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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jennifer_G
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Here’s the web site for the monastery. Good stuff. Check out the Abbot’s notebook, he addresses the show and acknowledges the viewers criticism and compliments.
christdesert.org/
 
Dale_M said:
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.
Click to expand...
Thanks DaleM! I agree with your assessment of Alex. Too much time spent analyzing him. I think he may be back, though (as someone else said…)
 
RLT said:
Check out the Abbot’s notebook
Click to expand...
Thanks for that advice! Its interesting to read that monks go on retreat too… and to a Cistercian monastery, rather than to another Benedictine house.

Giannawannabe, you are welcome. I hope you are right about Alex, he is so obviously in need of assistance. 😦
 
I watched all the monastry and the convent episodes made in England and shown on the BBC. I live near the convent where they had the four women stay and went to an open day they held when two of the women came back for a visit.
The nuns told us that after the programmes aired they were flooded with emails and phone calls. They were given some money by the BBC so they could employ a Catholic couple to answer everything. Apparently there were alot of cries for help from people not just vocation queries. One of our priests says mass there every week and says the nuns still miss the girls.
About a year later they had a follow up return of the Monastery and one man who had been a protestant militant in Northern Ireland and anti catholic had become a full time prison visitor for very little money. The show changed his life! I hope they will show the USA version here. There is an Australian version I believe.
NB We alos had a very good three part series on the BBC about Jesus done by a muslim which was very good. Sorry can’t remember the name of it.
 
Hi Dilcia. I also saw the monastery and some of the convent that was shown on BBC. I thought both of them very good and it was great to see how much interest was expressed in both places after the shows were aired.

In watching the programs I always got the impression that the producers of the show were more interested in the personal journeys of the men and women, than creating high drama. Of course there was that as well, after all if you are seeking a new direction in life the is always a struggle and some resistance. It was very moving to see each of them grow and gain insights. It is always interesting how people react in a similar situation. Some get it very fast and others it can take them nearly the whole 40 days.

However reading the posts here and seeing some of the promo I wonder if the US version of the monastery is going more for the sensational aspect rather than the personal journey. But still hopefully it will spark the same level of interest as happened in the UK.
 
Pani_Rose said:
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.
Click to expand...
I agree but I would caution you about Shaloam in the Home’s Rabbi Schmuley. He was viscously opposed to the “Passion” and was completely unyielding regarding Mel Gibson’s drunken rants. I was also disappointed when his show featured a lesbian couple who had an adopted daughter.

For a very flattering review of the monastery, see:
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6353576
 
blessedtoo said:
I agree but I would caution you about Shaloam in the Home’s Rabbi Schmuley. He was viscously opposed to the “Passion” and was completely unyielding regarding Mel Gibson’s drunken rants. I was also disappointed when his show featured a lesbian couple who had an adopted daughter.

For a very flattering review of the monastery, see:
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6353576
Click to expand...
I didn’ t see that episode. All in the name of political correctness I guess. It is sad!

Mel Gibson is under major attack from the darkness of the world. To produce a film like he did in the Passion, he had to be cooperating closely with the Holy Spirit, and the world hates that. The last thing anyone who is not a firm believer in Christ wants, is for him to do a similar film and accomplish his task.

I miss BBC we don’t have it our cable right now, I really enjoyed a lot of the programing they did. I really think they are closley tied with or owned by the same cooperation at TLC.

I had read some reports on the the program they did on BBC and it’s affect on the people. That is really a blessing. I pray the Monastery does as much or more.
 
What a powerful episode tonight. I wish Father(or is it Brother?) Gabriel had been a little firmer with Tom on the marriage issue, but if he had pushed any harder, maybe Tom might’ve simply left or become even more angry than he was. I wish every Catholic would watch this!! I’m going to begin recommending it to everyone. I’m looking forward to the comments about tonight’s episode.
 
