How many Monks actually live along the Camino Frances or....

[Bedspring]

....any Camino.

Further to the thread about Monks at Roncevalles, how many Monks actually live along the Camino Frances.

I recall seeing quite a few Nuns, but very few Monks, I think one signed me at Samos, and I think I recall stopping in another Albergue and there might have been a couple, but to say its such a huge religious thing, not many. Where is the best place to interact with Monks, possibly as Patrick Leigh Fermor did in "A Time to keep Silence"

 

[Bradypus]

Where is the best place to interact with Monks, possibly as Patrick Leigh Fermor did in "A Time to keep Silence"

Probably the best place is somewhere a long way from the Camino Frances! As you have noted there are very few male religious communities left along the Camino Frances itself. It is very difficult to combine the constant round of prayer which is the principal function of monastic life with hosting a large number of demanding visitors who change on a daily basis. That is one of the reasons why those religious houses of either sex which do still maintain albergues often rely heavily on lay people for the practical work involved. If you want to spend any significant time meeting with monks then it would be better to do so as one of a smaller number of guests for a longer period than an overnight albergue stay.

PS: In the remarkable pilgrimage book "The Crossway" Guy Stagg gives a very powerful account of the impact of time spent in the Orthodox monasteries of Mount Athos on the atheist but fascinated and respectful author.

 

[MinnehonkTom]

....any Camino.

Further to the thread about Monks at Roncevalles, how many Monks actually live along the Camino Frances.

I recall seeing quite a few Nuns, but very few Monks, I think one signed me at Samos, and I think I recall stopping in another Albergue and there might have been a couple, but to say its such a huge religious thing, not many. Where is the best place to interact with Monks, possibly as Patrick Leigh Fermor did in "A Time to keep Silence"

The monastery at Sobrado dos Monxes is my recommendation. It is located on both the Camino de Norte and the Variante Verde of the Camino Primitivo. The monastery is an active religious community. Bonus: It brews its own beer. The brothers offer rooms for extended stays, for contemplation and worship with the brothers.

 

[SYates]

The Benedictine monks in Rabanal del offer pilgrims the possibility to stay several days for a retreat during/after their Camino: https://monteirago.org/en/hospitalidad/acogida-monastica-de-huespedes/
BC SY

 

[MinnehonkTom]

The monastery at Sobrado dos Monxes is my recommendation. It is located on both the Camino de Norte and the Variante Verde of the Camino Primitivo. The monastery is an active religious community. Bonus: It brews its own beer. The brothers offer rooms for extended stays, for contemplation and worship with the brothers.

(sin título)

www.monasteriodesobrado.org

 

[Rebekah Scott]

"...but to say it's such a huge religious thing? Not many"
The Camino de Santiago is a huge religious thing. It is the product of monastic expansion, and for a thousand years Christian worship has been its hearbeat. Monastics are now only a small part of this "hige religious thing..." but The faith and worshop are alive in the pilgrims and natives all around you on the Way.
Not every religious person is a monk or nun.

 

[davejsy]

Well I stayed at what was I think a Monastery in Estella run by monks, Albergue Capuchinos. I didn't see any monk-like-looking people though, and the guy who checked me in was wearing jeans and t-shirt and smoking - not that there's anything wrong with that but just not the image I had in my head. Maybe I mis-read my guide-book!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Well I stayed at what was I think a Monastery in Estella run by monks, Albergue Capuchinos. I didn't see any monk-like-looking people though, and the guy who checked me in was wearing jeans and t-shirt and smoking - not that there's anything wrong with that but just not the image I had in my head. Maybe I mis-read my guide-book!

...and not every monastic is going to meet your expectations.

 

[Bradypus]

...and not every monastic is going to meet your expectations.

The priest who presided at our marriage many years ago also ran a small printing press. Derek hired a lorry one day to pick up a load of supplies for the business. Wearing his usual checked shirt and jeans. On the way he stopped to pick up a young Franciscan friar in brown habit who was hitchhiking. Newly professed and very eager to tell Derek all about it. Derek simply nodded and made appropriate noises as the monologue went on. As the young friar stepped down from the cab he said brightly "I don't suppose you pick up many hitchhiking friars!" Just before pulling away Derek replied "I don't suppose you get many lifts from priests driving lorries either."

