Day 20

Saturday, April 20, 2015

The Abbey of Gethsemani

Fr. Seamus recovered from his illness and gave a talk this day.  While listening to him,  I learned several interesting facts about the monastery I did not know.  For example there is a connection between Abraham Lincoln and the Abbey of Gethesmani.

President Lincoln is claimed by several neighboring states.  Kentucky was the state where he was born.  Indiana was his boyhood home.  Illinios, known as the Land of Lincoln, is the state where he made a name for himself as a politician and ran for President.

Lincoln was born less than 20 miles from Gethsemani.  His very first teacher, Zachariah Riney, is buried at the Abbey.  Mr. Riney owned land adjacent to the monastery.  He want to deed the land to the monks in exchange for them allowing him to live out his last days at the Gethsemani and be buried here. The monks agreed and the rest as they is history.

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie