The Rule of Saint Benedict

Prologue

Hence the Lord says in the Gospel,
"Whoever listens to these words of Mine and acts upon them,
I will liken to a wise person
who built a house on rock.
The floods came,
the winds blew and beat against that house,
and it did not fall,
because it had been founded on rock" (Matt. 7:24-25).

Having given us these assurances,
the Lord is waiting every day
for us to respond by our deeds to His holy admonitions.
And the days of this life are lengthened
and a truce granted us for this very reason,
that we may amend our evil ways.
As the Apostle says,
"Do you not know that God's patience is inviting you to repent" (Rom. 2:4)?
For the merciful Lord tells us,
"I desire not the death of the sinner,
but that the sinner should be converted and live" (Ezech. 33:11).

What Is Bible Study?

Bringing people together around the written Word invites a deeper response to the intentions of God for human life. Bible study is not like any other study one would engage in, for it invites personal response in the midst of community, a sharing of meaning and personal experience, and the movement of the Holy Spirit that enlivens every page of Holy Scripture.

You don't have to be a biblical scholar to engage the bible, simply to have an inquiring mind and an open heart. As you participate with others you build community around the heart of your life's response to our Lord in faith. As people discuss various verses of Scripture they soon realize that it is only in community that truth is discovered. One does not circle the bible intending to listen to the priest unfold the divine mysteries, but to open the self, being vulnerable to others and the Holy Spirit, and through that vulnerability to discover fresh nurture for your souls.

What a wonderful thing it would be if everyone engaged the Scriptures to discover the truth about God and themselves.

Mystagogia #4

Through the meditation of God's holy Word, we hear the voice of the One who knows us each by name and in faith follow where he leads; in fidelity we seek to avoid those things that may cause us to wander; boldly proclaiming the catholic faith against all opposition; by persevering in faith, our Lord's marvelous acts will be fulfilled within us; deepening our devotion we may glorify our Lord's holy Name in life and in death.

Twenty-Eight Day of Easter

God of infinite mercy, you renew the faith of your people by the yearly celebration of these fifty days: Stir up in us the gifts of your grace, that we may know more deeply that Baptism has cleansed us, the Spirit has quickened us, and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us; 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

Prologue

Having our loins girded, therefore,
with faith and the performance of good works (Eph. 6:14),
let us walk in His paths
by the guidance of the Gospel,
that we may deserve to see Him
who has called us to His kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12).

For if we wish to dwell in the tent of that kingdom,
we must run to it by good deeds
or we shall never reach it.

But let us ask the Lord, with the Prophet,
"Lord, who shall dwell in Your tent,
or who shall rest upon Your holy mountain" (Ps. 14:1)?

After this question,
let us listen to the Lord
as He answers and shows us the way to that tent, saying,
"The one Who walks without stain and practices justice;
who speaks truth from his heart;
who has not used his tongue for deceit;
who has done no evil to his neighbor;
who has given no place to slander against his neighbor."

This is the one who,
under any temptation from the malicious devil,
has brought him to naught (Ps. 14:4)
by casting him and his temptation from the sight of his heart;
and who has laid hold of his thoughts
while they were still young
and dashed them against Christ (Ps. 136:9).

It is they who,
fearing the Lord (Ps. 14:4),
do not pride themselves on their good observance;
but,
convinced that the good which is in them
cannot come from themselves and must be from the Lord,
glorify the Lord's work in them (Ps. 14:4),
using the words of the Prophet,
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to Your name give the glory" (Ps. 113, 2nd part:1).
Thus also the Apostle Paul
attributed nothing of the success of his preaching to himself,
but said,
"By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10).
And again he says,
"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (2 Cor. 10:17).

What Are You Hearing?

The Word of God expressed is meant to be a dialogue between the one who proclaims and the hearer, and for the health of the Body it is always important to know if what is spoken is being properly heard.

The questions before any worshiping assembly are the following: Am I hearing what the preacher is intending to say? Did he mean to stir up the feelings that I experienced during the sermon? Did the personality of the preacher get expressed in the sermon? Where and how could the sermon be improved?

Such honest assessment between priest and people enables the preacher to strengthen his or her preaching skills; and provides an opportunity for the congregation to listen more deeply.

The Dignity of Every Human Being

When do social issues transcend party differences?

With the recent vote by the House of Representatives to extend "hate crime" protection to those who are victimized because of their sexual orientation, the ethical issues have become central even though congress has placed this issue on the table. The willingness to protect homosexuals must be embraced by all those who are followers of Christ. The issue is beyond debate and it would be a terrible thing for our country if such a new law would be vetoed along party lines!

Dr. James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, was quoted in the New York Times, stating that such a law would "muzzle people of faith who dare to express their moral and biblical concerns about homosexuality." Such a comment from this radical Christian conservative raises questions about what constitutes the freedom of expression. All of us have a right to express our personal faith regarding what 'ought to be' within our culture and society; but none of us have the right to express ourselves in degrading, hostile, and violent acts. If we are truly people of faith, we will find a way to make sure that all the citizens of our country, and members of our churches, share in the same rights that all of us are entitled.

Let us pray that we will uphold the dignity of every human being.

An Anniversary of Infamy

Only days before my graduation from seminary the Ohio National Guard was ordered to disperse an anti-war demonstration on the campus of Kent State University. The soldiers suddenly open fire killing four students and wounding nine. To this day, the reason for the shooting is unknown.

The mid-sixties bore the pain of the assassination of the president and civil rights leader. The country was ablaze with racial bitterness and discord, and the Vietnam War was dividing the nation. The church found herself torn by the hostile response of her people as they turned against one another over the political and social issues of the time.

In what ways did these events change your life? What memories of this era remain with you? How did you experience God during these turbulent days in our history?

The Feast of Monnica, Mother of Augustine of Hippo

O Lord, through spiritual discipline you strengthened your servant Monnica to perservere in offering her love and prayers and tears for the conversion of her husband and of Augustine their son: Deepen our devotion, we pray, and use us in accordance with your will to bring others, even our own kindred, to acknowledge Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord, who will you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict

Prologue

And the Lord, seeking his laborer
in the multitude to whom He thus cries out,
says again,
"Who is the one who will have life,
and desires to see good days" (Ps. 33:13)?
And if, hearing Him, you answer,
"I am the one,"
God says to you,
"If you will have true and everlasting life,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips that they speak no guile.
Turn away from evil and do good;
seek after peace and pursue it" (Ps. 33:14-15).
And when you have done these things,
My eyes shall be upon you
and My ears open to your prayers;
and before you call upon Me,
I will say to you,
'Behold, here I am'" (Ps. 33:16; Is. 65:24; 58:9).

Some Perplexity Remains!

The Gifts of God for the People of God:
Be what you see; Receive who you are!

