Monk completes spiritual trail

Brother Enguerrand, a 40-year-old monk at the abbey of Solesmes in the Pays de la Loire region, participated in the trail of Dom Guéranger on Saturday, October 24. This event, in its first edition, connected Sablé-sur-Sarthe to the abbey in honor of its founder.

Race symbolizes personal journey

The race symbolizes more than a return to running for Brother Enguerrand; it represents a story of self-overcoming, encounters, and a quest for meaning. It marks a significant personal transition from his life before joining the monastery.

Running as a life passion

Before joining the monastery in 2022, Brother Enguerrand spent eleven years in Paris in the professional world. Running became an important part of his life, and in 2014, he participated in the New York marathon after training all year.

Retreat leads to monastic calling

In 2019, after feeling unfulfilled in his job and experiencing burnout, he took a ten-day retreat in Solesmes, which led him to consider leaving his job and seeking a different path. He returned to Solesmes multiple times during his journey and eventually decided to enter the abbey on August 14, 2022.

Running less, but still meaningful

Today, Brother Enguerrand runs less frequently, only once a week when he is lucky. However, he still sees running as a beautiful image of spiritual life, requiring effort, perseverance, courage, and a goal.

Spiritual life over athletic pursuit

Brother Enguerrand distinguishes between sport and faith, noting that while running pursues a goal of well-being, spiritual life seeks the happiness of the whole person. He now finds greater excitement in people and their stories, especially those involving conversion journeys.

Future focus on prayer and community

His future focus is on living in the presence of the Lord and carrying people and the world in prayer. He emphasizes the importance of community and spiritual connection over personal achievements.