clois·ter play_w(“C0414300″)
(kloi
st
r)n.
A secluded quiet place.
According to the Catholic enclyclopedia:
Cloister
The English equivalent of the Latin word clausura (from claudere, “to shut up”). This word occurs in Roman law in the sense of rampart, barrier, [cf. Code of Justinian, 1. 2 sec. 4; De officiis Praef. Praet. Africae (1, 27), 1. 4 De officiis mag. officiorum (I, 31)]. In the “Concordia Regularum” of St. Benedict of Aniane, c. xli, sec. 11, we find it in the sense of “case”, or “cupboard” (Migne, P.L., CIII, 1057). In modern ecclesiastical usage, clausura signifies, materially, an enclosed space for religious retirement; formally, it stands for the legal restrictions opposed to the free egress of those who are cloistered or enclosed and to the free entry, or free introduction, of outsiders within the limits of the material clausura.
The building that I currently live in used to be a cloistered sanctuary for the Cloistered nuns. Hence, the name of the building (unofficially anyway) is The Cloister. Everywhere you go, there are subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that you are living in a holy place. The signs of various rooms are named after various saints. There are little inlets that probably used to house holy statues. In the garden, flanked by two large pine cone trees is a stone inlet that has probably been there since the building was built. I’m fairly certain it used to house a statue of Mary. In the summer, I was always tempted to go there and sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. The only thing that stopped me were the ants. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful building. Filled with history. And the holy spirit. Regardless of whether or not you are religious. There is a certain calmness to this place that is hard to explain. I love it very much and will be very sad when I have to leave.