Rumor confirms that there remains some perplexity over these words of Invitation to Holy Communion among several communicants of the parish. Saint Augustine of Hippo, writing in the fifth century, a wonderful treatise on the meaning of the Holy Eucharist, calling on all the baptized to recognize themselves in the sacred gift of our Lord's Body and Blood by saying "Receive what you are! Become what you receive." These words are now echoed as we prepare to come forward to receive our divine nurture every week.

The Two Wolves

My hope today is to equip you with a warning and commission that might be helpful as you set out on this journey, as you begin the next chapter of your lives. So I want to tell you a story. One evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, fear, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other one is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

The grandson thought about this for few minutes and then he looked up at his grandfather and asked: “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed. The one you feed.”

Taddled from God's Politics

A Simple Heart

Living God, you want us to have hearts that are completely simple, to the point that the complicated things in life do not bring us to a halt. Through the Holy Spirit, the spirit of the Risen Christ, you come to open a way for us, a way that is possible; on it we understand that you love us first, before we loved you.

Brother Roger of Taize

Practicing Resurrection

Wendell Berry's Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,

vacation with pay. Want more

Of everything ready made. Be afraid

to know your neighbors and to die.

And you will have a window in your head.

Not even your future will be a mystery

any more. Your mind will be punched in a card

and shut away in a little drawer.

When they want you to buy something

they will call you. When they want you

to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something

that won’t compute. Love the Lord.

Love the world. Work for nothing.

Take all that you have and be poor.

Love someone who does not deserve it.

Denounce the government and embrace

the flag. Hope to live in that free

republic for which it stands.

Give your approval to all you cannot

understand. Praise ignorance, for what man

has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.

Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias.

Say that your main crop is the forest

that you did not plant,

that you will not live to harvest.

Say that leaves are harvested

when they have rotted into the mold.

Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus

that will build under the trees

every thousand years.

Listen to carrion—put your ear

close, and hear the faint chattering

of the songs that are to come.

Expect the end of the world. Laugh.

Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful

though you have considered all the facts.

So long as women do not go cheap

for power, please women more than men.

Ask yourself: Will this satisfy

a woman satisfied to bear a child?

Will this disturb the sleep

of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.

Lie easy in the shade. Rest your head

in her lap. Swear allegiance

to what is nighest your thoughts.

As soon as the generals and the politicos

can predict the motions of your mind,

lose it. Leave it as a sign

to mark the false trail, the way

you didn’t go. Be like the fox

who makes more tracks than necessary,

some in the wrong direction.

Practice resurrection.

The Twenty-Sixth Day of Easter

Lord God Almighty, for no merit on our part you have brought us out of death into life, out of sorrow into joy: Put no end to your gifts, fulfill your marvelous acts in us, and grant to us who have been justified by faith the strength to preserver in faith; 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

Prologue

Let us arise, then, at last,
for the Scripture stirs us up, saying,
"Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep" (Rom. 13:11).
Let us open our eyes to the deifying light,
let us hear with attentive ears
the warning which the divine voice cries daily to us,
"Today if you hear His voice,
harden not your hearts" (Ps. 94:8).
And again,
"Whoever has ears to hear,
hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Matt. 11-15; Apoc. 2:7).
And what does He say?
"Come, My children, listen to Me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord" (Ps. 33:12).
"Run while you have the light of life,
lest the darkness of death overtake you" (John 12:35).

Called, Formed, Involved?

Go forth into the world .....

As disciples of Christ, participants in the paschal mystery of our Lord's dying and rising through faith; as hearers and doers of the word of God; as bearers of grace, as partakers of our Lord's body and blood; having received the forgiveness of sins, formed in the Body of Christ, the Church, made inheritors of the kingdom of heaven; and empowered by the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Baptism, we are called to live no longer for ourselves alone but for and on behalf of the world.

How do we live out our identity as Christians? What are the ways in which we are living a life of service and gratitude for all we have been given? Do we understand ourself as individuals, or as belonging to a living organism, larger than ourself, that involves us in works of mercy and grace?

The greatest gift you can receive is giving to others.

The Feast of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria

Uphold your Church, O God of truth, as you upheld your servant Athanasius, to maintain and proclaim boldly the catholic faith against all opposition, trusting solely in the grace of your eternal Word, who took upon himself our humanity that we might share his divinity; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict (Beginning)

Prologue

I S T E N carefully, my child,
to your master's precepts,
and incline the ear of your heart (Prov. 4:20).
Receive willingly and carry out effectively
your loving father's advice,
that by the labor of obedience
you may return to Him
from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.

To you, therefore, my words are now addressed,
whoever you may be,
who are renouncing your own will
to do battle under the Lord Christ, the true King,
and are taking up the strong, bright weapons of obedience.

And first of all,
whatever good work you begin to do,
beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect it,
that He who has now deigned to count us among His children
may not at any time be grieved by our evil deeds.
For we must always so serve Him
with the good things He has given us,
that He will never as an angry Father disinherit His children,
nor ever as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil actions,
deliver us to everlasting punishment
as wicked servants who would not follow Him to glory.

A Poem: lifted into light

the sun shone
through the window
whitening the sheets
as she laid
in her bed
having now been
moved out
of ICU;

her mother was
with her
she said she
was looking forward
to going home this
weekend;

eagerly she anticipates
her wellness,
grateful to be live
she asked for
a prayer.

The Lost Vision

I had no religion. I was taken to church weekly as a child, and at school attended chapel daily, but, as though in compensation, form the time I went to my public school I was excused church in the holidays. The view implicit in my education was that the basic narrative of Christianity had long been exposed as a myth, and that opinion was now divided as to whether its ethical teaching was of present value, a division in which the main weight went against it; religion was a hobby which some people professed and others did not; at the best it was slightly ornamental, at the worst it was the province of "complexes" and "inhibitions" -- catchwords of the decade - and of the intolerance, hypocrisy, and sheer stupidity attributed to it for centuries. No one has ever suggested to me that these quaint observances expressed a coherent, philosophic system and intransigeant historical claims; nor, had they done so, would I have been much interested.

Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited

Rarely Heard! (Revised)

At one time, we engaged in great conversations around the issues of poverty. At the heart of those discussions were our concerns for the homeless and those who lived in substandard housing; those who suffered from HIV/AIDS; and the hungry. These conversations involved us in Habitat for Humanity, the AIDS Ministry, a weekly communal meal at the parish, and a food pantry. Those conversations have now moved outside this faith community.

Why now are we silent? Why have we forgotten the poor? Why now aren't we filling every moment with conversation about what needs to be done in our day and time? Why have we allowed apathy and the status quo sneak into our faith vision?

How do we awaken from our indifference? How do we reclaim our discipleship? What are the ways in which we may support one another in our ministries? What is the true focus of our lives?

