The Benedectine monk Anselm Gruen relates to an interview how he copes with his erotic feelings as a religious person.
As a monk I also experiences some longings, an embrace, tender feelings to a woman. The problem is how do I cope to this since I am a monk?
This is something different since I have to stay chaste and pure.
True love is without lust and avarice.When I fall in love, I discover mutual feelings that I can not express outside. This is a big challenge and I bring this feeling closer to the fountain of Great Love.
I feel this closeness when I make the sign of the cross, near my breast, getting the feeling of warmth and security.
First the feeling of my own bodily warmth, this eases my mind. The deepness of my soul, is no emptiness, rather an affection full of spiritual strength and love, God´s love.
How do I know if this is real love? Love is facinating, uncomprehensible but the feeling is there.
It is an enchantment and the risk of being hurt are both existent, from fulfilment and dissappointment.
We always strive to find the loves of one´s life, a love that is sufficient. But no matter how big is the yearning it will never be fulfilled.
Love is an illusion, it breaks down with so much expectations.
I am a realistic person. I never moan, but I simply accept that I can not get anything I want. Going through the pain is easier, I would rather be thankful for having the chance to live the beauty of love without complaining.
This is true to me, loving and letting go, that is the mystery of life.
ps
this is an excerpt of an interview Welt on-line in German translated for TB Forum.
