Interview with Placid Rich, January 10, 2002

Partial Transcript: Okay, I want to talk, uh, some about, uh, your vow ceremony.

Segment Synopsis: Placid Rich reflects on the day of his vow ceremony and describes his initial shyness prior to the ceremony.

Keywords: Catholicism; Ceremonies; Concerns; Events; Family; Monasticism; Rites; Rituals; Self-conscious; Solemn vows

Subjects: Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Confidence; Families; Liturgies; Monasteries; Monasticism and religious life; Monks; Practices; Self-consciousness; Self-esteem; Trappists; Vows

Partial Transcript: Explain to someone watching this who might not understand much at all about monastic life why you would be laying across string like that.

Segment Synopsis: Rich explains how he felt as he was participating in the vow ceremony. He describes the symbolism of the ceremony, comparing it to a second Christian baptism.

Keywords: Catholicism; Ceremonies; Gestures; Laying down; Lying down; Monasticism; Praying; Prostrate; Prostration; Religious beliefs; Rites; Rituals; Solemn vows; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbeys; Baptism; Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; History; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Practices; Prayer; Relaxation; Religion; Singing; Songs; Symbolism; Thoughts and feelings; Trappists; Vows

Partial Transcript: Describe what was going through your mind and how you were feeling when after you rose and they put the cowl on.

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes his thoughts and feelings, as well as the reactions of his fellow monks and family members after receiving his monastic vows.

Keywords: Acceptance; Catholicism; Ceremonies; Family; Monasticism; Parent-child relations; Perspectives; Relationships; Rites; Rituals; Solemn vows; Worldviews

Subjects: Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Families; Family history; Monasteries; Monks; Mothers; Parents; Practices; Reflections; Symbolism; Theism; Theists; Trappists; Vows

Partial Transcript: Tell me, uh, the sig, the significance of the cowl, of receiving the cowl.

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes the symbolism behind the cowls that monks receive and wear during their vow ceremonies, explaining the history behind them.

Keywords: Catholicism; Ceremonies; Clothing; Customs; Garments; Monasticism; Religious beliefs; Rites; Rituals; Solemn vows; Traditional clothing; Worldviews

Subjects: Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Children; Christianity; Christians; Cloaks; Consecration; Culture; History; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Practices; Religion; Symbolism; Trappists; Vows

Partial Transcript: This may be screwball but, um, I'll ask it anyway.

Segment Synopsis: Rich reflects on his failed marriage and how it motivates him to stay devoted to his new lifestyle. He describes his relationship with his ex-wife, mentioning how they still keep in touch and discussing her current life.

Keywords: Catholicism; Ceremonies; Monasticism; Rites; Rituals; Solemn vows

Subjects: Careers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Contacts; Correspondence; Devotion; Divorce; Hobbies; Lifestyles; Marriage; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Motivation; Music; Musicians; Occupations; Practices; Religion; Remarriage; Spouses; Theism; Theists; Trappists; Vows; Weddings; Wives

Partial Transcript: Last interview that you wanted to, uh, that you felt--you came here because you felt a longing to serve in a deeper way.

Segment Synopsis: Rich discusses the ways he believes the monastic life services both the community and the world at large.

Keywords: Customs; Monasticism; Praying; Religious beliefs; Service; Services; Stories; Traditions

Subjects: Beliefs and believers; Catholics; Chores; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Daily life; Divine office; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Practices; Prayer; Religion; Religions; Storytelling; Theism; Theists; Trappists

Partial Transcript: What are your favorite working jobs at the monastery?

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes the sorts of jobs and responsibilities he enjoys doing around the monastery. He explains the process of cheese making and working in the dairy department.

Keywords: Cheese making; Customs; Dairy; Departments; Environment; Jobs; Monasticism; Opportunities; Responsibilities; Roles; Workers

Subjects: Brothers; Cheese; Chores; Cleaning; Communities; Cooking; Cooks; Cooperation; Daily life; Hobbies; Labor; Milk; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Nature; Work

Partial Transcript: You said in the last interview that, um, it seems to you that love is what keeps a marriage or a vocation going.

Segment Synopsis: Rich explains his philosophy on love and describes how his love for the Abbey of Gethsemani continues to grow over time.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Catholicism; Gethsemani; Monasticism; Passion; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbeys; Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Daily life; Love; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; People; Perspective; Philosophy; Religion; Theism; Theists; Trappists; Vocations

Partial Transcript: Should a monk expect to be happy or content?

Segment Synopsis: Rich explains the importance of happiness and why he believes monks should expect enjoyment from their lifestyle. He explains how he finds joy from observing change and interacting with other people.