The Feast of Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles

Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns and with you and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 73

On the Fact That the Full Observance of Justice Is Not Established in This Rule

Now we have written this Rule
in order that by its observance in monasteries
we may show that we have attained some degree of virtue
and the rudiments of the religious life.

But for those who would hasten to the perfection of that life
there are the teaching of the holy Fathers,
the observance of which leads to the height of perfection.
For what page or what utterance
of the divinely inspired books of the Old and New Testaments
is not a most unerring rule for human life?
Or what book of the holy Catholic Fathers
does not loudly proclaim
how we may come by a straight course to our Creator?
Then the Conferences and the Institutes
and the Lives of the Fathers,
as also the Rule of our holy Father Basil --
what else are they but tools of virtue
for right-living and obedient monks?
But for us who are lazy and ill-living and negligent
they are a source of shame and confusion.

Whoever you are, therefore,
who are hastening to the heavenly homeland,
fulfill with the help of Christ
this minimum Rule which we have written for beginners;
and then at length under God's protection
you will attain to the loftier heights of doctrine and virtue
which we have mentioned above.

Twenty-Third Day of Easter

Almighty God, you show the light of your truth to those who are in error, to the intent that they may return to the way of righteousness: Grant to those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to it; 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 72

On the Good Zeal Which They Ought to Have

Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness
which separates from God and leads to hell,
so there is a good zeal
which separates from vices and leads to God
and to life everlasting.
This zeal, therefore, the brothers should practice
with the most fervent love.
Thus they should anticipate one another in honor (Rom. 12:10);
most patiently endure one another's infirmities,
whether of body or of character;
vie in paying obedience one to another --
no one following what he considers useful for himself,
but rather what benefits another;
tender the charity of brethern chastely;
fear God in love;
love their Abbot with a sincere and humble charity;
prefer nothing whatever to Christ.
And may He bring us all together to life everlasting!

The Fourth Sunday of Easter

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with the you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 71

That the Brethren Be Obedient to One Another

Not only is the boon of obedience
to be shown by all to the Abbot,
but the brethren are also to obey one another,
knowing that by this road of obedience they are going to God.
Giving priority, therefore, to the commands of the Abbot
and of the Superior appointed by him
(to which we allow no private orders to be preferred),
for the rest
let all the juniors obey their seniors
with all charity and solicitude.
But if anyone is found contentious,
let him be corrected.

And if any brother,
for however small a cause,
is corrected in any way by the Abbot or by any of his Superiors,
or if he faintly perceives
that the mind of any Superior is angered or moved against him,
however little,
let him at once, without delay,
prostrate himself on the ground at his feet
and lie there making satisfaction
until that emotion is quieted with a blessing.
But if anyone should disdain to do this,
let him undergo corporal punishment
or, if he is stubborn, let him be expelled from the monastery.

A Fable: Sodomanians *

The Almighty spoke to Rabbi Ismus, Go now to the land of Sodomania and proclaim to the people of the south that I the Almighty love them.

Rabbi Ismus was deeply troubled. O Holy One Beyond All Knowing, you have no idea what you are asking. Do you not know who they are and what they do?

The Almighty spoke again to Rabbi Ismus, For too long these people have been denied their rights, they have been abused, persecuted, and some have been killed by the people of the north.

Rabbi Ismus was deeply perplexed for he was unable to fathom the words of the Holy One. Great and Holy One, he said, these people are sinners, they are vile in their relationships with one another, they commit obscene acts that you yourself denounced in your written word, they deserve to be separated, punished and shunned by the northern people.

The Almighty became perplexed and he responded to his prophet, you misread my word, you interpret the teaching with deaf ears and blind eyes. You hear harshness and judgment when I speak of love and community. You trouble yourself with divine things, when I created and redeemed human life. Stop wasting my time and pronounce the good news to the people of the south.

So Rabbi Ismus departed from the holy place and made his way by an abandoned road across the land of hypocrisy to the Sodomanians and there he lifted his voice: These are the very words of the Holy One: You are loved by God.

Immediately, the Sodomanians rejoiced and were exceedingly glad. They killed the fatted calf, prepared fresh vegetables, and gathered the wine stewards. They gave thanks to the Great One who they now knew as the Blessed One, the Father of All.

Rabbi Ismus, folded his arms and sat under a banana tree and cried: The world is not the same, even God is a revisionist. How will I ever believe again. I will remain here, I will not move, here I will die!

And so it was: The Anglophiles who had been debating whether or not the Sodomanians were a worthy people went their separate ways, there were those who defended God and there were those who had compassion for the outcasts; and so the fig tree withered ....

* apologies to the Prophet Jonah

Mystagogia #3

As Easter people we are to behold the new creation in the world and in ourselves; strengthened in the hope of the resurrection; living joyfully as children of our loving Father; renewed by the gracious gifts of life we have received; being grounded in the truth of the gospel with fidelity.

The Twenty-First Day of Easter

God our Father, by the waters of Baptism you give new life to the faithful. May we not succumb to the influence of evil but remain true to your gift of life through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 70

That No One Venture to Punish at Random

Every occasion of presumption
shall be avoided in the monastery,
and we decree that no one be allowed
to excommunicate or to strike any of his brothers
unless the Abbot has given him the authority.
Those who offend in this matter
shall be rebuked in the presence of all,
that the rest may have fear.

But children up to 15 years of age
shall be carefully controlled and watched by all,
yet this too with all moderation and discretion.
All, therefore, who presume
without the Abbot's instructions
to punish those above that age
or who lose their temper with them,
shall undergo the discipline of the Rule;
for it is written,
"Do not to another what you would not want done to yourself" (Tobias 4:16).

self-imposed excommunication

A great sadness of the church in this new century is the number of people within her Body who decide for whatever reason to no longer eat at the Table. Years ago, before the Reformation, it was a practice of the church to excommunicate those who were grave sinners in order to encourage them to repent. In this day, as the church seeks to embrace everyone, some of her members find openness so intolerable that they depart and move away from the Table.

Usually, the unhappy, angry, or disappointed depart without a word fading into society and the faith community is left to mourn their departure. It is as though they never were connected to the Life within the Body and unlike those that left they have no remorse. All of this goes on without a word, without dialogue, without a desire to interact with others in order to listen and to share one's pain in order that the Body may be enriched and strengthened.

I pray that these who 'wander the earth' in search for refreshing Bread and gladdening Wine will discover a new homeland, a faith community that is open wide to welcome them home.

The Twentieth Day of Easter

Father, by the love of your Spirit, may we who have experienced the grace of the Lord’s resurrection rise to the newness of life in joy 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 69

That the Monks Presume Not to Defend One Another

Care must be taken that no monk presume on any ground
to defend another monk in the monastery,
or as it were to take him under his protection,
even though they be united by some tie of blood-relationship.
Let not the monks dare to do this in any way whatsoever,
because it may give rise to most serious scandals.
But if anyone breaks this rule,
let him be severely punished.

