Monks Experience In Solitude In Spain

When these religious individuals from two Roman Catholic monasteries in Spain, were being interviewed regarding their experience in solitude, they spilled the tea. Explaining their ways of exercising solitude, challenges which they overcame while the rewards trickled simultaneously. The 10 Spanish nuns and 10 monks vowed to reside in the monastery during the period of solitude, avoiding sexual intimacy/ human attachment (marriage, children), exemplifying utmost obedience to The Mother Superior, Father Prior/ senior monks and living with minimal personal materials. All this in hopes of channeling their inner desires to the pure worship of God. Throughout biblical history, “the great empty spaces of desert and wilderness are the sites of spiritual

((Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 50) Despite it sounding ironic for a society influenced by modern thoughts, in fact, these monastics “valued, cherished, sought after and considered worthwhile, [solitude] as it brought closer what longed for most: perfect closeness with God”. (Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 50) Rather than being distracted by human emotions such as love, isolating themselves from such ventures allowed for an “intimate conversation with God”. (Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 50) Likewise, residing in a poverty like lifestyle, allowed for them to ensure that they were not prioritising others for the love of God. ((Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 50) No longer did the nuns or monks hurt to split their heart into hundreds of pieces for every person or item, instead, keep it whole and pure with merely God’s presence. ((Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 50) In fact, one of the individuals stated they desired to make “their service to God “unconditional”, “loving him with an exclusive love””. (Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 50) Moreover, when asked to compare their previous lifestyle before embarking on spirituality, and specifically solitude, the tears of pleasure collect to a pool. ((Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 50) They were able to lead themselves to “happiness and emotional safety, spiritual wholeness, closeness with God, intimate conversation with

Initially, the lack of human intimacy was difficult to grasp around “especially when [experiencing] difficult personal times such as aging, health problems, internal disputes etc.” (Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 52) Moreover, for the nuns a more prevalent problem which they needed to overcome was not having children. Sister Teresa sheds her pain, stating that “we miss having children, they are so cute ... every woman wears a baby inside”. (Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 52) While one of the monks, Brother Terenci stated, “One of the deepest sorrows I have had was precisely triggered by the void that that celibacy leaves in you, this solitude”. (Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 52) Nevertheless, such situations did not interfere with the commitment of the nuns and monks to continue their endeavour. Instead, for them, it became motivation as they could identify that they were nearing themselves to God. Suffering for human love became the gateway to a greater love. (Dura-Vila and Leavy, 2017, 53) Additionally, these religious individuals reminded themselves of the temptations and suffering of Jesus. If Jesus, the Son of God, who had previously been entitled to heaven and love by God, was able to remain in solitude for 40 days in the desert, likewise they have the same ability to do the same. Particularly, as he was suffering through similar situations as well, “being tempted by