This is Dom Dyfrig Harris, monk of Belmont Abbey, Hereford who died last week at the age of 63. When this seal had been living in Scotland for some time he decided to become a monk joining the English Benedictines of Belmont. Six months later, after much thought, I left. But I still have an enormous interest in monasticism and its history. Dom Dyfrig was quite unlike how a monk may appear to the public, he was so affable and engaging. During my time he was recovering his health by painting icons and I got to know him a little as I was tasked to paint some rooms nearby: the more prosaic end of painting to his heavenly. He was animated by Eastern Byzantine traditions and became what is know as a bi-ritual priest celebrating the Ukrainian Catholic liturgy all over the West of England. I still maintain that, far from cutting oneself off, this form of living not only offers an encounter with the divine but also can promote a sense of oneness with all humanity and even all creation. Living in a community can be difficult and I remember his slow responses at services annoying another monk. This, I found, a little amusing to say the least. In a quiet, spartan life the smallest things may take on great meaning. Should I ever be sent to prison this training will be useful.
Dyfrig, his monastic name, was an early Welsh saint born in Madely( of the famous shrine), Herefordshire, which shows the high Celtic tidemark of history with much of the area having Celtic roots ( now the opposite population movements further encroach on the Welsh speaking areas). For anyone not familiar with this area, also known as The Marches, a trip is well worth the effort.
Rest in Peace Dyfrig.
Interesting to hear you'd spent 'time' in a monastery. Perhaps you told me that before and I forgot? Whilst not quite the same, your point about mystic contemplation of the divine reminds me of the meditation sessions my wife has got me into. She's been doing it for years, but got me initiated so that we could go on meditation retreats in this old country house deep in the Kent countryside. Of course, the tradition that we engage in comes from the east; all this trendy stuff about karma and being at one with the 'om' of existence and what-not. But anyway, it allows a brief period of time away from the hum-drum of everyday existence, enough not only to re-charge the batteries but to perhaps think a little about the broader and deeper things in life. Not that I actually needed to go away to do that, but the meditation retreats do make a nice little weekend away by doing something a bit unusual. After all, the divine is to be found in the everyday things of life, if we look for it, but perhaps we sometimes need a little help.
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil, I may be wrong but I suspect , given your wife's first name, she hails from a cultural background not dissimilar from Dom Dyfrig? I know that scientific studies of monks especially in the Eastern traditions do show marked permanent changes in structure as a result of contemplation/TM etc.
DeleteTeresa is indeed named after St Teresa in the Catholic tradition. She is one of no less than ten siblings - testament to the power of Papal dogma - from a family of English Catholics, who are interesting as they started a 'back to the land' community with other family members on land in Northamptonshire may years ago. When we go there for Christmas, visiting all the relatives is nice as it's just a case of walking around the village, as everyone is related! But one day, I shall take Teresa to visit the birthplace of her saintly namesake. Hope they do nice tapas in Avila.
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DeleteHi Phil, She sounds interesting as does her family. There are actually 5 saints, all Carmelites, with that name, two are obscure but St T of Liseux is famous and St T Benedicta of the cross was a Jewish convert who died in a Nazi deathcamp- declared by Pope JP2 as a patron saint of Europe.
DeleteAh yes, perhaps one day we shall do a 'Tour of the Teresas'! My Teresa is very interesting, she sings in a choir, plays flute in an orchestra, and plays ukelele in my living room (and occasionally weddings - our own in fact, the highlight of the wedding.) St Teresa of St Reatham; has a certain ring, no?
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