Interview with Placid Rich, April 13, 2001

Partial Transcript: Okay, let me get your whole name.

Segment Synopsis: Placid Rich introduces himself and describes the personal events throughout his life that led him to becoming a monk.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Colleges; Customs; Gethsemani; Indoctrination; Monasticism; Religious beliefs; Retreats; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Culture; Faith; Franciscans; Introspection; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Priests; Religion; Simplicity; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists

Partial Transcript: You spoke of, um, you felt called to, to serve more.

Segment Synopsis: Rich explains ways in which he believes the monastery contributes to wider communities, including spreading a positive influence by showing the coexistence of their diverse members.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Contributions; Cultures; Diversity; Friends; Gethsemani; Monasticism; Praying; Religious beliefs; Retreats; Services; Spiritual; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Coexistence; Communities; Desert Fathers; Families; Friendship; History; Hospitality; Liturgies; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Peace; Prayer; Religion; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists

Partial Transcript: You hear the, the term "call" a lot here naturally.

Segment Synopsis: Rich talks about his personal definition of the term "call", describing it as an attraction or impulse he feels towards the monastic lifestyle, which he compares to marriage. He explains that after devoting himself to the monastery, he finds himself inextricably drawn to their way of life.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Call; Calling; Commitment; Cultures; Gethsemani; Monasticism; Religious beliefs; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbeys; Abbots; Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Marriage; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Religion; Religions; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists

Partial Transcript: You're of a age that was born after nineteen forty-nine like I am.

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes the austere nature of the monastic community and how it relates to society as a whole. He says that through their simple, orderly lifestyle, monks are able to live more practically and efficiently.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Austere; Austerity; Catholicism; Cultures; Customs; Environment; Formality; Gethsemani; Monasticism; Perspectives; Refractories; Religious beliefs; Resources; Spiritual; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Diet; Formal discipline; History; Marriage; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monasticism and religious orders; Monks; Religion; Religions; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists; Vegetarians

Partial Transcript: What is for you the, um, the most stimulating might not be the right word.

Segment Synopsis: Rich talks about how everything within the monastic life joining together creates a harmonious environment that keeps him motivated and nurtured. As a relatively younger monk, he describes the older age group of monks at the monastery and shares his thoughts about the monastery's longevity.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Customs; Environment; Gethsemani; Monasticism; Older adults; WW2; WWII; World War 2; Worldviews; Young people

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Age; Age groups; Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Decision making; Longevity; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monasticism and religious orders; Monks; Religion; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists; World War II; Young; Young adults

Partial Transcript: Are you the youngest person in the house?

Segment Synopsis: Rich says that he is the youngest monk at Gethsemani and describes his friendly, joking relationship with the older monks. He explains how there are rules set in place to ensure that younger members of the community receive respect and are able to share their suggestions with the group.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Gethsemani; Monasticism; Religious beliefs; Saint Benedict; Young people

Subjects: Abbeys; Abbots; Age; Age groups; Beliefs and believers; Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Hospitality; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Older men; Religion; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists; Young; Young adults

Partial Transcript: Do you, um, think about it all, like, uh, I think there was a couple of new, new postulants that are in the choir now, I believe.

Segment Synopsis: Rich talks about what brings new members to join the monastery. He says that he believes people will have a better understanding of the monastic life if they take the time to experience or research it.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Concerns; Cultures; Customs; Doubt; Gethsemani; Jobs; Members; Monasticism; Researching

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Culture; Lifestyles; Longevity; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Occupations; Religion; Research; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists; Vocations

Partial Transcript: What uh--just, give me your impression of, um, Thomas Merton.

Segment Synopsis: Rich shares his thoughts about Thomas Merton and his works. He explains how reading Merton's books potentially influenced his decision to become a monk.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Customs; Family; Gethsemani; Jobs; Monasticism; Religious beliefs

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Authors; Brothers; Careers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Occupations; Prayer; Religion; Siblings; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Was it scary when you realized, I'm thinking about joining the monastery?

Segment Synopsis: Rich shares his first impressions of joining the monastery. He discusses his plans to make solemn vows and explains that choosing to commit to the monastic lifestyle was a difficult decision for him.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Austere; Austerity; Catholicism; Dedication; Gethsemani; Monasticism; Nervous; Nervousness; Solemn vows

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Religion; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists; Vows

Partial Transcript: I'll ask what could be a silly question and I, I don't mean for it to be insulting, if it is, we'll go onto something else.

Segment Synopsis: Rich compares the commitment to monastic life with marriage, describing both as difficult decisions that will likely bring hardships. He talks about how he's dealt with his worries.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Customs; Gethsemani; Hardships; Monasticism; Situations; Solemn vows

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Devotion; Divorce; Love; Marriage; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Theologians; Trappists; Vows

Partial Transcript: I'm going to say this in sort of a joking and might seem, uh, trivial way, but I don't mean, I don't quote it that way, but--

Segment Synopsis: Rich explains how, being the youngest monk in the monastery, he's sometimes used as the poster boy to invite more young adults into the abbey. He talks about how juniors from monasteries meet up once a year and describes his interaction with a young nun from a different community.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Activities; Catholicism; Commitment; Cultures; Customs; Dedication; Fundraising; Gethsemani; Monasticism

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Advertising; Age; Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Culture; Marketing; Meetings; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Nuns; Religion; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists; Young; Youth.

Partial Transcript: Imagine you're speaking to a very secular lay person, explain to them the symbolism behind the fire ceremony.

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes the fire ceremony that Catholic monks hold on the evening before Easter. He talks about how the bonfires attract people on a primal, psychological level, as well as a symbolic level for Christians. He explains some of the symbolism behind the ceremony and how it correlates to the monastery's religious beliefs and values.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Ceremonies; Churches; Gethsemani; Monasticism; Perspectives; Religious beliefs; Religious holidays; Representation; Rites; Rituals; Sanctuaries; Spiritual; Symbols; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Bonefires; Candles; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Church; Communities; Culture; Easter; Evolutionary psychology; Good Friday; Holidays; Hymns; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Perspective; Psalms; Religion; Religions; Symbolism; Theism; Theists; Theologians; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Talk to me a little bit about your role as the master of ceremonies and, uh, how does that make you feel?

Segment Synopsis: Rich explains how he was assigned as the master of ceremonies for the monastery. He describes his shy and calm nature, saying that although he didn't wish for the position, he's still willing to take on the responsibility.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Customs; Gethsemani; Masters of Ceremony; Monasticism; Positions; Religious beliefs; Responsibilities; Rites; Rituals

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communication; Communities; Leaders; Leadership; Liturgies; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Public speaking; Religion; Theologians; Trappists