Keywords: Catholicism; Content; Enjoy; Enjoyment; Happy; Homebodies; Joyful; Joyfulness; Monasticism; Praying; Religious beliefs

Subjects: Beliefs and believers; Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Contentment; Happiness; Hermits; History; Joy; Leisure; Lifestyles; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Perspective; Pleasure; Prayer; Religion; Spirituality; Theism; Theists; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Speaking of older men, um, when you're in choir, to your left is one of the oldest monks.

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes his relationship with one of the oldest monks in the monastery, Father B. He reflects on his shared memories with Father B and discusses his background.

Keywords: Activities; Cassino; Choir books; Choirs; Elders; Language barriers; Monte Cassino; Old people

Subjects: Abbeys; Abbots; Architects; Backgrounds; Brazil; Brothers; Careers; Cassino (Italy); Choirs (Music); Communication; English; Families; Humor; Librarians; Memories; Monasteries; Monks; Music; Occupations; Older people; Singers; Singing; Speech; Theism; Theists; Theology; Trappists

Partial Transcript: What are some of your thoughts when an old monk dies?

Segment Synopsis: Rich talks about the monastery's attitudes towards death and describes how they respond emotionally towards losing members of their community.

Keywords: Catholicism; Cultures; Customs; Funerals; Grieving; Monasticism; Religious beliefs; Worldviews

Subjects: Abbeys; Abbots; Beliefs and believers; Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communication; Communities; Death; Emotions; Grief; Hermits; Loss; Memorials; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Nuns; Religion; Religions; Sadness; Theism; Theists; Trappists

Partial Transcript: Going back to your parents, do you know if either, if either one of them considered the religious life?

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes his parents, discussing their relationship with religion and their views towards monastic and religious life.

Keywords: Catholicism; Community service; Consideration; Considering; Family; Married life; Monasticism; Parent-child relations; Perspectives; Relationships; Service; Services; Servicing

Subjects: Catholic schools; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Couples; Experience; Families; Fathers; Lifestyles; Marriage; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Mothers; Parents; Perspective; Religion; Religions; Schools; Theism; Theists; Trappists

Partial Transcript: What was it like in the Rich household?

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes his childhood home life, depicting his parents as being moderate and open with their children despite their religion. He explains how being the youngest of seven children affected him and his relationships with his siblings.

Keywords: Catholicism; Family; Homes; Houses; Parent-child relations

Subjects: Brothers; Catholics; Childhood; Children; Christianity; Christians; Families; Fathers; Freedom; Grandmothers; Middle class; Mothers; Parenting; Parents; Perspective; Privilege; Religion; Religions; Siblings; Sisters; Uncles

Partial Transcript: Was there one parent or an uncle or a grandmother that influenced you the most in your spiritual life?

Segment Synopsis: Rich describes the people and experiences that inspired his religious life. He talks about his brother who had lived as a monk at Gethsemani before leaving due to mental health, and explains how his brother affected his decision to join the monastery. He describes his brother's current life and talks about how his previous life as a monk continues to leave an impression on him.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Calling; Calls; Catholicism; Colleges; Departure; Depression; Family; Friends; Gethsemani; Issues; Leaving; Longing; Monasticism; Opportunities; Universities

Subjects: Abbeys; Abbots; Brothers; Careers; Catholics; Childhood; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Depressed persons; Families; Health; Hobbies; Inspiration; Memories; Mental health; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Occupations; Purdue University; Religion; Religions; Siblings; Sisters; Theism; Theists; Trappists; Vocations

Partial Transcript: Does the arrival of postulants or the departure of postulants or, uh, novices or brothers, does that have much impact on you in general?

Segment Synopsis: Rich shares his thoughts about the membership of the monastery, saying he believes that more people would be willing to join if they better understood their lifestyle. He explains the potential reasons for members leaving and describes the sadness it brings him.

Keywords: Abbey of Gethsemani; Arrival; Catholicism; Departure; Gethsemani; Members; Monasticism; Perspectives; Postulants

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Lifestyles; Membership; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Religion; Religions; Theism; Theists; Trappists; Understanding

Partial Transcript: What was your parents' reaction when you told them that you were going to enter the monastic life?

Segment Synopsis: Rich explains how his older brother's prior experience as a monk made his parents more understanding and open to the idea of him joining.

Keywords: Catholicism; Family; Monasticism; Praying; Reactions

Subjects: Brothers; Catholics; Christianity; Christians; Communities; Enclosure; Families; Knowledge; Monasteries; Monastic and religious life; Monks; Religion; Siblings; Theism; Theists; Trappists