Feast of Saint Benedict

Hello Reader

As the morning goes by and we are celebrating the Feast of Saint Benedict in some households today, I was trying to think of a link to the subject on which I wished to write today, yesterday I loved to link some knights, ladies and even fairies to my blog posts and indulge in a little fantasy and imagined time travel back to those ancient times when the Priory in Guisborough was established...imagination is good I feel in some ways, although I was told off for daydreaming at school but one wonders what daydreams can actually tell you...?

So back to my original thoughts of Saint Benedict and Gisborough Priory....I have learnt about Robert de Brus, a man originally from France, he arrived here before the Domesday Book was compiled....now that is a very long time ago...he was a lucky man and clearly favoured by William the Conqueror who gave him lots of land; land then as it is now is a very wealthy thing to own and gives you great status!

So Robert then had a son and indeed an entire generation of the de Brus family thrived in Cleveland and surrounding areas. Robert de Brus founded the the Augustinian Priory of St. Mary in 1119, its hard to imagine being the founder of such a building then and I suppose you could compare it to building a library today in the latest modern and innovative style! 

The Priory was wealthy, gifts from local noble benefactors and the Crown kept an incredibly thriving community.

Sadly in 1540 the monastery was abolished along with other monastic communities, a sad fate for the beautiful Priory and the monks.

For Saint Benedict and all the saints who have been loved, are loved and will always be loved....taking away their homes as the dissolution of monasteries did in some cases, in our hearts if we love something we will take it with us wherever we go....hospitality is in our hearts and souls...we carry our saints with us and we bring them to life in our actions...today I think of others and as cook today I am being host...host to my family, visitors and I am making my humble home into a monastery of love, faith and honour to the saints, the founders of the great priory and all who seek to be evangelists in kindness.

Happy Feast Day to all