The Nineteenth Day of Easter

Father, in this holy season we come to know the full depth of your love. You have freed us from the darkness of error and sin. Help us to cling to your truths with fidelity through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 68

If a Brother Is Commanded to Do Impossible Things

If it happens
that difficult or impossible tasks are laid on a brother,
let him nevertheless receive the order of the one in authority
with all meekness and obedience.
But if he sees that the weight of the burden
altogether exceeds the limit of his strength,
let him submit the reasons for his inability
to the one who is over him
in a quiet way and at an opportune time,
without pride, resistance, or contradiction.
And if after these representations
the Superior still persists in his decision and command,
let the subject know that this is for his good,
and let him obey out of love,
trusting in the help of God.

Sinfully Wrong

There is something gravely and sinfully wrong with a world where the division between the rich and the poor continues to expand, where some still live in palaces and recline on ivory couches while others starve outside their gates. In our day, the prophets still speak for a world where the hungry are fed, the ill are healed, where all children are educated and no one is denied the basic necessities of life.

+Katharine,
Presiding Bishop and Primate
of The Episcopal Church

A Secret Life

this town likes its secrets, so many masks worn to hid the pain, doors slammed shut to prevent the eye from seeing the truth, people separated, walled off from one another, unwilling to acknowledge the abyss within and around them, they push others away with a smile or a frown, shunning god, they hold to their fragile self respect in order not to become undone by their unveiled selves.

what is a little weird is that their masks are cracked, you can see their faces in their absence, in their silence, in their fear, and yet they will not come too close, hold back, desiring to remain under the fig leaf, waiting ....

A Poem: ICU

motionless
she laid
in her bed
staring into
the emptiness
of the room

hopeful and scared
following triple bypass
surgery and beginning
dialysis

pictures of family
on table
to her right

she smiled when
i acknowledged her
teddy bear

together we prayed.

Let us remember

The conscious of the world was destroyed by those who were wont to blame others rather than themselves. Let us remember. We revered the instincts but distrusted the prophets. We labored to perfect engines and let our inner life go to wreck. We ridiculed superstition until we lost the ability to believe. We have helped to extinguish the light our fathers had kindled. We have bartered holiness for convenience, loyalty for success, love for power, wisdom for information, tradition for fashion.

Abraham J. Heschel
Man's Quest for God

The Feast of Saint Mark the Apostle

Almighty God, by the hand of Mark the evangelist you have given to your Church the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God: We thank you for this witness, and pray that we may be firmly grounded in its truth; 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 67

On Brethren Who Are Sent on a Journey

Let the brethren who are sent on a journey
commend themselves
to the prayers of all the brethren and of the Abbot;
and always at the last prayer of the Work of God
let a commemoration be made of all absent brethren.

When brethren return from a journey,
at the end of each canonical Hour of the Work of God
on the day they return,
let them lie prostrate on the floor of the oratory
and beg the prayers of all
on account of any faults
that may have surprised them on the road,
through the seeing or hearing of something evil,
or through idle talk.
And let no one presume to tell another
whatever he may have seen or heard outside of the monastery,
because this causes very great harm.
But if anyone presumes to do so,
let him undergo the punishment of the Rule.
And let him be punished likewise who would presume
to leave the enclosure of the monastery
and go anywhere or do anything, however small,
without an order from the Abbot.

The Seventeenth Day of Easter

Father, you opened the kingdom of heaven to those born again by water and the Spirit. Increase your gift of love in us. May all who have been freed from sin in baptism receive all that you have promised through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 66

On the Porters of the Monastery

At the gate of the monastery
let there be placed a wise old man,
who knows how to receive and to give a message,
and whose maturity will prevent him from straying about.
This porter should have a room near the gate,
so that those who come may always find someone at hand
to attend to their business.
And as soon as anyone knocks or a poor person hails him,
let him answer "Thanks be to God" or "A blessing!"
Then let him attend to them promptly,
with all the meekness inspired by the fear of God
and with the warmth of charity.

Should the porter need help,
let him have one of the younger brothers.

If it can be done,
the monastery should be so established
that all the necessary things,
such as water, mill, garden and various workshops,
may be within the enclosure,
so that there is no necessity
for the brothers to go about outside of it,
since that is not at all profitable for their souls.

We desire that this Rule be read often in the community,
so that none of the brothers may excuse himself
on the ground of ignorance.

Is This The Church For You?

"They have too much fun. They don't dress like church people. There are too many children. Even teenagers like going to church now. They make the Bible interesting. The pastor tells jokes. Their music doesn't sound like church music. You might actually understand what's going on. They aren't after your money. And who ever heard of going to church in a movie theater?"

For once, I have absolutely no comment!!!

Is There An Answer?

We will never know the hidden suffering of the murderer who massacred twenty-seven students and five teachers on Monday, April 16th. We know already of his insanity and his suicidal tendencies, but within the quiet, sullen Mr. Cho, lived a terrible fear unexpressed and repressed. I can't begin to imagine the psychic pressure that he used to hold within himself the turbulent emotions that would not be contained for ever. Such suffering continued to isolate him more and more from human community, he was indifferent to those about him, he was impossible to reach.

If only he could have found a language that would have led him out of his incomprehensible suffering that made him mute - a language of lament, a cry - a language which at last would define his situation. Indeed, being speechless, walled off from others, is death. A dreadful hell lived within him.

His crude writings in English Class expressed only the outer boundaries of a life so hidden that the day would come that he would explode.

The Sixteenth Day of Easter

Let your people, O Lord, rejoice for ever that they have been renewed in spirit, and let the joy of our adoption as your sons and daughters strengthen the hope of our glorious resurrection in 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 65

On the Prior of the Monastery

To us, therefore, it seems expedient
for the preservation of peace and charity
that the Abbot have in his hands
the full administration of his monastery.
And if possible let all the affairs of the monastery,
as we have already arranged,
be administered by deans according to the Abbot's directions.
Thus, with the duties being shared by several,
no one person will become proud.

But if the circumstances of the place require it,
or if the community asks for it with reason and with humility,
and the Abbot judges it to be expedient,
let the Abbot himself constitute as his Prior
whomsoever he shall choose
with the counsel of God-fearing brethren.

That Prior, however, shall perform respectfully
the duties enjoined on him by his Abbot
and do nothing against the Abbot's will or direction;
for the more he is raised above the rest,
the more carefully should he observe the precepts of the Rule.

If it should be found that the Prior has serious faults,
or that he is deceived by his exaltation and yields to pride,
or if he should be proved to be a despiser of the Holy Rule,
let him be admonished verbally up to four times.
If he fails to amend,
let the correction of regular discipline be applied to him.
But if even then he does not reform,
let him be deposed from the office of Prior
and another be appointed in his place who is worthy of it.
And if afterwards he is not quiet and obedient in the community,
let him even be expelled from the monastery.
But the Abbot, for his part, should bear in mind
that he will have to render an account to God
for all his judgments,
lest the flame of envy or jealousy be kindled in his soul.

