Stephen Isaacson

Mary

On August 15th much of the Christian world celebrates the feast day of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Other than Jesus himself, it is hard to think of any human being more celebrated by the Christian church than Mary. She has been venerated in the Church since the apostolic age and is a favorite subject in Western art,Continue reading “Mary”

Ora et Labora

In Chapter 48 of his Rule for Monasteries, Benedict wrote: “Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the brothers and sisters should be occupied at certain times in manual labor, and again at fixed hours in sacred reading….” Ora et labora—prayer and labor—was Benedict’s motto. In the Rule, Benedict extols the virtues of physical labor asContinue reading “Ora et Labora”

Celebrating Benedict

Benedict of Nursia was a sixth-century abbot who founded twelve monasteries and gave Christian monasticism its lasting foundation in Western Europe. In the early ninth century, Louis the Pious, son of the emperor Charlemagne, declared that Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries would be the standard of organization for all monastic institutions. It is hard to overestimate Benedict’s role in western civilization. BenedictineContinue reading “Celebrating Benedict”

Pilgrimage

We tend to think of pilgrimage as travel to historic holy places such as Jerusalem, Rome, Mecca, Lourdes, or Santiago de Compostela. However, pilgrimages often entail a significant inner spiritual journey as well. Mike and I just returned from such a pilgrimage to Iona, a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the northwest coastContinue reading “Pilgrimage”

Ascension

“Ascension” by Malcolm Guite We saw his light break through the cloud of gloryWhilst we were rooted still in time and placeAs earth became a part of Heaven’s storyAnd heaven opened to his human face.We saw him go and yet we were not partedHe took us with him to the heart of thingsThe heart thatContinue reading “Ascension”

The Rewards of Hospitality

From the Rule of St. Benedict (Excerpt from Chap. 61) If a pilgrim monk coming from a distant region wants to live as a guest of the monastery, let him be received for as long a time as he desires, provided he is content with the customs of the place as he finds them andContinue reading “The Rewards of Hospitality”

Atonement

Excerpted and edited from A Confirmation of Faith (Resource/Wipf & Stock) What is the meaning of Christ’s death? might be a question we ask ourselves as we approach Good Friday. On the one hand, traditional Christian teaching has been that Christ was our substitute on the cross to atone for the sins that we, God’s rebellious creatures, haveContinue reading “Atonement”

Lenten Reassurance

“Seven times in the day,” Benedict writes, quoting the psalmist, “I have rendered praise to You” (Ps. 119:164). In Chapters 17 and 18 of the Rule, Benedict goes on to specify the order of psalms to be said at the smaller offices throughout the day: Terce (mid-morning), Sext (mid-day) and None (mid-afternoon). “At Terce, SextContinue reading “Lenten Reassurance”

Scholastica

Today is the feast day of St. Scholastica, Benedict’s twin sister. The two siblings were born around 480 to a Roman noble family in Nursia, Italy. Although little is known of her early life, she founded a religious community for women five miles from Monte Cassino where her brother was abbot. Following her brother’s example of totalContinue reading “Scholastica”

Epiphany

The Christian feast of Epiphany primarily commemorates the visit of the Magi to the Christ child, which in turn represents Christ’s physical manifestation to the Gentiles. It is also sometimes called Three Kings’ Day or Little Christmas. In the Orthodox Church, Epiphany is known as Theophany and commemorates Christ’s baptism by John in the Jordan River.Continue reading “Epiphany”