Preparing for Sunday

We give you thanks, O God, for revealing your Son Jesus Christ to us by the light of his resurrection: Grant that as we sing your glory at the close of the day, our joy may abound in the morning as we celebrate the Paschal mystery; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Saturdays, Compline, BCP, page 136

Act of Loving

My goal is this: always to put myself in the place in which I am best able to serve, wherever my gifts and qualities find the best soil, the widest field of action. There is no other goal.

Narcissus in Herman Hesse's Narcissus and Goldmund

Mystagogia #1

The Collects of the Day during Easter Week proclaim the fulfillment of the promise of new life in Christ and calls us to live more deeply in the Covenant of the Father: that dying daily to sin we may live with Christ in the joy of his resurrection; being renewed in body and mind, we may worship the Father in sincerity and truth; that through the life-giving Spirit we may be raised from the death of sin; that we may be found worth to attain to the everlasting joys; abiding in his presence, and rejoicing in the hope of eternal glory; beholding in this life all his redeeming work; professing in our lives what we profess by our faith; and always serving him in pureness of living and truth.

As we contemplate the mystery of our salvation we are overwhelmed by the gift of new life that is ours through, in, and with Christ. May our journey toward Pentecost be one of deepening our relationship with our Savior and Lord and come to know him more deeply in prayer and mission.

Seventh Day of Easter

We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 60

On Priests Who May Wish to Live in the Monastery

If any ordained priest
should ask to be received into the monastery,
permission shall not be granted too readily.
But if he is quite persistent in his request,
let him know
that he will have to observe the whole discipline of the Rule
and that nothing will be relaxed in his favor,
that it may be as it is written:
"Friend, for what have you come (Matt. 26:50)?"

It shall be granted him, however, to stand next after the Abbot
and to give blessings and to celebrate Mass,
but only by order of the Abbot.
Without such order let him not make any exceptions for himself,
knowing that he is subject to the discipline of the Rule;
but rather let him give an example of humility to all.

If there happens to be question of an appointment
or of some business in the monastery,
let him expect the rank due him
according to the date of his entrance into the monastery,
and not the place granted him
out of reverence for the priesthood.

If any clerics, moved by the same desire,
should wish to join the monastery,
let them be placed in a middle rank.
But they too are to be admitted only if they promise
observance of the Rule and stability.