Life at Nashotah House

Many of you have rightly enquired as to exactly how I fill my days at Nashotah House. Allow me, therefore, to submit to you two items for your perusal: first, I've run across a piece written for The Church Eclectic in 1893 describing the daily routine of the House at the close of the nineteenth century, and, secondly, I've taken it upon myself to give my very own account of our common life in 2011. I find the similarity both fascinating and edifying.

Finally, I've included a recipe, which, though we don't have it on the Refectory menu, we do have at the Wilson household quite often.

I do hope, dear readers, that your joie de vivre will be enhanced. Who knows, perhaps God is calling you places you never expected -- if you don't believe me, just ask Abraham, Noah, Elijah, Isaiah, St. John the Baptist, Mary, Mother of our Lord, St. Paul, St. Peter, Mother Teresa, St. Benedict, etc...!

Nashotah in 1893:

AT 6.30 the old bell rings--the same bell which used to hang in the tree in front of the original "Mission" house--and again at 6.55, this last a warning that in five minutes great "Michael" who hangs in his cross-topped rustic belfry near the chapel will announce the hour for the Daily Mass. Students in cassocks and cloaks hurry along the path, the lights are twinkling upon the altar, the Celebrant and server enter, and soon the deep-toned murmur of the responses tells that the service has begun. At the conclusion the Priest returns from the sacristy, kneels at the communion rail, and the Thanksgiving is said. Then immediately follows the Meditation given by the Celebrant or other member of the Faculty, closing when the bell at the Refectory gives warning of the Breakfast hour at 8 o'clock. Arrived at the table, all stand until at a signal from the President, the Latin grace, "Oculi omnium" is sung. During the first quarter-hour some instructive book, usually a biography, is read from a lecturn, and conversation is suspended. The walls of the Refectory are hung with various portraits of Bishops, benefactors, former professors and students--but a large Crucifix occupies a prominent place. At 8.30 again the great bell rings, this time for Matins, which however is not obligatory, as are the Eucharist and Evensong. The interval till 10.00 has no assigned duties, but it gives an opportunity for students to arrange their rooms, or, perhaps quite as likely, to put a hasty finishing touch upon their preparation for the day's recitations. From 10 till 1 o'clock, students and professors are busy in their class rooms. At I o'clock dinner is served in the Refectory. The food is not elaborately prepared, but it is wholesome, abundant and well served, and the half-hour spent at the table is not infrequently prolonged to an hour, when a vein of humor or anecdote is struck, and stories and experiences are exchanged.

The afternoon hours may be used at discretion. Many of the students rightly consider physical exercise a duty as well as a pleasure, and, in the fine Autumn or Spring days some go on long walks, others shooting or rowing, while a number find diversion nearer home in tennis, foot-ball and base-ball. In winter skating and tobogganing have their many devotees. If quiet thoughts posses the mind, and communion with the God of nature be one's object, there is the beautiful cemetery stretching along the wooded ridge towards the south, where, under the sign of the cross, rest the mortal remains of Bishop Kemper and of many another soldier who has fought valiantly under that Standard. Or, in the opposite direction, one may take the path, carpeted with turf and moss, as it winds in and out among the oaks, leading to "the Station." Any where else it would surely be called "Lovers' Lane." And we must not forget the "petit Calvaire" down by the lakewise; round and smooth it rises abruptly from the water's edge. One expects to see a Cross there, so Golgotha-like is it. And where It stands, rough, brown and weather-beaten, towering above the rude stone-heap at its base: above the modest cedars which stand reverently aside, lest they should obstruct the view; Upper Nashotah, upon which the Cross looks out at all times. It is good to kneel in this place of an afternoon. But we must come back from our ramble. The narrow, sometimes treacherous path, close by the bank will lead us most directly. We pass stretches of sloping sandy beach where one might like to bathe; then, further on, we see the bright clean pebbles on the lake bottom almost under our feet, and the fish make for deeper water as we pass along. Now we come in sight of the chapel-belfry again, rising high above our heads, at the top of the bluff. Again "Michael" tolls out his majestic tones, and the students are assembling for Evensong. The vesper lights gleam on either side of the huge Tabernacle which dominates the massive altar of oak. A moment of silence and the Officiant intones the "Aperi Domine," to which there is the reverberating response, "Amen." The long train of students in cassock and surplice, headed by the Crucifer, then file slowly up thro' the shadowy nave into the brightly lighted choir, the clergy into their stalls, while the organ gives forth soft and graceful harmonies. The service is fully choral, not "shortened" except by the use of the briefer exhortation; the Psalter and Canticles Gregorian; Office Hymn after the third Collect; the Athanasian Creed chanted at the end of the Office one day in each week. As the procession slowly returns toward the vestry, we see, through the open west door the setting sun mirrored in the placid waters of the lake. We would fain tarry in this quiet beautiful house of God; we believe it is a foretaste of Heaven. But--another petition that God may make real and lasting to us the sweet communion of this place, another Amen, more subdued and solemn than before, and soon the dark cassocked figures of the seminarians are making their way in the twilight along the path which leads to the Refectory. Tea is a brief refection; and then follow the hours of most earnest study. At nine the bell rings for Compline, and in the oratories of the several buildings the old Psalms are said, the old Hymn and Nunc dimittis are sung.


