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Before addressing the mundane tasks involving physical labor that had to be done around the monastery, Benedict writes about prayer, specifically praise. Physical tasks had to be done to maintain the community, and Benedict considered this work to be holy work, too. However, the most important work of God (opus dei) was prayer. The factContinue reading “Throughout the Day”

While driving home from the store one morning this week, I was stopped at a light, and the pickup in front of me was signaling the driver’s intention to turn left from the thru lane, not the marked left turn lane. Sure enough, when the light changed, the truck sat there, while the driver waited forContinue reading “Humility and Driving”

According to Wikipedia, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, every year on September 14th, celebrates, among other things, the finding of the true cross by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, in about 326-328 CE and the return of the true cross to Jerusalem in 629 CE. The Roman Catholic Church, Eastern OrthodoxContinue reading “Holy Cross”

“I don’t do obedience,” my friend said sharply when I was explaining the three vows I took as a Benedictine: stability, obedience, conversion of life. She is a strong, very independent woman who doesn’t hesitate to speak out when she disagrees with a decision made by unenlightened leaders. Obedience is the one vow that mostContinue reading “Mutual Obedience”

As it falls in the church calendar, this Sunday was a celebration of the Transfiguration, that time on the mountain when three of Jesus’s disciples witnessed a scene in which they saw Jesus in a new light.  As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as aContinue reading “Mountain Top”

Bible Trivia Question: Who was the first apostle? In all four gospels, Mary Magdalene was a witness to Jesus’ crucifixion, the empty tomb, and Jesus’ resurrection. In John 20, after Mary had come to the tomb early in the morning, Jesus said to her, “Mary,” causing her to suddenly realize he was not the gardener, but herContinue reading ““I Have Seen the Lord””

Benedict has lots to say about stewardship, especially in chapters 31 through 34 of his Rule for Monasteries. To begin with, he mandates that the monastery cellarer (the monk in charge of supplies and tools) should be someone who is wise, mature, temperate, and not wasteful, among other things. He instructs the cellarer to take care of everythingContinue reading “Stewardship”

In Chapter 20 of Benedict’s Rule, he talks about private prayer. As he puts it, when approaching a powerful person with a proposal or request, wouldn’t we assume a humble and respectful manner? Why would we lay our petitions before God with anything but the same humble and respectful manner? In Matthew 6, Jesus tellsContinue reading “How to Pray”

One could not find a better model of openness to the Holy Spirit and Christ-like service than the example shown by St. Barnabas whom we celebrate on June 11. His given name was Joseph who, according to the book of Acts, was a Levite from Cyprus. Levites were members of the priestly Hebrew tribe of Levi.Continue reading “St. Barnabas”

Sunday, May 28 This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, that extraordinary event when, after Christ’s ascension, the followers of The Way were gathered in one place. They heard a sound like a violent wind and saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that came to rest on each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. TodayContinue reading “The Holy Spirit”