In C. S. Lewis’ book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the three children in the story are magically transported to another world, the land of Narnia. There they experience many exciting adventures as they sail across an unknown sea to the “utter east.” At the end of the story Aslan, the good yet mysterious and powerful lion, appears to them in disguise and invites them to share a breakfast of fish roasted on a fire. This scene is surely meant to recall the similarly mysterious breakfast recounted in the last chapter of the Gospel of St. John where our Risen Lord speaks to his disciples and reveals Himself.

Finding their way all alone the children are anxious and inquire of their unrecognized host if they are on the right way to Aslan’s country. “Not for you,” they are told. “For you the door into Aslan’s country is from your own world.” The children are growing older and cannot remain in the magical land of Narnia but must begin to learn the ways of their own world. Yet the good lion Aslan, who has by now revealed himself, assures them that they will be able to meet him there but by another name. Further they are told that all that they have experienced in Narnia was precisely that “by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” This exchange beautifully expresses Lewis’ purpose in writing the series of Narnia books: to lead children?and adults?to live their Christian faith better and to know Aslan by another name, Christ.

At the end of Eastertide each year I find myself with emotions very close to those of the children in this story. The fifty days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost have a very distinct character; in these days we breathe another atmosphere. It is somewhat like being in the land of Narnia where things are seen differently. I imagine much of this comes from living in a monastic setting where the daily liturgy from morning to nightfall dominates everything and imbues it with its spirit. In these days the Paschal Candle, lighted and blessed so dramatically at the Vigil, burns prominently in the midst of the church. The vestments are gold and white and there are more flowers than usual. Along with Easter hymns and antiphons the chanting of “alleluia” is redoubled and sprinkled throughout the daily office like wild flowers in a field.

The Gospels of the first weeks of Easter renew in us the freshness and vitality of the Resurrection message. With the apostles we experience confusion and peace, doubt and certainty, disbelief and joy as they—and we—try to assimilate the import of what has just happened. Only after some weeks can rational conclusions be drawn: the Risen One is our Good Shepherd and remains present as Lord and Head of His Church; He is the Vine from which we draw our true life and in whom alone can we bear abundant fruit; His sacrificial love is the basis of our life together in the Church and is the content of our witness to the world.

Along with this there is the continuous reading of the Acts of the Apostles in the daily lectionary. These early years of the Church are an adventure equal to those of Narnia: the Great King takes His throne on high after solemnly entrusting His mission to his followers; the Holy Spirit comes in wind and fire as a new companion and guide; the apostles preach and perform signs; they experience opposition but cannot be silenced; the young, courageous Stephen suffers martyrdom; the notorious enemy Saul is converted and becomes a great missionary of the faith; there is a sea voyage complete with a dramatic shipwreck and rescue.

But then like the adventures in Narnia our time in the Easter Season comes to its end. It would be surprising if we were not reluctant to leave this beautiful and exciting season. Like the children fearing loss in the story we may wonder how we can sustain our fervor outside these intense days filled with the encouraging symbols of triumph and light. But as for the children in the story the doorway to the Kingdom we seek does not lie behind us but before us. For us the adventure begun with the Lord’s Resurrection is unfolding here and now. At this very moment, in the very circumstances in which we find ourselves, and with the very persons who are a part of our life the great adventure is taking place. Indeed, the very reason why we celebrate the great Season of Easter is that we may learn to abide every day in its strength, its hope, its love, its joy.

As the children in the story are about to go back to their world they are still apprehensive and ask Aslan to tell them how to get into his country. He replies, “I shall be telling you all the time.” So it is also that our Eastertide ends with Pentecost and the recalling of the promise of the Lord, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” Pentecost was the beginning of the Age of the Church, the opening out of the Resurrection event into all future human history. Each year for us Pentecost is the doorway forward into our own world, the doorway to the rest of our life as people born anew through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

This spring the common room in the Retreat House received a much needed new coat of paint. Our thanks go to volunteers Mary Lou Baker and Bernie Ethridge. We plan to eventually repaint the entire interior.

During the Octave of Easter a visit was paid to our dear friends the cloistered Dominican Sisters of Mt. Thabor. After Vespers the sisters provided a beautiful meal and there was animated conversation until Compline.

Also in Eastertide we received a visit from our German brothers Pater Franz and Br. Klaus of the St. Wigberti monastery in Werningshausen. As a remembrance of their visit they left a DVD presenting the history of their monastery. They also presented us with a beautiful white chasuble made over fifty years ago by Franciscan sisters in Fulda.

The annual meeting of the Chapter was held on May 8th. After Vespers and supper the meeting this year began with the recognition of a small milestone. It was 25 years ago that Fr. Richard arrived here at St. Augustine’s House to test his monastic vocation.

At the annual Chapter it was voted to ask Pastor Frank Senn to serve in the capacity of Visitor to the community, and we are happy to announce that he has accepted our invitation. The Visitor connects a monastic community to the larger church. As a respected churchman and also as Senior of the Society of the Holy Trinity we feel Pastor Senn is very well qualified.

Once again we are indebted to the local troop of the Boy Scouts of America for spending a Saturday this spring cleaning the grounds and clearing and raking the hiking trails through our woods. The Red Knapps restaurant in Oxford provided free pizza for the boys’ lunch at noon.

For years a large crucifix graced the outside entrance above the door to the old Chapel. It has now been refurbished as a “wayside shrine” and installed in the cemetery. We are thankful to Jim Lueders who labored on this project in his workshop over the winter and installed it the beginning of June. The flowering flora on our grounds now boasts a hybrid rose named in honor of Pope John Paul II. If we care for it right we hope to have large white roses later in the season.

The annual Fellowship Day this year will be held on Saturday the 26th of August and will mark the golden anniversary of the Fellowship of St. Augustine which Fr. Arthur founded in 1956. We are happy to announce that the noted historian Dr. Robert L. Wilken has agreed to be the featured speaker. We are also hoping that Fr. Caesarius from the monastery in Sweden will be able to be with us and make a presentation as well. More information will be forthcoming.

We are not anticipating a ground breaking anytime soon, but we are beginning to think ahead for the expansion and renovation of the Retreat House. Our architect David Donnellon has drawn up preliminary plans which include a wing for twenty guest rooms and on the opposite side a wing for the library and a “great hall” for meetings. Our faithful web keeper Barbara Susan has just added a search program to our web site. You may check it out by going to the “Links and Search” page at our web site as indicated below. www.StAugustinesHouse.org