This weekend I visited a Franciscan Friary. It had three brothers. Two are Korean and one is from New Zealand. Their mission as friars is to live in community together, pray, live simply, and offer hospitality to others. They support themselves through farming, candle making, teaching, and donations.
My friend Dave and I took the bus from Seoul out to Gangchon. There Brother Christopher picked us up and took us to the friary in the hills.
It was beautiful, peaceful, and surrounded by creation. We wandered up the mountain and took pictures. We saw some frogs, a toad, a snake, and lots of bugs. We could also hear many kinds of birds.
When we returned, it was time for midday prayer. We met Brother Christopher in the prayer room where we sat cross-legged on square cushions facing each other. We read psalms and prayers together in a call-response fashion. Large open windows let in the sound of a nearby stream.
Following the prayer time, Brother Christopher cooked us a delicious dinner. We ate and talked.
Later, I joined Brother Christopher for evening prayer. It involved 30 minutes of silent prayer followed by a scripture reading and a canticle. The room was dark and peaceful. It was lit by candles and a small spot light highlighted an icon of Jesus. I found myself nodding off several times, but the slightly uncomfortable crossed-leg sitting posture helped keep me awake.
It is interesting how the mind wanders when it doesn't have all the outside distractions. It is interesting the things that are said to God in the quiet of one's heart. In the quiet of the evening.
Following the evening prayer, those in the friary are asked to remain in silence until the prayer the next morning.
The next day we had morning prayer at seven. Along with the prayer was the Eucharist. It is a Korean friary so everything is done in Korean. However, Brother Christopher provided me with an English translation so I could follow along. The sermon he gave was also in English for my benefit.
Each prayer time was very orderly and followed a set pattern for the particular day. There were specific scriptural readings, canticles, and prayers for each day and each time of day.
It was a very peaceful time. A time to rest and a time to listen to the silence. I was able to write down some of my thoughts and read.
The life of a friar is not for me, but it was certainly interesting to experience it for a couple of days.
Before we left, Brother Christopher drove us to a popular waterfall that was nearby. We spent a few hours walking and talking with him and then said good bye. Then we caught a bus and headed home. Another weekend well spent. Another new friend made.
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