The Third Sunday of Easter

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of the bread: Open the eyes of our faith, taht we may behold him in all his redeeming work: who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

A Prayer for the Presence of Christ:

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of the bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 65

On the Prior of the Monastery

It happens all too often that the constituting of a Prior
gives rise to grave scandals in monasteries.
For there are some who become inflated with the evil spirit of pride
and consider themselves second Abbots.
By usurping power
they foster scandals and cause dissensions in the community.
Especially does this happen
in those places where the Prior is constituted
by the same Bishop or the same Abbots
who constitute the Abbot himself.
What an absurd procedure this is
can easily be seen;
for it gives the Prior an occasion for becoming proud
from the very time of his constitution,
by putting the thought into his mind
that he is freed from the authority of his Abbot:
"For," he will say to himself, "you were constituted
by the same persons who constitute the Abbot."
From this source are stirred up envy, quarrels, detraction,
rivalry, dissensions and disorders.
For while the Abbot and the Prior are at variance,
their souls cannot but be endangered by this dissension;
and those who are under them,
currying favor with one side or the other,
go to ruin.
The guilt for this dangerous state of affairs
rests on the heads of those
whose action brought about such disorder.

To "Anonymous"

"Anonymous" comments will no longer be posted on this blog in order to aid in open and free dialogue and the free exchange of ideas. Thank you for your understanding.

In the Breaking of the Bread

Every Eucharist is introduced with the reminder that the sacrament of Jesus' self-gift originates "in the same night he was betrayed." Those who eat at Jesus' table are his betrayers, then as now, yet from the death and hell to which our betrayal condemns him, he returns to break bread with us as before. It is no simple fellowship meal.

All meals with Jesus after Calvary speak of the restoration of a fellowship broken by human infidelity: the wounded body and shed blood are inescapably present. We do not eucharistically remember a distant meal in Jerusalem, nor even a distant death, we are made 'present to ourselves' as people complicit in the betrayal and death of Jesus and yet still called and accepted, still companions of Christ - those who break bread with him. When the Church performs the eucharistic action it is what it is called to be: The Easter Community, guilty and restored, the gathering of those whose identity is defined by their new relation to Jesus crucified and risen, who identify themselves as forgiven. What happens in the eucharist is that the Church assembles simply to make this identification in praise and gratitude, and to show in concrete form its dependence on Christ. It is an action which announces what the community's life means, where the activity radically opens to the creative activity of God in Jesus. Every sacrament is a sharing in Easter, in the paschal mystery. All their betrayals are to be understood as betrayals of him, and through that understanding comes forgiveness and hope.

Philippe Rouillard, From Human Meal to Christian Eucharist

Can Doctrine Develop?

When Saint Augustine of Hippo developed the doctrine of original sin in the fifth century, he said that due to the iniquity of our first parents all children who died before they were baptized were destined to hell. In the Middle Ages, this doctrine was soften suggesting that the unbaptized would dwell in a suspended state, neither in hell nor heaven. Their eternal address would be "limbo" coming from the Latin "limbus" meaning 'hem' or 'edge' suggesting that the child would share in a state of natural happiness outside heaven.

For several years the Roman Church has been studying this teaching and fifteen years ago removed it from their catechism. However, this restrictive view of salvation has finally been put to rest under the authority of Benedict VI of Rome. The new study states that there are "serious theological and liturgical grounds for hope that unbaptized infants who die will be saved and brought into eternal happiness."

As a more open and broad understanding of salvation takes hold within the church the critics are complaining that removing the teaching of limbo will discourage the christening of infants, making baptism a formality and not a necessity, and no longer will there be an argument to present to parents who make the agonizing decision to abort the fetus, because without limbo those fetuses will no longer be denied communion with God.

What do we make of this development of doctrine? Do you think it is possible for other doctrine to be developed that would present a more open, inclusive, invitation to salvation and human wholeness?

Mystagogia #2

United in faith and love, through the Paschal Mystery, of our Lord's dying and rising, we may overcome the demonic forces within the world, remain faithful to the gift of grace that we have received being assured of our salvation. May our lives reveal true liberty and enjoy the happiness of heaven that we have already begun to taste and experience on earth, being able to express with our lives the reason for the hope that is within us.

Feast of Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Almighty God, you raised up your servant Anselm to teach the Church of his day to understand its faith in your eternal Being, perfect justice, and saving mercy. Provide your Church in every age with devout and learned scholars and teachers, that we may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us; 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

Once he has been constituted,
let the Abbot always bear in mind
what a burden he has undertaken
and to whom he will have to give an account of his stewardship,
and let him know that his duty is rather to profit his brothers
than to preside over them.
Hhe must therefore be learned in the divine law,
that he may have a treasure of knowledge
from which to bring forth new things and old.
Hhe must be chaste, sober and merciful.
Let him exalt mercy above judgment,
that he himself may obtain mercy.
He should hate vices;
He should love the brethern.

In administering correction
He should act prudently and not go to excess,
lest in seeking too eagerly to scrape off the rust
He break the vessel.
Let him keep his own frailty ever before his eyes
and remember that the bruised reed must not be broken.
By this we do not mean that he should allow vices to grow;
on the contrary, as we have already said,
he should eradicate them prudently and with charity,
in the way which may seem best in each case.
Let him study rather to be loved than to be feared.

Let him not be excitable and worried,
nor exacting and headstrong,
nor jealous and over-suspicious;
for then he is never at rest.

In his commands let him be prudent and considerate;
and whether the work which he enjoins
concerns God or the world,
let him be discreet and moderate,
bearing in mind the discretion of holy Jacob, who said,
"If I cause my flocks to be overdriven,
they will all die in one day."
Taking this, then, and other examples of discretion,
the mother of virtues,
let him so temper all things
that the strong may have something to strive after,
and the weak may not fall back in dismay.

And especially let him keep this Rule in all its details,
so that after a good ministry
he may hear from the Lord what the good servant heard
who gave the fellow-servants wheat in due season:
"Indeed, I tell you, he will set that one over all his goods" (Matt. 24:27).

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.

Finding Strength

Last night several of us gathered to remember those who had died or were wounded at Virginia Tech on Monday, to lift them up in prayer, to pray for their families and loved ones, and to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving in the eucharistic meal. The liturgy with its timeless quality drew us close to the suffering and gave us an opportunity to grieve the great loss of life at the university. We rejoiced that among us was a student from Virginia Tech, one of our own, and her parents. Her presence with us gave us an opportunity to live more deeply into the realities of this past week. May we continue to hold in our prayers and hearts those whose lives have been altered for ever by this tragedy.

