Praying the Hours

God come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Community prayer throughout the day begins with this simple refrain everyday.

It calls to mind the fact that it is only through God's assistance and God's ready help that we are able to even consider praying day after day. It is a reminder to me that without God even my best efforts often are mediocre and half hearted. It reminds me that there is a purpose greater than myself and my plans for the day.

May I always look toward God as the source of my comfort and aid.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Becoming Obedient

"He became obedient even unto death."

This quote from the letter to the Phillipians speaks of Christ's death. Jesus became obedient to the Father's will even to the point to death. By extension, Benedict invites us to take on that same obedience also.

I am all for being obedient--after it's been discussed and I understand and I get to ask all my questions. But obedient to death?? No thanks. I want no part of anything that seems remotely painful--definitely not death.

What does the obedience of Jesus have to teach me today?

Jesus was obedient when he came from heaven in the form of an infant. He agreed to obey his parents even when he was wiser than they. He was always attuned to the voice of God in his life. On the night before he was put to death, when he could easily have escaped his unjust death, he followed through with the Father's plan. Because it was God's will.

How willing am I to follow God into the unknown? Into the painful or scary?

Sr. Catherine, OSB

My Will vs God's Will

The second step of humility is that a man loves not his own will nor takes pleasure in the satisfaction of his desires; rather he shall imitate by his actions that saying of the Lord: I have come not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (John 6:38). Similarly we read, "Consent merits punishment; constraint wins a crown." (RB80.7.31-33)

Tenacity, determination, single-mindedness, driven, willful--these are just a few of the terms that can be used as synonyms for STUBBORNNESS. Stubborn is a word that has been used to describe me probably since infancy. I have always known what I wanted things, how I wanted them to be and when I wanted them. When I have my mind and my heart set on a goal or a prize, everyone better stand back because I am determined.

Now how does this will of mine relate to God's will in my life? There are times when my idea of how things should play out and God's will are at odds. What do I do then?

I have slowly learned (and am still learning on a daily basis) to listen for God's voice in my desires. Rather than rush ahead as soon as I think of something, I try to take it to prayer at least a few times before I act on things. This practice allows me to listen to God's will and see where that is leading in relation to my original plan. I do not have it down to a science yet and may not for a long time but there is progress. I also try running my plans by some trusted friends who can often help me see God's plan when I can't.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

God's Will

And in the Prayer too we ask God that his will be done in us (Matt 6:10). (RB80.7.20)

What is God's will for me and my life? How do I know God's will for me?

For many years, these two questions haunted me pretty much 24/7. I knew that I wanted to do God's will...but I was never really sure what that was so I always acted with a fair amount of hesitancy. I wanted to do God's will but I also wanted certainty. I desired to listen to God and to know beyond any doubt that I was on the right path...I wanted the RIGHT answer.

I have come to realize that God's main desire for me is my true happiness. Not that I will be laughing and smiling my way through life--but my lasting happiness (that which will make me happy through all eternity). God has this desire for my good because of his love, the same love that created me in the first place.

God's ultimate will for us is that we be holy and eternally happy. That is what we are all created for. Although God has different paths for all of us, the end goal is the same...happiness forever.

What am I doing to further God's plan in my life?

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Playing Hide and Seek

...let him recall that he is always seen by God in heaven, that his actions everywhere are in God’s sight and are reported by angels at every hour. (RB80.7.13)

Playing hide and seek was one of my favorite games as a child. I liked the challenge of finding creative places to hide--often almost in plain sight. My size and my ability to blend in with my environment helped with this.

As I grew older, I found new ways of playing this game. I began looking for ways to hide from God; especially if it felt like God was wanting to get my attention or if God had a message that I did not particularly want to receive. I figured if I made myself hard to find by getting really busy, skipping my prayer time, arguing with God, or any number of other ways I would not be able to hear God and God would give up on me. WRONG!!!

What I usually found when I was willing to listen is that I had been fighting a hopeless battle against my own good anyway. I really should have paid attention in the beginning and saved my energy. God did have my best interest at heart.

I try not to play hide and seek as much these days. What are the games you play with God? What do they gain for you?

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Praying for Those in Need

Benedict considers prayer to be a "last resort" type of remedy for the erring. After the community has tried reasoning with the person, public sanctions, and separation from community, then the entire community is invited to pray for the person.

On one level it seems somewhat backward to use prayer as a last resort, yet I am reminded of the many times when prayer does seem to be the last place I turn to once I have exhausted all of the other remedies available to me. Maybe Benedict is telling us that once we have tried everything in our power to remedy the situation...then the one thing left (actually the best thing) is to place the person or situation in God's hands.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Short Prayer

We must know that God regards our purity of heart and tears of compunction, not our many words. (RB 20.3)

Most people don't need to know me long to realize that I am a talker. I firmly believe that if few words are good then a multitude of words must be much more meaningful.

When it comes to prayer, though, I have always been fascinated by silence and stillness. Even as a child, prayer was one of the few times when I could just be still and not need to do anything. Benedict reminds us in Chapter 20 of the Rule that God already knows what is in our hearts and what our needs are. God does not need us to explain in detail what we need. God just wants us to be still and be open to his love and will for us.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Doing God's Will

…he shall imitate by his actions that saying of the Lord: I have not come to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (John 6.38). (RB 7.32)

When I was growing up our neighbors on the farm, the Wagners, were Methodists. Mrs. Wagner often sang these words of an old hymn. “And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.” I can still see her working with her flowers and singing this hymn. She was truly a holy woman and lived the words she sang. She raised six sons and a granddaughter and did the will of the God who made her.

This is what I think doing the will of God is. We walk with Him by imitating his actions. We talk with Him in unceasing prayer. We share our lives with Him, our joyful times and our sorrowful times.

Sr. Veronica, OSB