"The Monastery" - TLC (Oct. 22nd)

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Ok, thanks blessedtoo! At least I have some idea of what I have missed.
 
prv said:
I really wish that not everybody in this group had severe (trauma, etc.) issues to deal with. Can the group at least have one person, Catholic, who is interested in visiting just because they are curious about monastic life? I think I would be more interested if their were more devout Catholics in the cohort.
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Or someone who is Catholic and who knows and understands what it would be like to be able to go on a 40 day retreat at a Benedictine monastery…or a Trappist? There is such a part of me who yearns from the depth of my soul to do this. Which is why I am so interested to see if these guys are transformed by the experience.
 
prv said:
I really wish that not everybody in this group had severe (trauma, etc.) issues to deal with. Can the group at least have one person, Catholic, who is interested in visiting just because they are curious about monastic life? I think I would be more interested if their were more devout Catholics in the cohort.
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Saddly it wouldn’t make for good TV for the general public.
 
I’m happy that they did include the one man who is a former gang member who is trying to live his Catholic faith. He is not getting as much “face time” as some of the others, but I think he provides a nice balance on the show. He seems to be farther along in his faith journey than the others, although still struggling in other areas of his life.

I love this show so far! What an incredible retreat site.

Maybe I could not see clearly, but were there a few nuns visible walking by on the far edge of the room during the meal on the last episode? If so, I wonder what they were doing there?
 
whatevergirl said:
I watched this show last night, for the first time…excellent…I loved it. I just wonder though, is everyone there to become a priest/monk/contemplative? I wasn’t sure, because it sounded like some men there weren’t sure why they were even there, and disagreed with everything going on? LOL Can someone answer that? Thanks!🙂
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The program subjects signed up for 40 days in the monastery. None are planning to join the monastery, though the bearded guy thinks he may have a vocation.
 
I TIVOed the second episode. I enjoyed this show. I the Abbot and his approach interesting considering he tackles things in a completely different way then I or most people in the real world would.

The show also shows me something about myself because right now I’ve about had enough of Alex.
 
I loved tonight’s episode…especially the bit about control, and reconciliation!!!

Bye, Alex. Have a nice life. Please choose to live.
 
And Jonathan’s martyr-mania! I loved that the Abbott nailed him on that one!

While I am relieved that Alex is gone, (too much time wasted on his junevile behavior) there was that last moment when the Abbott said God had made him for something more than doing the dirty work in Iraq, where the look on Alex’s face really stirred my heart. I am so not even close to having the patience of a monk! I think I would have booted him out the first week!

Prediction: I think Tom, the recovering addict, is going to wind up being the guy that reaps the greatest benefits.
 
I didn’t get to see last weeks, but I thought this week really was a good attempt at showing an outside world, most of which has no idea of monastic life, what it is about. In very simple ways he explained the Sacrament of Confession. I felt the one guy propably gave a lot of encouragement to folks who have not gone for decades to not be afraid, just to go. Also, the bishop seems to have a gentle way of explaining human nature and mans relationship with God. Often to a hurting world that knows nothing.

I really think Alex will be back.

But, overall I was impressed with the points the bishop made. Especially right at the end, when he pointed out to Jon that he was always carring people. Then he said to Jon what he wrote on the cross - 'jon loves jon - is not true, is it. Very good indeed! I think he got his attention there.
 
Go figure - I finally caught an episode of this show for the first time tonight. Wow! This show is excellent! The monks have some incredible insight into these men participating in the monastic life, and I can see already that this life is really challenging a lot of what these men have previously believed about themselves.

I really do hope that Alex does get something out of this. But I don’t think he’s going to realize it until many years later. He’s not ready to deal with his own demons yet.
 
I started watching this last week, just by accident! What a fabulous show. The only thing, I fell asleep 10 minutes before it was over last night!! What exactly happened with Alex??? Someone PLEASE tell me!
 
I wished the show was on earlier. I always get ready for bed around 10pm, and I’m asleep by 10:30pm.

Anyone have a summary?
 
Giannawannabe said:
What exactly happened with Alex??? Someone PLEASE tell me!
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The monks got together to try to figure out a strategy to deal with him. They decided that he needed to be confronted by his fellow show-mates. They got together and brainstormed but the final result was Alex saying that he could promise only two things: to do what seems right to him and not to leave before the show is over.

For his 24th birthday, he was given permission to go fishing, but with the monk assigned to him. They didn’t seem close and it looked as if the monk wasn’t going to fish or sit on the shore with Alex.

During the ceremony of head shaving, he refused, but finally gave in to allow the abbot symbolically snip a couple hairs off his head.

What pushed Alex over the ledge is that after sharing beers with the monks during a pre-Ash Wednesday party, he and Jon borrowed a car (without permission) after the monastery went bed. Alex and Jon then drove to the nearest town 40 miles away so they could continue drinking. The next day, Alex said “I’ve gone too far” and that we was leaving. And he did, 23 days into the program… with only 17 days remaining.

I’m of mixed feelings on Alex leaving. He needs help but as someone else mentioned, he doesn’t seem ready to confront his demons. The show has spent what seems to be an inordinate amount of time focusing on him as opposed to the other four. So his leaving may help balance the show… which has consistently been more interesting than the previous episode.
 
I got to watch it tonight. My heart was moved to prayer for Alex. “God made me to do his dirty work in Iraq”. Ouch! I think Alex has some really major issues to deal with. Let us pray for Alex. He grins, but that is not a natural grin. This is one hurt and bruised soul and worthy of our heartfelt prayers. He has mine.

Something else that hit me tonight. All of these guys have started Lent with the brothers. They only have two weeks to go. How can one start Lent and not follow through till Easter?
 
I watched it last night. This is a great show. I found the impact of confession on the former Addict/Alcoholic (Sorry, I forgot his name) was intense and a break through for him and hopefully others watching.

Alex is not ready for this. Hopefully a seed has been planted.
 
We really need to tell TLC what we think so they will continue with some type of programing like they have here and with Shaloam in the Home, although The Monastery is better in my opinion. But they are bring Christ to the forefront for many many people to see - maybe for the first time.
 
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