Feast of Saint Alphege of Canterbury

O loving God, your martyr bishop Alphege of Canterbury suffered violent death when he refused to permit a ransom to be extorted from his people: Grant that all pastors of your flock may pattern themselves on the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep; and who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict

On the Order of the Community

The juniors, therefore, should honor their seniors,
and the seniors love their juniors.

In the very manner of address,
let no one call another by the mere name;
but let the seniors call their juniors Brothers,
and the juniors call their seniors Fathers,
by which is conveyed the reverence due to a father.
But the Abbot,
since he is believed to represent Christ,
shall be called Lord and Abbot,
not for any pretensions of his own
but out of honor and love for Christ.
Let the Abbot himself reflect on this,
and show himself worthy of such an honor.

And wherever the brethren meet one another
the junior shall ask the senior for his blessing.
When a senior passes by,
a junior shall rise and give him a place to sit,
nor shall the junior presume to sit with him
unless his senior bid him,
that it may be as was written,
"In honor anticipating one another."

Boys, both small and adolescent,
shall keep strictly to their rank in oratory and at table.
But outside of that, wherever they may be,
let them be under supervision and discipline,
until they come to the age of discretion.

The Eleventh Day of Easter

Grant, O Lord, that we may so live in the Paschal mystery that the joy of these fifty days may continually strengthen us, and assure us of our salvation; through Jesus Christ your Son 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 63

On the Order of the Community

Let all keep their places in the monastery
established by the time of their entrance,
the merit of their lives and the decision of the Abbot.
Yet the Abbot must not disturb the flock committed to him,
nor by an arbitrary use of his power ordain anything unjustly;
but let him always think
of the account he will have to render to God
for all his decisions and his deeds.

Therefore in that order which he has established
or which they already had,
let the brethren approach to receive the kiss of peace and Communion,
intone the Psalms and stand in choir.
And in no place whatever should age decide the order
or be prejudicial to it;
for Samuel and Daniel as mere boys judged priests.

Except for those already mentioned, therefore,
whom the Abbot has promoted by a special decision
or demoted for definite reasons,
all the rest shall take their order
according to the time of their entrance.
Thus, for example,
he who came to the monastery at the second hour of the day,
whatever be his age or his dignity,
must know that he is junior
to one who came at the first hour of the day.
Boys, however, are to be kept under discipline
in all matters and by everyone.

Receiving Holy Communion

Several Sundays ago, a parishioner asked about the correct way to receive the eucharistic bread and wine. Tradition informs us that we are to receive "into our hands" the Sacrament of the Lord's Body; we should not receive it with our fingers, nor with one hand only. Our practice comes from the teaching of Cyril of Jerusalem, 382 AD, "by making the left hand a throne for the right, and hollowing the palm of the right to receive the Body of Christ, " by placing the left hand under the right, both hands being held open and lifting them together to be received by the mouth. Also, it is proper to use the hands, guiding the chalice, in the reception of the Blood of Christ.

Though one may receive only the consecrated Bread (since the Real Presence of Christ is manifested in both the Bread and the Wine), the Chalice has its own special grace - "the grace of gladdening." As a physical banquet is incomplete without drink, so Christ's Spiritual Banquet can only be completely enjoyed, with entire satisfaction for the soul, if to spiritual eating is added spiritual drinking. Indeed the common cup powerfully suggests human fellowship of an intimate, unselfish, generous, and uplifting nature.

(Some notes drawn from Liturgy and Worship: A Companion to the Prayer Books of the Anglican Communion, 1964>

A Poem: death came ....

death came
to blacksburg
yesterday
in a cloud of
murderous rage
as children
were slaughtered
in the academic halls
of a university.

death came
to blacksburg
yesterday
as Seung-Hui Cho
"a normal looking kid"
they say fired rounds
of ammunition in
dorm and classroom
brutalizing, terrorizing,
destroying human life.

death came
to blacksburg
yesterday
and we yearn
to know why;
our grief is unrelenting
our sorrow weighty
with tormenting emptiness.

death came
to our children
yesterday
in the blackness
of gun powder
and the horror
of madness.

death came,
death came,
my God, my God why ....?

The Tenth Day of Easter

O God, by the waters of Baptism you have renewed those who believe in you: Come to the help of those who have been reborn in Christ, that they may overcome the wiles of the devil, and continue faithful to the gifts of grace they have received from you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, wo lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 62

On the Priests of the Monastery

If an Abbot desire
to have a priest or a deacon ordained for his monastery,
let him choose one
who is worthy to exercise the priestly office.

But let the one who is ordained
beware of self-exaltation or pride;
and let him not presume to do anything
except what is commanded him by the Abbot,
knowing that he is so much the more subject
to the discipline of the Rule.
Nor should he by reason of his priesthood forget
the obedience and the discipline required by the Rule,
but make ever more and more progress towards God.

Let him always keep the place which he received
on entering the monastery,
except in his duties at the altar
or in case the choice of the community and the will of the Abbess
should promote him for the worthiness of his life.
Yet he must understand
that he is to observe the rules laid down by deans and Priors.

Should he presume to act otherwise,
let him be judged not as a priest but as a rebel.
And if he does not reform after repeated admonitions,
let even the Bishop be brought in as a witness.
If then he still fails to amend,
and his offenses are notorious,
let him be put out of the monastery,
but only if his contumacy is such
that he refuses to submit or to obey the Rule.

A Day of Horror

We can't imagine what it was like to be on the campus of Virginia Tech today when a lone gunman opened fire killing at least 31 people and wounding 29. Those reporting, not knowing what to say have already sensationalized the events by calling it "the deadliest campus shooting" in American history. I am unable to even begin to get my thoughts around this unfathomable thing that has happened. Most of those responding to the events of the morning are speaking out against the NRA, as well as, violence and sex in our media. Only one response was a prayer from a Jewish reader. It will take all of us sometime to comprehend this tragedy. What would cause one human being to destroy human life? What is our response as people of faith to such a barbaric act? How are we affected by the unspeakable? Will our lives be changed by this event? Or will we forget about this horror as the weeks go by? May we pray for the children who were killed and their parents and families. May we pray for the killer and his family? May we pray for the university and all the students and faculty. May we ask Christ to help us to understand and interpret the unimaginable.

Benedictine Spirituality: Hospitality

Reading the Holy Rule must at times appear rather archaic for we find ourselves far from living under discipline and obedience. However, in the midst of what at times must sound harsh and intolerant there is a wonderful spirit of hospitality that we as a parish, or any community of faith, must learn to embrace.

The rule calls the community to receive a guest as Christ, to show honor, charity, humility, kindness toward the stranger, to share the peace of Christ and the Word of God with those who have arrived; and to show even greater care and solicitude toward the poor. All guests and pilgrims are welcome at the Abbot's table giving them seats of honor and respect.

