub

(which I know I will love you for the dancing and the music.)

Still, today felt like another sacred day as we met for early morning prayer and then went to the visitor center to hear a video presentation on Glendalough.  Then we were so blessed to have Father Patrick Murphy from the Tearmann Spirituality Center give us a tour of the monastic city.  He led us quietly through the old remains of the medieval monastery highlighting St. Kevin and St. Ciernan.  He then took us on a guided spiritual walk along the green rode, stopping to remind us to turn off our cell phones and put our cameras away. 

He encouraged us to walk as the ancient Celts would have done.  Like the sisters at the Saint Bridget center, he spoke of man’s damage to the earth and overconsumption.  Greed.  Need for solitude and reflection in our lives.  It resonated with each of us because we’re all guilty of wanting and using more than we need. 

He stopped along the way and offered poems and prayers from Scripture, Psalms... he recited  poems from Irish authors...  providing history as well as spiritual insights. 

I wanted to remember each word he said as I reenter my busy life on Friday.  

At the little lake, he asked us to reflect on past hurts in our lives and to go down to the water and with our hands reach down and lift up some water and let it fall back down ... along with all our worries, regrets, hurts. 

One by one, when we were ready... we followed his advice and went down to the waters edge in silence. 

We then walked briskly along the green trail approaching the second larger lake where we made a detour to a small sacred ruin where It is believed that Saint Kevin was buried.  

We had another reflection there read by Deb.  We then walked on to the other side of the lake where we could see some ancient ruins where it is thought the original monastery might’ve been built.

Saint Kevin’s cave/cell is there where he took refuge and lived as the ascetic missionary he was.  

The rain clouds opened and rained on us as we walked back to our hotel.

I was grateful for a couple of hours to stay in my room, relax, and reflect on the messages that Father Patrick gave us. It was another beautiful, beautiful day.

It is a little bit of a strange juxtaposition to be out walking where the Saints walked in their monastery days, where they lived frugally and simply and then to return to a beautiful hotel with beautiful meals.  it is a little bit jarring.