Okay I have been a little busy the past few weeks visiting with family and friends in England and then getting over to Italy. So I am playing catch up today on a rainy afternoon in Florence, updating the blog today with the remaining two Celtic Pilgrimage trips.

On the same day we went to Whitby Abbey we also went to Rievaulx Abbey, another historic site filled with memories from trips there with my grandparents over the years.

Since I was last here they have built a parking lot, small museum, gift shop and cafe that are beautifully done and worked into the property. The cafe and gift shop have won awards.

Father James gave us an assignment to work on while we wandered the ruins…a poem, a prayer, something to mark the day or our pilgrimage so far. Many fine prayers and poems were written and shared that evening. Here’s my addition…

I am sitting in the Chapter House among the brothers and sleeping Abbots.

I can see the Abbey church shaped in a cross.

I imagine the monks singing their prayers.

At the high altar is the shrine to Saint Aelred, who sleeps peacefully in gold and silver.

To the west are the lay brothers saying their prayers after a long day of hard work.

I move to the cloister, Aelred’s paradise for silent meditation and study.

It is here that I pray..for my brothers and sisters with me on today’s pilgrimage in the North Yorkshire Moors, the home of my beloved grandparents.

As we leave, I look back one last time, Aelred was right, everywhere peace, everywhere serenity.