Those who desire to enter for the amendment of life are to test the spirits to see if their desire is of God; and priests desiring to enter must come without any expectation or desiring special treatment, but must take their place among the community. Once living within the monastic community, guest and pilgrims are to respect the communal life of the brothers.

How does such a spirituality of hospitality reflect our own welcoming of those who come among us? What do we need to do to share Christ's love with the stranger? How welcoming are we to the poor when they come through our doors?

The Ninth Day of Easter

O God, you have united diverse peoples in the confession of your Name: Grant that all who have been born again in the font of Baptism may also be united in faith and love; 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 61

How Pilgrim Monks Are To Be Received

But if as a guest he was found exacting or prone to vice,
not only should he be denied membership in the community,
but he should even be politely requested to leave,
lest others be corrupted by his evil life.

If, however, she has not proved to be the kind
who deserves to be put out,
he should not only on his own application be received
as a member of the community,
but he should even be persuaded to stay,
that the others may be instructed by his example,
and because in every place it is the same Lord who is served,
the same King for whom the battle is fought.

Moreover, if the Abbot perceives that he is worthy,
he may put him in a somewhat higher rank.
the Abbot may establish them in a higher rank
than would be theirs by date of entrance
if he perceives that their life is deserving.

Let the Abbot take care, however,
never to receive a brother from another known monastery
as a member of his community
without the consent of his Abbot or a letter of recommendation;
for it is written,
"Do not to another what you would not want done to yourself" (Tob. 4:16).

Second Sunday of Easter

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith, 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 61

How Pilgrim Monks Are To Be Received

If a pilgrim monastic 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
and does not disturb the monastery by superfluous demands,
but is simply content with what he finds.
If, however, he censures or points out anything reasonably
and with the humility of charity,
let the Abbot consider prudently
whether perhaps it was for that very purpose
that the Lord sent him.

If afterwards he should want to bind himself to stability,
his wish should not be denied him,
especially since there has been opportunity
during his stay as a guest
to discover his character.

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.

They Waited

she was gone
transfixed they stood
unable to move
unable to take
it all in;

as though they
hadn't expected it
even though they
knew she was ill;

into empty space
they stared, unable
to release her form
still in the bed
they spoke to her
as if she were
still there;

the grief was palpable
not knowing what
to do now they
waited for her
to tell them
that all will be well
and that they
could go on living.

The Sixth Day of Easter

Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 59

On the Sons of Nobles and of the Poor Who Are Offered

If anyone of the nobility
offers his son to God in the monastery
and the boy is very young,
let his parents draw up the document which we mentioned above;
and at the oblation
let them wrap the document itself and the boy's hand in the altar cloth.
That is how they offer him.

As regards their property,
they shall promise in the same petition under oath
that they will never of themselves, or through an intermediary,
or in any way whatever,
give him anything
or provide him with the opportunity of owning anything.
Or else,
if they are unwilling to do this,
and if they want to offer something as an alms to the monastery
for their advantage,
let them make a donation
of the property they wish to give to the monastery,
reserving the income to themselves if they wish.
And in this way let everything be barred,
so that the boy may have no expectations
whereby (which God forbid) he might be deceived and ruined,
as we have learned by experience.

Let those who are less well-to-do make a similar offering.
But those who have nothing at all
shall simply draw up the document
and offer their son before witnesses at the oblation.

Divine Silence

between the dying
and the helplessness
of the one who keeps vigil:
in the silence is God.

between the brokenness
of a relationship; the
pain of rejection;
the hopelessness
of closure:
in the silence is God.

between the human madness
of war, the dying of young men
and women on the battle field
and the prayers for peace:
in the silence is God.

between all human indifference
to poverty and the cry of
those who suffering:
in the silence is God.

between the tears of the repentant
and the joy of the forgiven:
in the silence is God.

death shows no partiality

he laid
in the hospital bed
that had been
brought to the house.

the sheet and blanket
draped his naked body,
hairless due to
the chemo.

some time he
was found sleeping,
and other times
entertaining:
wearing wigs,
trying on umiaks,
clutching rosaries;
loving his friends,
longing
not to loose them
in death;
frustrated that
he was still
here.

rest in peace,
new friend.

transformation of an illness

she is quiet now
resting in her hospital bed
breathing gently
the oxygen
that she needs;

she is weak,
but eager to be removed
from the ICU
to a room below.
She hopes it will
be tomorrow.

her spirit awakens
when one comes into
the room,
she asks about others
and for a moment
forgets herself
and her illness.

to be with her for
a moment is to be
ministered to;
to sit with her for
awhile is to
know the presence
of Christ in the room;
to rest with her
is to know that you
both are in the
hands of a loving Father.

Clouds On The Horizon

It really goes without saying that the Anglican Communion is quaking all over the world. You would have thought that after Adam and Eve were driven from the garden of Eden that the issues regarding sexuality would have been settled and the faithful would be able to respond to God's call to mission; but the evil one has other plans for us and we will simply have to live through the turbulence that we are presently facing. What has set the Episcopal Church apart from the rest of the Anglican Communion was the ordination of women to the priesthood in 1974; the ordination of an openly gay man as the Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003; and the enthronement of the first female Presiding Bishop within the Communion in 2006. Because of the actions of the Episcopal Church we find ourselves being punished by many within the Communion, even within our own country with several parishes withdrawing from their diocese in order to place themselves under the pastoral care of an African Bishop. Even within our own parish, several who are unhappy about the church's direction have decided that they need to leave and to find a spiritual home in "less" troubling waters.

Is is very sad when the Body of Christ becomes broken by forces that are dark and divisive. When people can no longer talk or listen to one another, and draw lines in the sand, as if they can live without one another. I have always believed that "truth" is to be found "between" and not in any one (supposed) authority; and that it is only through dialogue that people begin to see things differently.

In this Easter Season it is important for people of faith to reflect together on what they truly believe. Christianity is about grace and not simply about morality. It is about Christ on the Cross forgiving us before we knew what we were doing. It is about a love that will not let us go, but claims us for all eternity. If we are truly God's people we will do all we can to invite those who have left home. Yet we must remember that such an invitation is the message of the Good News itself, proclaiming hope to a darkening world.

The Fifth Day of Easter

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; 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 58

On the Manner of Receiving Brothers

When he is to be received
he promises before all in the oratory
stability,
fidelity to monastic life
and obedience.
This promise he shall make before God and His Saints,
so that if he should ever act otherwise,
he may know that he will be condemned by Him whom he mocks.
Of this promise of his let him draw up a document
in the name of the Saints whose relics are there
and of the Abbot who is present.
Let him write this document with his own hand;
or if he is illiterate, let another write it at his request,
and let the novice put his mark to it.
Then let him place it with his own hand upon the altar;
and when he has placed it there,
let the novice at once intone this verse:
"Receive me, O Lord, according to Your word, and I shall live:
and let me not be confounded in my hope" (Ps. 118[119]:116).
Let the whole community answer this verse three times
and add the "Glory be to the Father."
Then let the novice prostrate himself at each one's feet,
that they may pray for him.
And from that day forward
let him be counted as one of the community.

