Interview with Matthew Kelty, August 30, 2001

Partial Transcript: What do you--why are you ringing the bells the way you ring the bells?

Segment Synopsis: Matthew Kelty talks about how he performs in a peaceful protest against capital punishment by tolling bells. He expresses his belief that modern prison systems have rendered public executions obsolete.

Keywords: Catholicism; Death penalty; Executions; John Donne; Monasticism; Obsolete; Outdated; Praying; Protest; Protesters; Protesting; Tolling

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Bells; Capital punishment; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Church; Donne, John, 1572-1631; History; Institutions; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Music; Musical instruments; Peaceful protesters; Prisons; Public executions; Religion; Society; Tolls; Tradition

Partial Transcript: Do things change much here in the monastery?

Segment Synopsis: Kelty explains how change is prevalent within monasteries despite their traditional lifestyle. He lists certain customs that were once common among monastic life, but have been done away with due to being considered outdated.

Keywords: Catholicism; Customs; Dark ages; Death penalty; Improvement; Ministries; Monasticism; Sleeping; Traditions

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Bedrooms; Capital punishment; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Church; English; History; Latin language; Liturgies; Medieval; Middle Ages; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Religion; Sleeping customs; Tradition; Trappists; Violence

Partial Transcript: That's a word I hear a lot around here, a word that I hear a lot around here is perseverance.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty discusses the value of perseverance and commitment within the monastic lifestyle, and explains how people could have various reasons for leaving the monastery. He describes the monastery as a place for troubled individuals to heal and explains why he believes the monastic life encourages a healthy lifestyle.

Keywords: Catholicism; Maturity; Monasticism; Persevering; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Devotion; Faith; Healing; Health; Hospitality; Inspiration; Kindness; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Oaths; Perseverance; Religion; Trappists; Values; Virtues; Vows

Partial Transcript: Well what did you come here to be healed of, if I can be so intrusive to ask?

Segment Synopsis: Kelty talks about how he came to join the monastic life, discussing his prior experience and the bond he felt towards the other monks. He explains what he believes monks contribute to the world and the attitudes they have towards new members of the monastery.

Keywords: Catholicism; Customs; Extroverts; Integration; Monasticism; Religious beliefs

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Faith; Introverts; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968; Missionaries; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monasticism and religious orders; Monks; Religion; Trappists

Partial Transcript: I heard you in one of your talks say that, uh, monks have two ways of dying.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty explains how monks cope with and accept death. He talks about one of his fellow monks, a harpist who died due to terminal cancer, and how he chose to live his life up until dying. He says that he doesn't fear death and describes his current health.

Keywords: Attitudes; Catholicism; Cultures; Customs; Dying; Harps; Illness; Instruments; Monasticism; Religious beliefs

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Arthritis; Cancer; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Coping; Diseases; Harpists; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Music; Musical instruments; Musicians; Religion; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Describe, uh, your morning mass, how, you know, four AM in the morning, you come out and do mass.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes his experience attending religious masses throughout different hours of the day, both privately and as a community. He mentions how local people from outside the monastery will sometimes visit on Sundays to attend mass.

Keywords: Catholicism; Consolidating; Consolidation; Customs; Monasticism; Praying; Rites; Rituals; Traditions

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Concelebration; Farmers; Liturgies; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Priests; Private masses; Religion; Tradition

Partial Transcript: Let's talk a little bit about the events of September eleventh.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes his and his fellow monks' reactions to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. He explains how he learned more about the news from relatives' accounts and photograph books.

Keywords: 9/11; Catholicism; Monasticism; Nine eleven; Photo-books; Photograph books; Photos; Praying; Rites; Rituals; September 11; September eleven; World Trade Center

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Families; Monasteries; Monks; Photograph collections; Photographs; Practices; Religion; Sacraments; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; Terrorist attacks; Trappists; World Trade Center (New York, N.Y. : 1970-2001)

Partial Transcript: Well one of the things that you do as part of your vocation, uh, your responsibilities, is that you talk to the public every day.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes how the events of 9/11 have incited fear and vulnerability in Americans, explaining how the US is not as accustomed to war and terrorism as some other countries.

Keywords: 9/11; Concern; Destruction; Empire State Building; Events; Fearfulness; Fright; Responding; Responses; Responsibilities; September 11; September eleven; US; USA; Vulnerability; Vulnerable

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); America; Americans; Bombings; Conflicts; Empire State Building (New York, N.Y.); Europe; History; Monasteries; Monks; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; Terrorism; Terrorist attacks; Trappists; United States; War

Partial Transcript: Do the talks that you give at night, are they geared to address the ultimate questions?

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes the evening talks he has with visitors at the monastery, in which he often shares his perspectives on certain topics. He explains how the monastery offers peace and quiet to visitors, and describes the monastery's abundance of retreat houses.

Keywords: Monasticism; Praying; Religious beliefs; Retreats; Rites; Rituals

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Attractions; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Hospitality; Liturgies; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Peace; Practices; Prayer; Religion; Silence; Solitude; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Who was--what, uh, it might have been Benedict or Bernard or who said, who talked about the cross of community.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes what it's like to live in a diverse community of people, and explains how he's learned to cooperate with and accept them.