Giannawannabe said:
What a powerful episode tonight. I wish Father(or is it Brother?) Gabriel had been a little firmer with Tom on the marriage issue, but if he had pushed any harder, maybe Tom might’ve simply left or become even more angry than he was. I wish every Catholic would watch this!! I’m going to begin recommending it to everyone. I’m looking forward to the comments about tonight’s episode.
Click to expand...
At first I thought as you did about the marriage but as you said I don’t think he could have been pushed harder at that point; I’ve been recommending the show…very good and it sure makes you think…👍
 
I liked the way he brought him back around to it. Arranging for them to work together, he drew out the point - with him not realizing it - when he pointed out how the brothers had grown closer to God by them all being there visiting. It was a way of showing that sacramental nature of family, but not directly using the words. Pointing out in a very round about way - that has men they had grown closer to the one their lives were committed to.

Hope that makes sence!

I also think in the end, the one guy will stay with the Benedictines. He may leave for a while but he will be back.
 
My review!

If Tom’s reaction to Brother Gabriel’s suggestion to have his marriage blessed was so violent (“I won’t be returning to Catholicism”), can you imagine his reaction to NFP?

Warren, the dear boy, needs a massive dose of humility. Heaven’s, he knows so much more than the monks, doesn’t he? And his complaint that they don’t speak of God enough? Aren’t they in prayer 10 hours a day? Isn’t every statement of the Abbott’s punctuated with words about God?

Jon is stubborn and doesn’t seem to really listen. He continues to place all his hopes (of which he seems to have very little) in man and hence he is always disappointed.

Will is just touching. He seems to be the most compliant and looks to be benefitting the most, although Tom had a much longer road to travel to rediscover his faith.

Loved the hermit! How positively aghast were the men at the idea that we should all be preparing for death! This show has made me so grateful to God because I see, in these men, where I used to live and how dreadful an existence it was. Thank the Lord I have moved from the place!
 
I too thought Tom’s reaction re: his marriage being blessed by the church was over the top. He was not listening as much as he was reacting. He distorted Bro. Gabriel’s words. I was a bit frustrated at first w/ the Abbots answers but have come to appreciate his ‘pace’ and demand for a healthy and whole person.
 
That episcopal makes me want to hug him and slap him at the same time. He reminds me of someone, but I can’t put a finger on who.
 
I love this series.
I am glad to find a place where people are discussing it.
  1. Alex as the biggest rebel and as the one to leave was the best TV.
  2. Alex was so frustrating to watch. Why be there if he wouldn’t participate as much as giving up a lock of hair. Someone described him as immature. I’ve googled him. WOW. He’s practically a famous marine before the monstery. I cannot pigeon hole him.
  3. Abbot Phillip’s wisdom catches me in unexpected ways. He communicates at a level the intended in ready to receive.
  4. I think Alex left because he could not deal with his own disdain in the face of the brothers patience and kindness.
  5. I totally get Tom’s OVER reaction to Gabriel less than honed marriage topic intro. He jumped to the assumption that Gabriel was trying to invalidate his marriage. That can upset some people. I think Bro. Gabriel did well to make a smooth alternate channel for dialog. You gotta remember these guys are bringing baggage. They not called lapsed Catholics for nothing.
 
What’s up with the TLC schedule? I just found out I missed this week’s episode because they aired it at 6:00 without warning - and there are no repeats this week - and no episode at all is listed for next week. What happened?

LT
 
ltravis said:
What’s up with the TLC schedule? I just found out I missed this week’s episode because they aired it at 6:00 without warning - and there are no repeats this week - and no episode at all is listed for next week. What happened?

LT
Click to expand...
Oh dear, I think I got very lucky because I just happened to catch it while I was channel surfing. I thought perhaps it was an early airing and that they would show it again at 10:00. I realllly hate to tell you this, but that was the last show.😦
 
I missed the last episode:eek: I thought it aired at 10:00 EST but I checked the schedule and it aired earlier today. Did anyone see it so they can tell what happened. Maybe we should email TLC and try and show support and get them to reair the last epsiode. They really didn’t schedule it well and if they had it on more than 1 time (I don’t count the 1:00 A.M. showings) the series would have probably done a lot better than it did.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top