In North Africa around the year 202 or 203, five catechumens were arrested. Among them was Perpetua, a young mother, and a slave named Felicitas, or Felicity. Along with three of their male companions, they were recent converts to Christianity who were preparing for baptism. Being a Christian was not a crime at that time,Continue reading “Saints Perpetua and Felicity”
Author Archives: Stephen Isaacson
Humility and Restraint
From the Rule: The ninth degree of humility is that a monk restrain his tongue and keep silence, not speaking until he is questioned. For the Scripture shows that “in much speaking there is no escape from sin” (Prov. 10:19) and that “the talkative man is not stable on the earth” (Ps. 140:11). (RSB 7,Continue reading “Humility and Restraint”
Queen Margaret of Scotland
Born in Hungary, Margaret of Wessex was the daughter of the English Prince Edward in exile and his wife Agatha. Margaret became the queen of Scotland from 1070 to 1093 as the wife of Malcom III. Chroniclers depicted her as a strong, pure Christian of noble character, who had great influence over her husband, theContinue reading “Queen Margaret of Scotland”
Discipline and Love
From the Rule Let the Abbot exercise the utmost care and concern for delinquent brethren, for “it is not the healthy but the sick who need a physician” (Matt 9:12) . . . He ought to use every means that a wise physician would use . . . . . . Let him imitate theContinue reading “Discipline and Love”
A “Parable of Communion”
Mike and I just spent three weeks in France. On the last Sunday of our vacation in France, my Cornerstone sister Judy took us to Taizé, an ecumenical monastic community in rural Burgundy, currently comprised of about 80 brothers: Catholic, Anglican, Protestant, and Orthodox men from about thirty countries around the world. The community wasContinue reading “A “Parable of Communion””
Preparing Our Hearts and Bodies
From the Rule So, brethren, we have asked the Lord who is to dwell in His tent, and we have heard His commands to anyone who would dwell there; . . . Therefore we must prepare our hearts and our bodies to do battle under the holy obedience of His commands. (RSB Prologue, Part 6)Continue reading “Preparing Our Hearts and Bodies”
Saint James the Apostle
Saint James, also known as the Apostle James or James the Greater, was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He was the brother of John the Evangelist. As the two worked with their father mending their nets in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called them to become “fishers of men.” The nickname JesusContinue reading “Saint James the Apostle”
The Holy Spirit
Pentecost Excerpted from A Confirmation of Faith: Chap. 8 The Holy Spirit You may have experienced the Holy Spirit. You may be singing a familiar hymn in church, and you are moved by the words that suddenly have a deeper meaning than you realized previously. You are sitting by a river in a beautiful valley and areContinue reading “The Holy Spirit”
Travel Stories
From the Rule of Benedict (Chap. 67): When brethren return from a journey, . . . let no one presume to tell another whatever he may have seen or heard outside of the monastery, because this causes very great harm. From Praying with Saint Benedict: A few years ago, I occasionally went to Salem, our stateContinue reading “Travel Stories”
Vows
From the Rule: “Those who are to be received shall make a promise before all in the oratory of their stability, their reformation of life, and their obedience . . .” (RSB 58). Reflection from Praying with Saint Benedict: Three promises are made when novices take their vows: stability, obedience, and reformation of life. (Other translationsContinue reading “Vows”
Improbable Benedictine 