Harmony of Mind and Voice

Let us consider, then, how we ought to behave in the presence of God and his angels, and let us stand to sing the psalms in such a way that our minds are in harmony with our voices. RB80.19.6-7

I love to sing--I am definitely not the best singer or the most accomplished musician but I do enjoy singing and music. Today's passage from the Rule of St. Benedict speaks to the singer in me.

I know from experience how important it is to be in harmony and how gut-wrenching it can be to hear dissonance. I also know how difficult it can be to have my mind and my mouth both being fully present at the same time, on the same task. There is a temptation to think that since I have prayed the same psalms and responses for years I can conceivable "pray" our Office on autopilot. All that would be necessary is the presence of my body. In order to fully engage in prayer, though, I need to be fully there--mind, heart, voice, and body.

There are skills that are necessary so that we may all have a better prayer experience.

• I need to listen to those around me. I need to be in sync with others neither too fast or too slow.
• I need to pay attention. If my mind is on other things the words that come out of my mouth might not be the correct ones and I might end up being a distraction.
• I need to be still. Although there are no specific poses for prayer, I do need to watch that my body and posture is not distracting to those around me.
• I need to be present and not day dreaming. This is the most important time of my day...every day.

What other skills do I need to bring to my daily prayer?

Sr. Catherine, OSB

The Influence of Prayer

Today we begin the section on prayer in common. The Rule contains 13 chapters that speak of what is involved in monastic prayer. Some of these chapters (8-18) deal with the minutiae of what the order of the Psalms should be, a listing of other specific prayers and scripture readings for the year. Chapters 19 and 20 deal with the attitude necessary in the individual during prayer. Together these chapters constitute a vital part of the Rule of Benedict.

When I was finishing my Masters Degree one of the topics that I wrote on was common prayer and the impact of this prayer on individuals after long periods of daily praying the Psalms. One of my assertions was that the repetition of these prayers over a period of years should leave an imprint on my life (hopefully for the good). Much like water works on rocks in streams to smooth off rough edges, daily exposure and prayer with the psalms and scripture ideally should have the same effect on me as a person.

It is my duty to show up daily as awake and aware as possible to God's presence. All I really have to do is show up and be open to God's action in my life.

How open am I today to God's word in my life?

Sr. Catherine, OSB

On Oblation--Offering Oneself

The dictionary defines oblation as:

• the offering to God of the elements of bread and wine in the Eucharist;
• the whole office of the Eucharist;
• the act of making an offering, esp. to a deity;
• any offering for religious or charitable uses.
  

Using these definitions, it seems that all of life need be an oblation (an offering to God of love with my whole self).

It's a good thought but how is it lived out in real life? How do I propose to live in God's presence day after day?

Here are a few thoughts:

• training myself to make God my first thought and my last thought daily. Thanking God for the day--when I feel like reaching for the snooze button on the alarm clock and thanking God for blessings when I turn off my light at night.
• remembering to place myself on the altar as an offering with the Bread and Wine at Eucharist--and bringing all of my concerns to place on the altar also.
• going out of my way (out of my comfort zones) to be present to those around me when they need someone just to be present. Being truly present to others rather than just being physically present.
• remembering God's presence at various times throughout the day (raising my awareness of God's divine presence daily).

These are just a few practical ways in which I can remember to unite myself and my life to God daily.

What are some ways that you can do the same?

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Absences from the Norm

If someone does not arrive at table before the verse, so that all might say the verse together and pray and sit down to table as one, and if he comes late through his own negligence or bad will, he should be rebuked up to the second time. But if he still does not reform, he should be denied participation in the common table. He should eat alone and cut off from the company of all; his portion of wine should be taken away; and let this go on until he has made amends and changed for the better. Whoever is not present at the verse that is said after the meal should suffer the same punishment. © Benedict's Rule: A Translation, Terrance Kardong, 1996 by The Order of St. Benedict, Inc., Collegeville, Minnesota. 43.14-17. All rights reserved.

When talking about tardiness to community prayers and meals (what Benedict considers essentials), Benedict has little tolerance for those who show up late, leave early, or are consistently disruptive to the community schedule. He seems to feel that attendance for the whole event is necessary for a group to function well.

I have seen in my life how I tend to isolate myself and pull away from community at those times when I look for excuses to be absent. Although I generally love being in the midst of community events there are times when it seems that I almost long for any reason to be away from the norm. When I notice this happening, I need to stop and see where my heart is drifting to and bring it back to my community and to my primary commitments.

I am grateful for those times when I am brought back into the group after straying. How am I living out my commitments today?

Please pray for the staff and participants at Life Awareness Retreat this weekend for the Diocese of Tulsa.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Humility is...

Humility is...

Knowing who I am and who God is
Being comfortable in my humanity
An inner attitude rather than outward behavior
Sincerity, authenticity and honesty with myself and others
Being myself in all circumstances.

What is humility to you?

