The mostly Italian group of Trappistine nuns forming a monastic colony in Syria are not moving, even in the face of violence. Since 2005, Mother Marta Luisa Fagnani and the other nuns have committed themselves to prayer and work in a country in crisis. Their witness at the Monastery of Blessed Mary of Font of Peace (in Arabic, Dier al Adrha Yanbu'a-s-Salam), is a foundation of the Valserena Monastery in Guardistallo, Italy.
They write a blog, Ora pro Siria, in Italian and not frequently updated, but you can get a sense of their witness there. BUT, the monastic project of the nuns is explained here, which also asks the reader to help with prayer, friendship and money.
Yesterday, the daily Il Sussidiario published an English translation of an interview with one of the nuns.
Two years ago today, Traces magazine published a story, "The Sisters of Syria," where the nuns talk about their call to make a monastic foundation in Syria, what freedom, the Encounter with the Lord and others and silence means. Few know, for example, that the Middle East had 11 monasteries of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (the Trappists) but dissolved due to the Islamic invasion. This is something to think and pray about. Do you have the same commitment to the Lord and to missionary zeal as these nuns?
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