{"id":19867,"date":"2017-08-19T06:00:55","date_gmt":"2017-08-19T10:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/?p=19867"},"modified":"2020-03-26T03:29:35","modified_gmt":"2020-03-26T07:29:35","slug":"a-life-of-contemplation-and-cheese-at-an-abbey-in-quebec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/2017\/08\/19\/a-life-of-contemplation-and-cheese-at-an-abbey-in-quebec\/","title":{"rendered":"A life of contemplation (and cheese) at an abbey in Quebec"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The front of the main abbey building at St. Benoit du Lac. Photo: James Morgan<\/p><\/div>\n

The Benedictine abbey at St. Benoit du Lac Quebec is where Roman Catholic religious community, culture, history, and natural beauty come together. It overlooks Lake Memphremagog between the city of Magog and the border with Vermont. I recently visited the abbey and discovered its people and lifestyle.<\/p>\n

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The rear area of the abbey is where the monks live in small individual rooms known as cells. Mountains and Lake Memphremagog are in the background. Photo: James Morgan<\/p><\/div>\n

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The abbey’s main corridor features patterns of brick and tile. Photo: James Morgan<\/p><\/div>\n

The monastery at St. Benoit du Lac began in 1912 when Dom Paul Vannier and Brother Raphael Pelissier arrived from the main monastery in St. Wandrille, Belgium. They purchased 440 acres of land and monastic life began in a former farmhouse. Dom Vannier\u2019s life ended tragically in November 1914 when a boat he was traveling in with Brother Charles Collot, sunk in Lake Memphremagog. The monastery gained independence from St. Wandrille in 1935 and became a full abbey in 1952. The main building was constructed during the late 1950s. The attached abbey church was completed and consecrated in 1994. There is also an older, small chapel Le Tour de St. Benoit, located on the property with beautiful stained-glass windows.<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n

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St. Benoit du Lac abbey church. Photo: James Morgan<\/p><\/div>\n