Interview with Raphael Pendergast, April 13, 2001

Partial Transcript: Why is Gethsemane, the Abbey of Gethsemane, so open and welcoming to people?

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast gives his thoughts on why the Abbey of Gethsemane is welcoming to people. He describes the retreats and their purpose in the monks' lives. He also describes how the Abbey has opened itself up to the world more.

Keywords: Needs; Religious experiences; Retreats; Saint Benedict; Service; Spiritual experiences

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Benedict, Saint, Abbot of Monte Cassino.; Monasteries.; Monks.; Spiritual retreats.; Vocations

Partial Transcript: Um, you've been the guest master and you've dealt with the public here for, for years.

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast talks about why people come to the Abbey of Gethsemane to visit. He describes the environment of peace and the participation many guests have in mass and prayers at the Abbey. He then describes why people came to the Abbey after World War II and why people come to the abbey in the present day.

Keywords: Mass; Peacefulness; Relaxation; Religious experiences; Rest; Spiritual experiences; Spiritual growth; Turmoil; WWII; World War 2; World War Two; World events

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Liturgies; Monasteries.; Monks.; Peace; Prayers; Solitude; Spiritual retreats.; World War II

Partial Transcript: What are--did you, you talk to a lot of retreats.

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast talks about the impressions of the world he gets from talking to retreat members. He describes the fast nature of the outside world.

Keywords: Monastic life; Outside worlds; Religious life; Religious retreats; Retreats; Spiritual life

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Monasteries.; Monks.; Spiritual retreats.; Worldliness

Partial Transcript: Of the retreats that you've talked to, and I know you've not taken statistics, and I know you like statistics as well, what--roughly what percentage would you say come looking for Merton or because of Merton, uh, Merton-inspired?

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast talks about how many people come to retreats at Gethsemane who are inspired by Thomas Merton. He explains that not many people talk much about being a fan of Merton.

Keywords: Famous people; Fans; Religious retreats; Retreats

Subjects: Celebrities; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Spiritual retreats.

Partial Transcript: Um, ask you a blunt question about you personally.

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast talks about what he has accomplished as a monk. He explains why people join monasteries. He makes many references to saints, scripture, and monks of the past in his response.

Keywords: Body of Christ; Ecumenism; Individualists; Monastic life; Religious life; Rugged individualism; Saint Bernard; Scripture; The Bible

Subjects: Baptism; Bible; Individualism; Monasteries.; Monks.; Paul, the Apostle, Saint.; Saints; Vocations.; Worldliness

Partial Transcript: This is sort of a lead-in to, uh, I'd like you to describe what's going on symbolically, what's being captured in the live ceremony that we're going to see in a minute.

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast talks about what is going on in the ceremony that will be shown in the film. He also describes what happens during Lent and Holy Week.

Keywords: Celebrations; Ceremonies; Holy Thursday; Monastic life; Starting a fire

Subjects: Bonfires; Candles; Churches; Crucifixion; Easter; Fires; Firestarters; Flint; Holy Saturday; Holy Week; Jesus Christ; Lent; Monasteries.; Monks.; Processions; Resurrection; Rites and ceremonies.; Signs and symbols.; Symbolism

Partial Transcript: I'm gonna read, um, a statement that Merton made when he came here on his first retreat and just get your reaction.

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast comments on Thomas Merton's description of the Abbey. He also talks about how Jesus Christ can reach people in their weakest moments.

Keywords: Spiritual growth

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Jesus Christ.; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Monasteries.; Monks

Partial Transcript: Uh, give me the, the gist or the essence of what you have gleaned from that book and what that means to you.

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast talks about what he felt was meaningful from a book he read. He talks about how thoughts can now be measured and the concept of good thinking leading to doing good.

Keywords: Good and bad; Good and evil; Measuring; Scientific studies

Subjects: Books.; Good; Objectivity; Religion and science.; Religions; Science; Subjectivity; Thought and thinking.

Partial Transcript: I'm gonna--it's getting towards two-thirty, and I feel like we're putting you at a real disadvantage.

Segment Synopsis: Pendergast talks about the concept of Pax Christi, scientific measurements, and a book he read by Dean Raddin.

Keywords: Peace on earth; Science experiments; The Conscious Universe

Subjects: Books.; Jesus Christ; Las Vegas (Nev.); Parapsychology; Pax Christi; Radin, Dean I.; Religion and science.; Religions; Science