‘If there are artisans in the monastery, they are to practise their craft with all humility, but only with the abbot’s permission.’
Ch 57, The Artisans of the Monastery
This chapter of the Rule assumes that creative activities are taking place in the monastery. I think it might be one of the best kept secrets of monasteries that they have always been places of great creativity and resourcefulness. I imagine that just about every monastic house will have several people who have taught themselves a particular skill, using their wits and the resources they could find in a cupboard. Monastic houses are great keepers of ‘useful items’ and one day they will come in very handy. Where there is creativity I always find hope.
St Benedict sounds a note of caution to all artisans and all who dabble in creative things. The purpose of the craft is the glory of God and not the glory of the individual. This is a very important precept for monastic living.
Thirty two years ago when I first visited Turvey Abbey I was struck by the creativity of the environment. This was just one of the things that stirred something in me. Over the years I have seen how we value creativity in all of its forms.
Which skills have you learnt and practised? How do you exercise your creative gifts?
Image: Turvey Abbey
This picture is of me and is taken in the art room at Turvey Abbey. When our artist, Sr Regina, died I was given her desk in the art room. In years gone I visited schools and led In Service days on prayer. I made all of my own props. Here you see some finger puppets of Miriam, Moses and Aaron which I made to illustrate some ideas in the Old Testament. The art room and various cupboards in the monastery are full of useful scraps of paper and art supplies. You can pretty much always find what you need.