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The first part of Trappist: Living in the Land of Desire introduces the Cistercian community at Mepkin Abbey in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. The lively history both of the land that became Mepkin Abbey and of the Trappist life itself are complemented by breathtaking photos. In Part I, 'The Monks at Mepkin,' we are invited to explore the colorful story and vibrant life of this community that is at one and the same time formed by ancient monastic practices and touched by the currents of contemporary life. Part II, 'The Heart of a Monk, explores the significance of the elements that shape Trappist life work, prayer, worship, sacred reading, community, solitude, hospitality. Michael Downey's text is not so much an explanation as an invitation, asking us to see with a new vision, to see through the eyes of the monk. In word and picture we are called to reflect on the simplicity and beauty of monastic life and spirituality and to be attentive to how its values and virtues resonate with the universal call to holiness found within each of us.
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