Nashotah In 2011

Life at Nashotah house today is completely the same and totally different. I mean the mission of the House remains unchanged; however, the student body is no longer exclusively monastic and we certainly, much to my chagrin, do not pause for tea. We're no longer all single either. Most of the students are in fact married with children. Nevertheless, our day still begins with Michael, the two-ton bell, peeling not at 6:00 am, but at 8:00 am for the recitation of the Daily Office and said Mass. After Mass, we all walk up to the Refectory for a hearty breakfast with faculty and students.

From 9:40-12:30 we attend our course lectures. This term I'm registered for: Church History II, Historical Theology II, Ascetical Theology I, A Survey of the Anglican Choral Tradition, Parish Ministry I, and a course in Jesus & the Gospels.

We take our lunch at 12:30. At 1:30 we go back to chapel for musical instruction, where we learn the upcoming week's musical settings for the Offices and our Thursday evening Solemn Mass. At 2:00 pm on Wednesday's we report for work duty. Remember, we value St. Benedict's model, therefore, we all pitch in to make this place function properly. I'm assigned to the Refectory, which is just Church-speak for the cafeteria. There I clean, arrange, and ensure that our kitchen functions properly. This can mean anything from vacuuming to stocking to even setting up for a event or party. I'm particularly handy at setting up the bar for community events. Some things really never do change.

Around 3:30 pm, I slip off to my cubicle in the library for homework. I'm only there for a few scant minutes: Michael rings out the Angelus again at 4:30 pm, when, just as in the days of old, we all process in for Evensong. Immediately following Evensong, we have Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, which is a way for us to marvel at Christ's presence amongst us in the Sacrament of the Altar.

Finally, at 6:00 I head for home, where I'm greeted by Malacy, Gus and sweet little Mary Camille, all of whom are ready to see me. If I'm tired, I have to fake it. I usually cook dinner, and we try to get Gus down by 8:00 pm so that Malacy and I can have some quiet time before bed at 11:00.

On nights when we're rushed for dinner, I'm fond of this one-dish dinner, which, I suppose, is really a salad of sorts.

Charleston's Mediterranean Salad With Chicken

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 TBSP unsalted butter

4 medium size boneless skinless chicken breasts (Perdue is our brand of choice)

1/2 cup + 2TBSP extra virgin olive oil (We're using a blend from DiBruno Brothers in Philadelphia, PA)

4 handfuls of mixed baby greens (the plastic boxes are better than bags; however, hand-assembled at the market is to be preferred)

crumbled French feta

toasted pine nuts

3 cups goat cheese stuffed tortellini, cooked in chicken broth, drained, and set aside at room temp (there are many brands here; most are readily available at your local supermarché)

5 TBSP aged balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. maple syrup

pinch of sea salt

pinch of cracked Tellicherry pepper

pinch of tarragon

pinch of thyme

Instructions:

Sauté the chicken breasts in 2TBSP of olive oil and butter until tender. Lightly sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, tarragon, and thyme. Cube the chicken at set aside. Make the dressing by combining 1/2 cup of olive oil with 5 TBSP of Balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp. of maple syrup. for best results, pour the olive oil in a steady stream while whisking vigorously. Once ready, set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine lettuce, chicken, toasted pine nuts, feta, remaining salt, pepper, and cooked pasta. Gently toss, add 1/4 of the dressing and toss. If more dressing is needed, add accordingly. Serve.