Liviu

In the midst of the darkness shined a life-giving light, as Liviu Librescu, 76, a Holocaust survivor, stood at the door of room 204 in order to free his students from pending death by the insane Cho who massacred students and faculty at Virginia Tech. Allowing his students to escape through the classroom window, Liviu was fatally wounded.

Hero is too shallow of a word to describe the final acts of this wonderful man, whom many called "father". There is no doubt that the final act of his life reflects that way he lived every moment. The shema was carved into his heart. In him the Torah is made flesh and dwells among us.

This Romanian was killed on Yom Hashoah, the international day that commemorates Holocaust victims. May we give thanks to God for revealing the inner heart of what it means to be human.

The Thirteenth Day of Easter

O Lord, you have saved us through the Paschal mystery of Christ: Continue to support your people with heavenly gifts, that we may attain true liberty, and enjoy the happiness of heaven which we have begun to taste on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 64

On Constituting an Abbot

In the constituting of an Abbot
let this plan always be followed,
that the office be conferred on the one who is chosen
either by the whole community unanimously in the fear of God
or else by a part of the community, however small,
if its counsel is more wholesome.

Merit of life and wisdom of doctrine
should determine the choice of the one to be constituted,
even if he be the last of the order of the community.

But if (which God forbid)
the whole community should agree to choose a person
who will acquiesce in their vices,
and if those vices somehow become known to the Bishop
to whose diocese the place belongs,
or to the Abbots, Abbesses or the faithful of the vicinity,
let them prevent the success of this conspiracy of the wicked,
and set a worthy steward over the house of God.
They may be sure
that they will receive a good reward for this action
if they do it with a pure intention and out of zeal for God;
as, on the contrary, they will sin if they fail to do it.