History
has proved him right. By their very nature monasteries played a vital
role in providing safe and comfortable shelter in times when travel was
time-consuming, arduous and often dangerous. The weary pilgrim, far from
home, would instinctively look for shelter in the house of God. Today,
life itself has become a wearying pilgrimage for many. For them a
monastery offers respite from the fast-paced, stressful and often
unbalanced lives they lead. Others seek to join the monks in the space
they make for God to be worshipped and experienced, a space much harder
now to find in the world.
Guests normally eat in the Guest
Refectory, although some guests may be asked to join the monastic
community for meals. There is also a separate guest courtyard where
meals may be taken in the warmer months, weather permitting. Outside
meal times, the courtyard is a pleasant area to read or meditate.
While
a number of groups wish to take their meals in silence, others benefit
from being able to talk. Where the two different types of group
coincide, they are usually seated at separate tables and are asked to be
mindful of each other’s needs. The community tries to ensure complete silence in the monastery, but there may be times when some noise is unavoidable.
The
kitchen is modern and well-equipped. Our small, dedicated staff
produces food of high quality and can cater for a number of special
dietary needs as listed on the booking form. We cannot guarantee that
the ingredients supplied to us were prepared in a nut-free environment.
Guests with very particular dietary needs are advised to bring their own
food. If in doubt, the Guestmaster can advise you.
Source: Douai Abbey website:- http://www.douaiabbey.org.uk/
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