Obedience & Prayer

Listen carefully…to the master’s instructions…(Prologue to Holy Rule. 1.8)

In the opening words of the Holy Rule, St. Benedict invites us to enter into a dynamic way of relating to God and to one another. The hallmarks of this dynamic method are obedience (listening) and prayer. This is the cost of growing in spiritual freedom—giving up our personal freedom. What an incongruity in a society that makes a god of personal freedom!

But Benedict’s invitation is an invitation to more personal freedom. If we allow ourselves to be formed by the wisdom of Scripture, by the wisdom of tradition and by the wisdom of our monastic ancestors, we can learn our own will, we can express our own will and we can learn to give up our own will.

Let us arm ourselves with these strong and noble weapons—obedience (listening) and prayer—and enter into this dynamic way of relating to God and to one another.

Sr. Veronica, OSB