No one should presume to read or sing unless he is able to benefit the hearers; let this be done with humility, seriousness and reverence, and at the abbot's bidding. RB80.47.3-4
In community, as in families, many of the tasks are parcelled out among the different members. In addressing community prayer, Benedict advices that those who perform special tasks within the liturgy need to be those who have special skill and training.
The reader, for example, is not to be just anyone who happens to walk up and pick up the book randomly. The cantor or prayer leader should be someone who can lead the community in prayer without drawing undue attention to himself. The service needs to lead the person back to God and to praise.
This issue can be troublesome at times if I happen to consider myself extremely talented in whatever service I am performing. For example, if I know that I am a trained musician and use the opportunity to be the cantor to draw admiration for my great voice, I am taking away from the service I am providing. It might even be considered a distraction for others who are present intending to pray.
There can be a very fine line between being willing to share my skills for the glory of God and calling the praise to myself. I need to remind myself often what the real purpose of my service is.
How am I serving God today through the full use of my talents?
Sr. Catherine, OSB
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Cultivating Silence
Monks should diligently cultivate silence at all time, but especially at night. RB80.42.1
Silence is an important monastic value. The ability to be maintain stillness and quiet within life is a skill that eludes many of us in today's culture that is often desired. There is always an abundance of sensory stimulus that hinders us from being able to maintain any semblance of inner quiet--iPods, cell phones, pagers, im, facebook, etc.
How can I best establish an inner peace within myself?
Silence is an important monastic value. The ability to be maintain stillness and quiet within life is a skill that eludes many of us in today's culture that is often desired. There is always an abundance of sensory stimulus that hinders us from being able to maintain any semblance of inner quiet--iPods, cell phones, pagers, im, facebook, etc.
How can I best establish an inner peace within myself?
- Establish a tech free zone in my day. Resist the temptation to go to sleep and awaken with facebook.
- Find random moments within my day to just breath and call on God's name to remind me of God's Presence within my life.
- Start my day with a recommitment to doing God's will.
Sr. Catherine, OSB
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
My Gift
Everyone has his own gift from God, one this and another that (1 Cor 7:7). RB80.40.1
In addressing the proper amount of drink within the monastery, Benedict refers to this passage from the letter to the Corinthians which focuses on the gift which is present within each person. It is a passage that does not just speak of individual giftedness but also points to the grace which is present in each life.
In a broader context, it reminds me that it is the grace of God, God's special gift to me, that allows me to have the strength which is necessary not only to face the struggles of the day but also to be a sign of God's love to all I meet.
In addressing the proper amount of drink within the monastery, Benedict refers to this passage from the letter to the Corinthians which focuses on the gift which is present within each person. It is a passage that does not just speak of individual giftedness but also points to the grace which is present in each life.
In a broader context, it reminds me that it is the grace of God, God's special gift to me, that allows me to have the strength which is necessary not only to face the struggles of the day but also to be a sign of God's love to all I meet.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Weighed Down Hearts
Our Lord says: Take care that your hearts are not weighed down with overindulgence (Luke 21:34). RB80.39.9
Today's passage is talking about food and eating. Basically, Benedict is advocating avoiding overindulgence or obsession about food within the monastery and in life.
Although I am definitely a person who loves food. I get pleasure from eating. I enjoying playing with food (one of the reasons I like baking yeast bread from scratch); I like planning meals. I am definitely about food, I do try not to obsess about it too much.
But if my heart is not weighed down with thoughts of food, what are the things that can distract me from single-hearted focus on God? Afterall, one of the hallmarks of monastic life is seeking God in all things.
Today's passage is talking about food and eating. Basically, Benedict is advocating avoiding overindulgence or obsession about food within the monastery and in life.
Although I am definitely a person who loves food. I get pleasure from eating. I enjoying playing with food (one of the reasons I like baking yeast bread from scratch); I like planning meals. I am definitely about food, I do try not to obsess about it too much.
But if my heart is not weighed down with thoughts of food, what are the things that can distract me from single-hearted focus on God? Afterall, one of the hallmarks of monastic life is seeking God in all things.
- I can be destracted by my own plans and vision of life. I can be an extreme planner and totally miss the message that God is imparting today by focussing only on MY plans.
- I can easily be sidetracked by fear. I am not a fan of pain so will often take what looks like the more agreeable plan in order to avoid discomfort.
- I am a dreamer so I can easily get stuck in how things should be and miss the beauty of God's plan.
- I can sometimes be attracted to the glamour of being in control. Control can often seduce me into focusing on myself and my image rather than on reality and God's plans.
This are all things that can weigh my heart down and distract me from my true goal of seeking God in all things and listening to God's word.
What am I doing today to avoid being weighed down by illusions?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Prayer: The Better Remedy
After he has applied compresses, the ointment of encouragement, the medice of divine Scripture, and finally the cauterizing iron of excommunication and strokes of the rod, and if he then perceives that his earnest efforts are unavailing, let him apply an even better remedy: he and all of the brothers should pray for him so that the Lord, who can do all things, may bring about the health of the sick brother. RB80.28.4-6
This selection comes towards the end of the section of the Rule that is considered a penal code of sorts. It comes after the various types of faults committed and the advised consequence have been addressed. It comes also after the section on excommunication (exclusion) for the group for significant problems.
It seems somewhat curious to me that Benedict reserves the use of prayer as a last resort remedy to whatever issue is at hand. It's as if to say once all that is humanly possible has been tried then turn to God for the answer. Maybe the point that Benedict is trying to make is that prayer needs to be accompanied by action. Sometimes, there can be the temptation to think that because I have prayed about an issue my responsibility has been fulfilled...now it's up to God to deal with it since I have prayed. Actually, it might need to be more like a partnership where I do pray and let God work on the outcome but also participate by taking concrete action also on whatever the issue may be.
There have been times in my life when I have been the person in need of prayer, healing and direction. There have also been times when I am on the side of accompanying those who might need the guidance. In both instances, I need to remember that I am in partnership with God and with my community on my life journey.
How am I remembering God's presence in my life today?
Sr. Catherine, OSB
This selection comes towards the end of the section of the Rule that is considered a penal code of sorts. It comes after the various types of faults committed and the advised consequence have been addressed. It comes also after the section on excommunication (exclusion) for the group for significant problems.
It seems somewhat curious to me that Benedict reserves the use of prayer as a last resort remedy to whatever issue is at hand. It's as if to say once all that is humanly possible has been tried then turn to God for the answer. Maybe the point that Benedict is trying to make is that prayer needs to be accompanied by action. Sometimes, there can be the temptation to think that because I have prayed about an issue my responsibility has been fulfilled...now it's up to God to deal with it since I have prayed. Actually, it might need to be more like a partnership where I do pray and let God work on the outcome but also participate by taking concrete action also on whatever the issue may be.
There have been times in my life when I have been the person in need of prayer, healing and direction. There have also been times when I am on the side of accompanying those who might need the guidance. In both instances, I need to remember that I am in partnership with God and with my community on my life journey.
How am I remembering God's presence in my life today?
Sr. Catherine, OSB
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