Art Around The Abbey

In addition to being beautiful, this tower held a spell over me much the same as lighthouses. I really NEED to climb up inside it! For a building with over 100 rooms, you are only allowed (Ahem ... but that's a different story.) to see precious few.

The self-guided tour restricts you to the main floor. You simply stroll down the hall and go into the rooms that aren't posted with an "unwelcome" sign. The corridor is lined with nooks and crannies as well as rooms, and there are also a few little (dark) hallways off to the sides. I discovered some interesting art tucked away "somewhere" or hanging in full view.

Angels

 

 Banners

The bows suggest Christmas decorations. 

These were in one of the dark halls, and I really hated to use the flash. 

Sometimes I just wasn't a good Benedictine Gentleman 

as described below.

 My photo of an old plaque titled "SILENCE" is too blurry to post. Here is the text:

 "Let us all, please, endeavor to observe St. Benedict's injunction to keep SILENCE, particularly in the corridors. Let us try to avoid all unnecessary NOISES--by closing doors quietly, by walking along the halls lightly, and by talking in a whisper, or at least in a very subdued tone of voice. When we are in our rooms, let us not speak loudly to our visitors with either door or transom ajar, and when we meet in the halls, let us salute one another with a nod of the head, making all necessary remarks in the "sotto voce" of the Benedictine Gentleman." 

This was followed by some Latin stuff, but trust me: I was not sneaking around; I was merely following directions by walking lightly and keeping most silent.

I have to laugh at myself for taking pictures of pictures. 

How could I resist?

Perhaps in time there will be little plaques identifying the artwork. Some were probably donated to the monastery. Because this was a boys' high school, perhaps some of it is student talent of years gone by.

As far as I could tell, it was totally okay to be in whatever room this was. It wasn't until I peeked out the window that I realized there was an enclosed, outdoor walkway along the rooms. I positioned my camera between the slats of the blinds and framed up this Nature Shot.

Rooms to Roam

Holy Cross Abbey in Cañon City, Colorado, stands five stories high 

and contains over a hundred rooms.

This was built in 1926 as a monastery for Benedictine monks.

Obviously many changes have taken place over the past 85 years, 

but it was amusing to imagine monks peacefully slumbering under pink bedspreads.

I wondered how many merit points were required in order to be 

upgraded to a spacious room such as this. 

The Bridal Room

That's what the sign said on the door! 

The South Parlor

This room was more inviting. I enjoy the old organs 

but forgot to get a close-up photo of this one. 

However, the music was an old Polish carol.

I was enthralled with the Victorian furniture.

It came from Cañon City's Strathmore Hotel when it closed, 

possibly in the 1970s.

That was about the extent of the 100 rooms. 

Evidently you can call ahead of time and arrange for a tour; that would be very interesting, Nevertheless, it was fun to poke around on a self-guided tour!

Holy Cross Abbey, Canon City, Colorado

One of my "tourist" outings during my summer visit to Colorado was to Holy Cross Abbey. This was always a big, mysterious, imposing structure (a Catholic boys' school) outside of town; never did I think I would actually go inside one day. The town has grown since I was in high school; this lovely Gothic style structure is now located "in town" and has been open to visitors for a number of years.

The Benedictine Order purchased what was a farm in 1923. Two years later, they began building their abbey finishing it in 1926. 

Looking through my photographs, 

I see I collected several crosses during my tour.

 This was near the entrance to the administrative offices.

 A cross made of mirrors was challenging; 

I think I caught my mom's reflection.

I don't remember if this was in one of the rooms 

or on a table in the hallway.

The Fourteenth Station of the Cross in the monk's chapel.