I just returned from a weeklong silent retreat. The Abbey of Gethsemani is the oldest Trappist monastery in the US, founded in 1848. The monks belong to the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. They make vows of silence, poverty, obedience, and work. They Abbey generates revenue from their sales of fruitcake, cheese, and fudge. It is an incredibly spiritual...
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