Sr. Catherine,OSB

The Wannabe Monastic

When I first entered community, I had dreams and illusions of what life in the monastery would look like. Everyone would always be kind and polite, no one ever raised their voice, there was perfection everywhere I would turn. I seemed almost like heaven on earth on one level. I did not take long for me to realize that my image of life was just an illusion and that real life in the monastery was just that real life.

I would still be bringing myself and my quirks and my struggles with me. Those things that had been issues before the monastery would still probably be issues for me. I would still have times of frustration as I realized yet again that the only person in life that I could change was me--and that is only if I wanted to change.

The one thing that community offered me was an opportunity to look at myself more closely with no real chance for escape. There is a little bit of the sarabaite (the monk that wants life on his/her own terms) in all of us. Community provides us with the opportunity to be still and open our minds and hearts to the possibility of change and growth.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Holiday Hospitality

What could be more appropriate during this holiday season than to talk about hospitality one more time?

Midst the last minute rush to buy and wrap presents, dream up a wonderful meal and enjoy relatives and friends who happen to drop by, I need to remind myself that Christmas is not really about gift exchanges, cards and delicious, gourmet feasts. The original Christmas event over 2000 years ago was about God's gift of his Presence in our midst. God becoming human so that we could realize how loving and approachable God is. That is at the heart of hospitality--acknowledging that God comes in the ordinary of life and that he comes in human form. Recognizing this can be a lifetime task.

May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you and your loved ones during this holiday season.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

A Classless Community

In a world where there is competition for places of honor and for special forms of respect, the Rule proposes a somewhat classless society. The elders and the young service each other, side by side. The PhD and the high school graduate work together on committees to serve the whole. In our community, even the Prioress can be found scrubing pots and pans along with the novice. This service to community and to one another is essential for building relationships and for recognizing the dignity and the value of work and the worker.

It takes a fair amount of humility to be willing to put on an apron, roll up sleeves and get involved in the "daily" tasks of life...especially for those of us who have spent most of our lives either in a classroom or an office. There is a healthiness and a wholesome aspect of participating in the more mundane events, in listening to the stories shared, in getting to know one another in a new way--without titles, or fascades. As the holidays approach I look forward to spending more time just be-ing with our community.

Sr. Catherine

Be Alert

RB 53: “All are to be welcomed as Christ……all humility is to be shown on arrival and departure…”

Last week, I walked into a local sandwich shop for lunch. The young woman behind the counter looked at me and said in a cheerful voice, “Welcome. Can I take your order?” As she prepared the sandwich to my wishes, she looked at me with a smile and said, “Have a blessed day.” This young woman understands the welcome and gift of hospitality by her words and her attitude. The food service industry aims to make people feel welcome. They train their employees to have the attitudes and behavior that convey the message: “We are at your service.” While their motivations may be different, we are followers of the Gospel of Christ as called to no less, but to have the same attitudes and behaviors that welcome the Christ present among us. St. Benedict points out the motivation for us Christians – to seek Christ in all who present themselves to us in our daily lives. We who give our lives in service of our brothers and sisters for the sake of the Gospel are called to welcome unconditionally the greatest and least, rich and poor, the expected and unexpected.

Be alert today as Christ comes to your door. Who will he look like today?

Sr. Marie Therese, OSB

Prayer That Brings Sleep

I have been a problem sleeper since infancy. There are family stories of my poking my grandmother as she tried to get me to sleep--just to make sure that she was as awake and alert as I was.

During sleepless nights I find comfort in praying in the dark. It could be a rosary, a conversation with God, reflection on an earlier event or pondering a fragment of scripture. This prayer time often will either give me the calm I need to slowly return to sleep or the reminder that I am not alone, even in my sleeplessness.

I have come to treasure these times and consider them a special gift to me from God.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Reverence for God

As soon as the cantor begins to sing "Glory be to the Father," let all the monks rise from their seats in honor and reverence for the Holy Trinity. RB 9.7

It took me a while to get used to the extra standing and bowing which is part of the monastic office when I first entered. I could never get the rhythm of the movement and it seemed that I was just starting to get comfortable in my chair when it was time to stand and bow again. I just could not get the hang of it.

This passage from Chapter 9 of the Rule sets the rising and bowing into context. Just as we would stand in acknowledgment of a celebrity or recognized dignitary we should also stand and bow in the presence of God. We should acknowledge God's presence and bow in reverence at the mention of God's name.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Living in God's Presence

…we must believe that God is always with us…(RB 7.23)

That God is always with us reminds me of Christmas. At Christmas God sent a present into the world, the gift of a loving presence named Jesus. This Jesus taught us the real value of gift-giving. Jesus gave no material gifts to others; He gave his personal presence and treasures from the heart –forgiveness, compassion, healing, peace.

These are the gifts He wants us to give. He asks us to be Jesus to one another by our personal presence, and give these treasures from the heart -- our care and concern, our hope, our joy, our understanding and forgiveness, our kindness and our patience.

Sr. Veronica, OSB