 

[oursonpolaire]

I would underline what others have suggested about Sobrado. You could also take a bus trip of an hour out of Burgos to the monastery at Silos, which appears to have accommodation for retreatants or multi-day stays. I understand that the monastery at Leyre (on the Aragones) also provides for muli-day stays. Given the decreasing numbers of monks available to support their ancient ministery of hospitality, monasteries have refined their approach. But it's still there, just not visible to casual passersby as it was seven centuries ago.

@davejsy - the saying, claimed by many: it's not the habit that makes the monk

 

[El Cascayal]

In 2021 just after the pandemic restrictions were lifted, I was able to spend 3 nights in the Monastery at Oseira on the Sanabres. An incredible experience. All the guests were welcome to participate in the choir with the monks for the Hours which were sung in Gregorian chant. At Completas the abbot blessed each individual monk and guest as one excited the choir.
Now they have a newly completed albergue as well. It is a great place for peaceful reflection. All are welcome.

 

[Lydia Gillen]

I have stayed a few times in the village of Santa Domingo de Silos and attended church services in the monastery. These monks like to sing all the psalms. There is a bus from Burgos at 5.30 each evening and a bus returns to Burgos at 8 a.m. It is a workers bus so does not run on Sundays. I usually stay 3 nights so I am there for 2 full days. Men can stay in the monastery, and join in their life for a few days. I imagine that you would have to book in advance. Please do not start a discussion and row about discrimination on the Camino. This is 65 klm from the Camino. The monastery is their home and they are obeying an ancient rule. One can have a tour of the cloister. it is a most unusual cloister in that it is 2 storey. The carvings are beautiful. One also can tour the ancient pharmacy. Many years ago when times were bad they had to sell all their beautiful jars, centuries later they came up for sale and the man who bought them gifted them back to the present day monks. at another stage the government took over all religious houses and sold them off , but out of respect for the monks of Silos nobody would buy and when there was a change of government they got the building back again . Just writing this gives me a longing to visit Silos again. The monks pray at different hours of the day Laudes (praise early morning,) Terce (Third hour about 9a.m.) I think they have Community Mass at 12.noon, and Vespers in the evening and Compline(night prayer.) I know that when I arrive and check into the hotel I have to make a bee line to be in time They also get up in the middle of the night Matins to pray for all people because life is at a low ebb then. For me it is always a deeply spiritual time. Wear your warmest clothes the church is freezing cold.!!!

 

[Bradypus]

Well I stayed at what was I think a Monastery in Estella run by monks, Albergue Capuchinos.

Just to be pedantic: the Capuchins are friars, not monks. The main difference is that friars get out and about more while monks are largely tied to their particular monasteries and the daily cycle of prayer and work there.

 

[davejsy]

Just to be pedantic: the Capuchins are friars, not monks. The main difference is that friars get out and about more while monks are largely tied to their particular monasteries and the daily cycle of prayer and work there.

Yes, apologies if I offended anyone - I am not an expert in these matters. And I can confirm that despite the absence of any Friar Tuck types I had a very pleasant stay there.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

PS: In the remarkable pilgrimage book "The Crossway" Guy Stagg gives a very powerful account of the impact of time spent in the Orthodox monasteries of Mount Athos on the atheist but fascinated and respectful author.

I have also read the "Crossway" and was about to reply hen I noticed you already had. Those remote monasteries in the high mountains along his pilgrimage were very intriguing to read about.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

In 2021 just after the pandemic restrictions were lifted, I was able to spend 3 nights in the Monastery at Oseira on the Sanabres. An incredible experience. All the guests were welcome to participate in the choir with the monks for the Hours which were sung in Gregorian chant. At Completas the abbot blessed each individual monk and guest as one excited the choir.
Now they have a newly completed albergue as well. It is a great place for peaceful reflection. All are welcome.

I loved my experience at the monastery in Oseira. I signed up for the wonderful tour of the property and later returned for vespers, and we were escorted to a chapel down a long hall.
The new albergue was exceptionally nice! Its beautiful shiny kitchen had no cooking supplies, but was no surprise, but had plenty of nice tables and chairs if you brought your own food or snacks.