Keywords: Catholicism; Customs; Diversity; Family; Friends; Monasticism; Relationships; Variety

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Families; Hospitality; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Neighbors; Religion; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Uh, the question about, uh, that handsome black vestment that you have that I have pictures of you putting on.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes the symbolism behind black clothing and how it has changed throughout history. He talks about how he obtained his black vestment and when he chooses to wear it. He says that monks often choose the color of the clothing during funerals, ceremonies, etc. in accordance to their religious beliefs.

Keywords: Boutiques; Catholicism; Ceremonies; Churches; Clothes; Clothing; Funerals; Garments; Monasticism; Rites; Rituals; Traditions; Vestments; WW2; WWII; World War 2

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Black; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Fashion; History; Liturgies; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Priests; Religion; Singing; Symbolism; Tradition; Trappists; Uniforms; Vests; World War II

Partial Transcript: I guess one last thing, it's been a good life here?

Segment Synopsis: Kelty reflects on his life experiences and his road to becoming a monk, explaining how he has lived a very fulfilled life.

Keywords: Catholicism; Extroverts; Monasticism; Religious beliefs; Retreats

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Catholics; Childhood; Christianity; Christians; Education; Hermits; History; Introverts; Missionaries; Monasteries; Monasticism and religious orders; Monks; Priests; Religion; Trappists

Partial Transcript: I would like to, for you to describe to me, as if I've never seen it, the look and style of the church.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes the interior design and architecture of the church that he and his fellow monks attend for prayer. He explains that due to changes in trends, the church has a simple design compared to most older Catholic churches.

Keywords: Catholicism; Choirs; Churches; Hallways; Interior design; Layout; Ministries; Monasticism; Praying; Roman basilicas; Sanctuaries; Simple; Structures; Traditions

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Altars; Architecture; Basilicas; Cathedrals; Catholics; Choirs (Architecture); Christianity; Christians; Church; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Prayer; Religion; Temples; Tradition; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Describe the role that the church plays in a monk's life.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes the different rooms of the abbey and their functions, and explains the distinction between an abbey and an abbey church. He discusses the history of the church and addresses the misconception that it was constructed by slave labor.

Keywords: Chapter rooms; Cultures; Employment; Framework; Interior design; Monasticism; Praying; Refractories; Scriptoriums

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Architecture; Catholics; Chapels; Christianity; Christians; Church; History; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Prayer; Priests; Religion; Slave labor; Slaves; Thoughts and feelings; Trappists

Partial Transcript: You mentioned the vows of the monk, would you give me a brief description of the three vows that a monk takes when he becomes a monk?

Segment Synopsis: Kelty discusses the history behind the vow of celibacy which monks traditionally swear to. He explains the values of living a celibate life and argues why he believes it's natural. He describes his philosophical and religious beliefs on the duality between male and female couples, explaining what he believes draws them together and how he can achieve a similar experience through celibacy.

Keywords: Abstinence; Catholicism; Churches; Customs; Monasticism; Praying; Single living; Traditions

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Abbots; Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Celibacy; Chastity; Christianity; Christians; Church; Couples; Desert Fathers; Devotion; Femininity; Gender; History; Marriage; Masculinity; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Oaths; Philosophy; Prayer; Psychology; Religion; Sex; Sexual intercourse; Spirituality; Spouses; Stereotypes; Tradition; Trappists; Virginity; Virgins; Vows

Partial Transcript: Give me a--and I know that this too is a long story, but give me a thumbnail sketch of why you decided to become a hermit, and then why you decided to reenter community life.

Segment Synopsis: Kelty talks about hermit life within monasticism, saying that his monastery has a hermit member who keeps in touch via radio. He describes his own experience living in New Guinea as a hermit, and explains why he chose to return to community life.

Keywords: Catholicism; Isolation; Living conditions; Monasticism; Seclusion; Traditions

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Health; Hermitages; Hermits; Liturgies; Loneliness; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968; Missionaries; Monasteries; Monasticism and religious life; Monks; New Guinea; Papua New Guinea; Religion; Solitude; Tradition; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Tell me how a, a scandal, an uproar like the pedophilia scandal that is affecting the church now, what type of impact does that have on the monastery?

Segment Synopsis: Kelty describes how scandals and corruption within the Catholic Church affect the monastery. He shares his thoughts about the molestation coverup scandal, comparing it to how some cases of alcoholism are similarly covered up, and argues that these issues can be prevented with more psychological research. He explains why he believes the scandal will ultimately serve as a learning experience for the Catholic Church.

Keywords: Catholicism; Churches; Coverups; Enablement; Enabling; Molestation; Monasticism; Morality; Secretive; Trauma

Subjects: Alcoholics; Alcoholism; Catholic Church; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Church; Corruption; Enabling (Psychology); Molesters; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Pedophilia; Priests; Psychiatry; Psychology; Rape; Rapists; Rehabilitation; Religion; Research; Scandals; Sex offenders; Trappists; Violence; Violence--Prevention