You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest awhile.’ Mark 6.31
The Abbey, a Compass special presentation, puts monastic life to the test in this extraordinary three-part series to air on ABC TV from Sunday, October 14 at 9.30pm.
The Abbey follows five ordinary Australian women as they spend 33 days and nights living the life of an enclosed Benedictine nun. Never before has the outside world entered the cloisters of the Abbey, until they allowed the ABC unprecedented access within their monastery walls.
From very different backgrounds, with very different views about spirituality, these women will leave behind the hurly-burly of modern day life to embark upon a search for meaning, God and the self behind the walls of the enclosed order.
Will our five women cope with the 4am wake-up calls, the seven daily visits to the Abbey church, and the 1500-year-old Benedictine Rule of Silence, Obedience and Renunciation?
Running the Abbey is the Mother Abbess, however it’s the lovable and always effervescent Sister Hilda who facilitates the experiment, ensuring each of the women lives by the set day-to-day schedule, follows the Rule and fulfils her chores such as cooking, cleaning, farm work and craft-making. Sister Hilda, along with the other Sister mentors, also offers encouragement, wisdom, support and guidance in order to assist the women’s journey of self-discovery.
As the five women enter the Abbey, it’s 57-year-old Robyn from Queensland’s Gold Coast who almost immediately struggles with the rule of Renunciation. She’s not sure how she’ll cope without her hair dryer. Tassie-born Lyn, who is just about to turn 50, isn’t used to confronting her emotions. Will Hilda, her Sister-mentor, successfully guide her feelings out of their dark hiding place and bring her true self to the fore?
Budding musician Tusa is chatty and full of energy. At only 23 years of age, this Brisbane gal has no place for God in her life, but she has entered the Abbey not knowing which way her life is headed, and is searching for some much-needed direction. 30-year-old Tammy, all the way from Perth, is influenced by everything. Will she be able to give up her guidance cards, healing crystals and incense burning for God? Tammy has a few secrets that she will reveal during the 33 days, opening up the flood-gates of emotion.
40-year-old Meg is leaving country Victoria for a much-needed sojourn at the Abbey. As a busy mum with little spare time on her hands, Meg feels life has dealt her a challenging hand giving birth to a daughter with a severe genetic disorder. She has some big questions for God. Will the Abbey experience put Meg at peace with what she wonders is her life purpose?
With five Australian women all looking for a life-changing experience, what can happen at the Abbey is a chance to explore life’s biggest questions, but what actually does happen will intrigue you.