The Dominican Monastery on Stolarska 12 in Krakow, Poland, is celebrating 800 years of existence --- 800 years of prayer, fellowship, service, and worship. Every day the 90 or so brothers celebrate noon mass together, then pray together after mass. The public is welcome to the mass and to stay after to pray with the brothers --- it is truly an unforgettable experience.
one voice of a chorus of brothers
fills the tall, gothic space.
passing the alter,
passing the larger-than-life
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
passing the tarnished chandeliers,
once flickering with candles
now lit with electric lightbulbs.
passing the cracked and worn
checkerboard floors,
smoothed with the feet of millions.
passing the hand-carved pews,
varnish long-worn --- and
kneelers, bare with ware
and whispered prayers.
brrrm brm brm
of the wooden seats' hinges
as they stand and sit in unison prayer.
long black cloaks over long white habits,
the last note floats into the highest stone arches ---
closing their books, they quietly exit
as a tram rumbles by,
and someone closes the ancient and
immense wooden door.
leaving all silence --- except ---
the whispered prayers of the congregation
remaining; like shimmering leaves in the wind.
one voice of a chorus of brothers
fills the tall, gothic space.
passing the alter,
passing the larger-than-life
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
passing the tarnished chandeliers,
once flickering with candles
now lit with electric lightbulbs.
passing the cracked and worn
checkerboard floors,
smoothed with the feet of millions.
passing the hand-carved pews,
varnish long-worn --- and
kneelers, bare with ware
and whispered prayers.
brrrm brm brm
of the wooden seats' hinges
as they stand and sit in unison prayer.
long black cloaks over long white habits,
the last note floats into the highest stone arches ---
closing their books, they quietly exit
as a tram rumbles by,
and someone closes the ancient and
immense wooden door.
leaving all silence --- except ---
the whispered prayers of the congregation
remaining; like shimmering leaves in the wind.