By Frank X. Ellis, The Walton Tribune

Whether it's the hustle and bustle of downtown Atlanta or the less-maddening but still busy activity of a Walton County, most folks involved in either location can appreciate a locale that might offer brief respite from that "daily rat race."

Not too many days ago, this writer took the time to visit the Monastery of the Visitation a mile or two from the intersection of Highway 78 and Highway 124 (Scenic Highway from Snellville to Lawrenceville) in Snellville. The monastery sits on a 25-acre site on Ridgedale Drive just off Pinehurst Drive.

The monastery had been situated for years on Ponce de Leon Road in Atlanta. That six-acre site was sold to Fernbank Science Center and the monastery's new home became a reality in 1974.

When we visited, Mother Eulalia noted that "we have 25 acres and we have five goats and the goats are taking care of the grounds right now."

The Mother Superior was asked the purpose of the monastery, the purpose for existence of the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary, the order's full title.

"Our purpose is to pray for the world," she answered unhesitatingly.

Our day consists of work and prayer and it is pretty well divided into those two parts. We rise at 5:30 a.m., are in chapel at 6 for an hour's meditation, then 15 minutes for coffee, back to chapel for the Office, then we have Mass.

"We work from 9 till 11 doing such things as making altar breads, working in the garden, sewing, cleaning, etc. The main way we support ourselves is by sale of the altar breads to various parishes around Atlanta.

"At 11 a.m. we have dinner then recreation 'till 12:45 p.m. At 1 p.m. we have Office then rest 'till 2 p.m. From 2 to 2:45 we have religious instruction or work and lunch at 2:45. Spiritual reading occurs from 3 'till 3:"30 after which we have work again from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

"Office-Vespers begin at 5 p.m., followed by a half-hour of mental prayer and then supper at 6. We have recreation 'till 7:45 and chapel, then at 8 p.m. with Compline night prayers, Matins and then bed. The lights are all out at 10 p.m."

The Sisters of the Visitation are cloisters, that is, nuns who have chosen a life of prayer and religious devotions. They leave the monastery and its grounds only for medical reasons.

At present, there are 16 cloistered Sisters at the convent-monastery, including one sister who serves as liaison with the public.

Mother Eulalia explained that "the big difference between here and Ponce de Leon is that it's much quieter.

"Our community of sisters came to Atlanta from Toledo and always planned on having a monastery. We had some reverses but eventually the move here was really a must, we had no room to put anyone.

"Here the chapel capacity (for the public) is 60 and for private retreats we have two bedrooms for overnight guests.

"Our diet is plain and plentiful. We have by choice two meatless days, the traditional Friday, and Saturday. Our mortification in the matter of diet consists mainly in taking indifferently and without comment whatever is served.

"The number of Sisters in the Monastery is limited to 33, although more may be taken with permission of the Bishop if there is reason for it. We have room for 21 with room for expansion if there is a need for it. The contemplative vocation is a special one, and while there are many applications, it is a case of "Many are called but few are chosen."

Mother Eulalia explained, too, that "Father S. L. Paul, of Lawrenceville, comes every morning at 8 a.m. for Mass. Father reposes (replaces into the tabernacle) the Blessed Sacrament at 4:30 p.m. after all-day exposition. Every first Sunday there are devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, called the Guard of Honor, which is followed by Mass. Everyone is welcome to participate in any of these devotions."

As we visited, Mother Eulalia was asked about one of the chief reasons, if not the chief reason, for our trip to Snellville. "Is the public free to make use of the monastery facilities for private or group religious purposes?"

She replied in the affirmative.

"Yes, as I said, we have two bedrooms available for overnight female guests. We welcome Days of Recollection for groups if they bring their own priest or minister, if they can take care of themselves, but we do serve meals.

"We also welcome private (one-person) retreats, for a weekend or several days with the person taking care of herself, reading and praying as she chooses.

"We have had Protestant groups come for tours. We would welcome a Protestant group for a Day of Prayer or Recollection.

"Also, we can provide for retreats even within the cloister (there are four rooms to house such participants) for people studying their vocation or for other Sisters on retreat.

"In all of these various kinds of retreats or days of recollection, we ask the participants to follow their own schedule but they are welcome to follow the nuns' schedule if they like. Of course, meals would be on our schedule.

Mother Eulalia explained that the Sisters worked at the monastery site long before moving in.

"We did come out from the start. We put in the orchard, a nursery, cleared out woods and we had a two-acre garden last year and tended it and had a good crop."

She was asked if she had a message for those who might read this article. Mother Eulalia, who entered the convent at 17 in 1930 at Georgetown, KY, and who came to Atlanta in 1969 (she has been Mother Superior since 1971), replied without hesitation.

"Yes, I do think there's a lot of spiritual revival in the Church, in the world.

"I know years ago you wouldn't have seen non-Catholics coming to visit a cloister.

"I'm optimistic, I never was pessimistic."