If he has any property,
let him either give it beforehand to the poor
or by solemn donation bestow it on the monastery,
reserving nothing at all for himself,
as indeed he knows that from that day forward
he will no longer have power even over his own body.
At once, therefore, in the oratory,
let him be divested of his own clothes which he is wearing
and dressed in the clothes of the monastery.
But let the clothes of which he was divested
be put aside in the wardrobe and kept there.
Then if he should ever listen to the persuasions of the devil
and decide to leave the monastery (which God forbid),
he may be divested of the monastic clothes and cast out.
His document, however,
which the Abbot has taken from the altar,
shall not be returned to him, but shall be kept in the monastery.

A Silent Alleluia

alone
underneath or behind
where the tendrils lift
and give shape
the young pillow
attached itself
and weaved from
its own body,
as if to give its
very best,
a tomb
made of silk,
where it
laid ever so still
until the chrysalis
hardened and where
the metamorphosis began
to unveil
the beauty of
a butterfly.

The Fourth Day of Easter

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of the bread: Open the eyes of our faith that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; 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 58

On the Manner of Receiving Brothers

When anyone is newly come for the reformation of his life,
let him not be granted an easy entrance;
but, as the Apostle says,
"Test the spirits to see whether they are from God."
If the newcomer, therefore, perseveres in his knocking,
and if it is seen after four or five days
that he bears patiently the harsh treatment offered him
and the difficulty of admission,
and that he persists in his petition,
then let entrance be granted him,
and let him stay in the guest house for a few days.

After that let him live in the novitiate,
where the novices study, eat and sleep.
A senior shall be assigned to them who is skilled in winning souls,
to watch over them with the utmost care.
Let him examine whether the novice is truly seeking God,
and whether he is zealous
for the Work of God, for obedience and for trials.
Let the novice be told all the hard and rugged ways
by which the journey to God is made.

If he promises stability and perseverance,
then at the end of two months
let this rule be read through to him,
and let him be addressed thus:
"Here is the law under which you wish to fight.
If you can observe it, enter;
if you cannot, you are free to depart."
If he still stands firm,
let him be taken to the above-mentioned novitiate
and again tested in all patience.
And after the lapse of six months let the Rule be read to him,
that he may know on what he is entering.
And if he still remains firm,
after four months let the same Rule be read to him again.

Then, having deliberated with himself,
if ahe promises to keep it in its entirety
and to observe everything that is commanded,
let him be received into the community.
But let him understand that,
according to the law of the Rule,
from that day forward he may not leave the monastery
nor withdraw his neck from under the yoke of the Rule
which he was free to refuse or to accept
during that prolonged deliberation.

Mystagogia: The Great Sabbath

The Great Sabbath stretches from Easter Day until the Day of Pentecost. These Great Fifty Days signify (in the words of Thomas Merton) the eternal day of heaven. As we await the coming gift of the Holy Spirit on Whitsunday, the church spends its time reflecting on the events of the Triduum, the Great Paschal Days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday (the first announcement of the Resurrection after dark). This Great Octave of the Christian Year provides the faithful time to assimilate the mystery of their redemption and to take into themselves the risen Lord. As the Jews were brought forth out of their bondage in Egypt, across the Red Sea, into the wilderness and into the Promised Land; so we are brought forth from our bondage to sin and death and drawn into the very life of Christ through faith.

The Third Day of Easter

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence, and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 57

On the Artisans of the Monastery

If there are artisans in the monastery,
let them practice their crafts with all humility,
provided the Abbot has given permission.
But if any one of them becomes conceited
over his skill in his craft,
because he seems to be conferring a benefit on the monastery,
let him be taken from his craft
and no longer exercise it unless,
after he has humbled himself,
the Abbot again gives him permission.

If any of the work of the craftsmen is to be sold,
those responsible for the sale
must not dare to practice any fraud.
Let them always remember Ananias and Saphira,
who incurred bodily death (Acts 5:1-11),
lest they and all who perpetrate fraud
in monastery affairs
suffer spiritual death.
And in the prices let not the sin of avarice creep in,
but let the goods always be sold a little cheaper
than they can be sold by people in the world,
"that in all things God may be glorified" (1 Peter 4:11).

The Second Day of Easter

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 56

On the Abbot's Table

Let the Abbot's table always be with the guests
and the pilgrims. But when there are no guests,
let it be in his power to invite whom he will of the brothers.
Yet one or two seniors must always be left with the others
for the sake of discipline.

Early Dawn

It was still dark as I arrived at the parish this morning. There is a wonderful stillness when you enter the church in the early morning, a gentle sense of hospitality surrounds you as you move from the outer door toward the chancel. You can feel almost a mysterious invitation to come, pray, sit awhile. The altar guild, who had feverishly worked so hard yesterday making sure that everything was just so for the Easter liturgies were now gone, everything is readied. I don't think I ever remember the church looking so beautiful and so inviting to guest and parishioner. The bird's song is beginning to break the stillness, announcing the first Allelulia of the new day. Soon people will begin to gather, most likely it will be a larger congregation than most Sundays: visitors from out of town, grandparents or children visiting, occasional worshipers will make their way in through the narthex as they did at the time of the celebration of our Lord's birth. Many will have come, expecting to hear some good news, and yet they were not present on Good Friday, they don't really know the story of their own rebirth into God that took place on a Cross near the city. It is only when they understand the profound terror and grief that took place on that day that they will begin to understand the fresh newness and power of the resurrection to transform mortal lives. I can only pray that they will leave with just a glimpse of renewed hope, faith, and love; that they will awaken to the beauty around them, that they will begin to know a God who without partiality embraces even the most unloved. May this Easter fill us with eternal joy!

Easter Day

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

BCP, page 222

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 55

On the Clothes and Shoes of the Brethren

For bedding let this suffice:
a mattress, a blanket, a coverlet and a pillow.

The beds, moreover, are to be examined frequently by the Abbot,
to see if any private property be found in them.
If anyone should be found to have something
that he did not receive from the Abbot,
let him undergo the most severe discipline.

And in order that this vice of private ownership
may be cut out by the roots,
the Abbot should provide all the necessary articles:
cowl, tunic, stockings, shoes, belt,
knife, stylus, needle, handkerchief, writing tablets;
that all pretext of need may be taken away.
Yet the Abbot should always keep in mind
the sentence from the Acts of the Apostles
that "distribution was made to each according as anyone had need" (Acts 4:35).
In this manner, therefore,
let the Abbot consider weaknesses of the needy
and not the ill-will of the envious.
But in all his decisions
let him think about the retribution of God.