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”
Tag Archives: bible
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”
St. David of Wales
David of Wales was a renowned preacher and missionary who founded monastic settlements and churches in Wales, Brittany, and southwest England. According to legend, he was born on a Pembrokeshire clifftop during a fierce storm in 500 CE. Also, according to legend, he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, from which he brought back a stone thatContinue reading “St. David of Wales”
Conversion
On January 25, the church celebrates the conversion of Paul. His name at the time was Saul of Tarsus, and he was on his way to Damascus to find and arrest in the synagogue the followers of the Way and bring them back to Jerusalem. Acts 9 tells the story. He was blinded by aContinue reading “Conversion”
All Saints
From the Rule of St. Benedict: “On the feasts of Saints and on all festivals let the Office be performed as we have prescribed for Sundays, except that the Psalms, the antiphons and the lessons belonging to that particular day are to be said. . .” (Chapter 14) From Praying with Saint Benedict: Benedict instituted aContinue reading “All Saints”
Seeds of Contemplation
From Thomas Merton (1961) Every expression of the will of God is in some sense a “word” of God, and therefore a “seed” of new life. . . In all the situations of life the will of God comes to us not merely as an external dictate of impersonal law but above all as anContinue reading “Seeds of Contemplation”
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”
Improbable Benedictine 