Echoes from the Bell Tower

Read the full transcript of this episode

The COVID-19 pandemic has made an impact on all of our lives this year, so perhaps it’s time to get some advice from people who live together in close quarters – on purpose!

In our new episode of the “Echoes from the Bell Tower” podcast, Saint Meinrad monks Br. Joel Blaize and Br. Kolbe Wolniakowski asked their confreres how best to keep the faith during these difficult times.

Like the rest of us, the monks have been staying home. Most off-the-Hill assignments and travel have been suspended. And ever since mid-March, the various events and activities that bring people to Saint Meinrad have been canceled.

In the podcast, Archabbot Kurt, Br. Francis, Fr. Lorenzo, Br. John Mark and Br. Simon reflect on how COVID-19 has changed things and ways that all of us can make the best of these times.

A few notes about this episode: The interviews were done this summer, so keep in mind that, like everything COVID-related, things are constantly changing. And at one point, Br. Joel mentions that they are recording in September. The episode was released on October 15, a few weeks after the recording was completed.

This is also a good time to mention our newly relaunched prayer app, Honor Your Inner Monk. It is a free download from either Apple’s App Store or Google Play for your smartphone. Each day, the app serves up a short Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer to help you honor your inner monk. You can find out more at: www.honoryourinnermonk.org.

As always, you can listen to this episode at the top of this page, or go to iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts and download “Echoes from the Bell Tower.” Thanks for listening!

Next week, we release the final episode for this season. Be sure to listen to Fr. Lorenzo’s story of living and studying in Rome this spring when the pandemic erupted.

Here are some links mentioned in this podcast episode:

Daily Mass and Vespers in the Archabbey: www.saintmeinrad.org/live

Br. Simon’s lectio divina on Twitter: @MonkSimonOSB

Monte Cassino Shrine pilgrimage talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4oM-giPvDl6NAujXki70S6vzVeg4dpgc