Welcome to the Community of Transfiguration
sisters and brothers of the Transfiguration
A Blessing
May you be blessed in the holy
names of those who carry your
pain up the mountain of transfiguration.
May you know tender shelter and healing
blessing when you are called to stand in
the place of pain.
May the places of darkness within you be
surprised by light.
May you be granted the wisdom to avoid
false resistance and when suffering
knocks on the door of your life, may
you be able to glimpse its hidden gift.
May you be able to see the fruits of
suffering.
May memory bless and shelter you with the
hard-earned light of past travail, may
this give you confidence and trust.
May a window of light always surprise you.
May the grace of transfiguration heal your
wounds.
May you know that even though the storm
might rage not a hair of your head will
be harmed.
John O'Donohue - "Eternal Echoes - Exploring Our Hunger To Belong"
Music - Connie Dover "Ubi Caritas" from the CD -"Celtic Spirit"
Video of the Ancient Celtic Monastic Site of Clonmacnoise
About Us
Rooted in the spirit of ancient Celtic Monasticism, we are a present witness to the monastic character of the Celtic Church. We make no claims of being a "traditional monastic community, even though we may borrow some outward aspects and some spiritual aspects.
We are an intentional and inclusive community, l/g/b/t or straight, partnered/ married/single/dating who are called to form a new monastic spirit, living in our own homes or with our families.
Inspired by all the great Celtic and other monastic founders, in particular those who founded Iona and Lindisfarne, such reformers as Benedict and Francis, as well as newer communities such as the Jerusalem Community, we seek to witness to the world in a Monasticism that reflects today's spiritual needs and concerns.
We seek to balance prayer with ministering to all in need in the deserts of our cities and towns, as witnesses to the transfiguring presence of Christ. In prayer we travel up the Mount of Tabor to meet the transfigured Christ and in our mission we seek to bring that experience back to those too weary to climb that mountain themselves. We do this through the practice compassionate presence.
We invite all to join us in our journey together to Tabor and being transfigured in Christ, help renew the Church and our world.
Bishop Rusty, CT & Mother Kaaren, CT after making their promises and the launch of the Community of Transfiguration August 3, 2008, at St. Savior's San Francisco
We invite you to join with us in a new adventure of a Celtic Monastic Community for today's world!
Our Rule of Life
We follow a rule based on the Rule of St. Benedict as interpreted by John McQuiston II in his book "Always We Begin Again."
Foundational Sources
Anam Cara - A Book of Celtic Wisdom, by John O'Donohue
Eternal Echoes - Exploring Our Hunger to Belong, by John O'Donohue
To Bless the Space Between Us - A Book of Blessings, by John O'Donohue (Also known in the UK as Benedictus - A Book of Blessings)
Sources for Liturgical Prayer
Out of Silence...Into Silence - Prayer's Daily Round, By Jim Cotter
(Used for Morning or Daytime prayer)
Prayer at Night's Approaching, by Jim Cotter
(Compline)
Iona Abbey Worship Book
Celtic Daily Prayer - The Northumbria Community
Love Re-membered, by Jim Cotter
Iona Abbey Worship Book - The Iona Community
A Manual of Worship - The ICC
Promises:
To witness to the transfiguring presence of Christ in:
in the cell of my own heart
my relationships
my community
our world
and this planet
To be vulnerable to the transfiguring presence of Christ in:
prayer
truth Listening
truth telling
and compassionate presence
to stand in solidarity with the transfiguring presence of Christ in:
affirming that relationships matter more than reputation
challenging assumed truths that enslave our spirits
and in creating inclusive communities:
Seeking to live out this new monastic manner of life
with my sisters and brothers
in the Community of Transfiguration
committing myself to live openly as church without walls.
OUR HABIT
A Trappist style monastic habit consisting of a lighter blue denim hooded tunic and a darker blue denim scapular worn with a black belt and the "Thomas Merton Celtic Cross"
ON-LINE Googlegroup (members only):
From the Mount
For more information please contact:
rustyclyma@aol.com or plusrusty@inclusivecelticchurch.com
photo of the Thomas Merton Cross
Some thoughts on the unfolding of this community from our founder, Bishop Rusty:
"Inspirations are the creating new forms of monastic witness, open to all, rooted in Celtic and later monastic movements; the edge (thin places) I know is of primary importance, I keep coming back to that. The disconnectedness of our lives in the world and the loneliness of our spirit, keeps popping up. And the need for presence, not just presence but presence with compassion.
I am praying that it will all unfold and shake out in time, maybe not, maybe it is embracing the journey as the point itself. That is very much the pattern of the ancient celtic Monastics, especially the Celtic Wanderers, the Peregrini, with no shrine or destination in mind, just the sacredness of the journey itself, because, well, we all carry the shrine within us, wherever we go."
Bishop Rusty, sbT. in the garden of the church where St. Savior's meets