Yesterday, September 29th, 2010, the Feast Day of St. Michael and All Angels, marks for me one year since my formal Oblation in the way of St. Benedict at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia. While praying in the stalls amongst this group of Cisterican (Trappist) monks yesterday, I looked up into the ceiling of the Abbey church which was built with beautiful wood - the image I imagined was the ceiling being the bow of a ship - and the monks rowing us towards Christ with their lives of prayer.
I can share with those of you who peek into this blogsite, that this gift of formal affiliation has been life giving. Participating in the daily practice of Opus Dei and lectio Divina has provided, in fact created, space for me in which to cultivate the seeds of contemplation in and through the active participation of listening for God.
As Oblates our calling forth is to go into the spiritual well of the monastery, and then come out sharing with love the spiritual water with the world in our parishes and communities. Through daily prayer and lectio, woven together by the practice of scriptio divina, I learn to listen with the ear of my heart. My prayer is that I may share this Way of life; the spiritual life - life itself.
Jesus, understood as the Christ - the spiritual Essence of God, allows us into the mystery of the eternal. The before, the now, the time yet to come of my life connected to the spiritual saints of Christ. "Seeing" this revelation, just as "the disciple Jesus loved" experienced, allows us to build up, feast upon the love, knowledge, Sophia (Wisdom) - in and through our spiritual lives. We are spiritual beings; Christ amongst us.
Certainly noteworthy: Today marks the memory of St. Jerome, Presbyter and Doctor of the Church; as well as my calendar birthday, number 50 plus 1 today. However, interestingly my birthday seemed as though it was celebrated yesterday. My birth into the way, the way of St. Benedict, through my ora et labora into the Way of Christ - as an Oblate, with a prayerful and contemplative commitment to life in Christ. Thanks be to God.
pax
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE SAINT(s)
In this historical weekend of unity demonstrated with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to England, and specifically at Westminster Abbey with Archbishop Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the Anglican communion, marked for us the deep spiritual roots which we share in love of Christ.
Archbishop Williams, in his address to the Pope and all who were in attendance, highlighted St. Benedict in the following exert:
"St Gregory was the first to spell out...the magnitude of the gift given to Christ's Church through the life of St. Benedict...who, through a relatively brief Rule of Life, opened up for the whole civilization of Europe since the sixth century the possibility of living in joy and mutual service, in simplicity and self-denial, in a balanced pattern of labor and prayer in which every moment spoke of human dignity fully realized in surrender to a loving God. The Benedictine life proved a sure foundation not only for generations of monks and nuns, but for an entire culture in which productive work and contemplative silence and receptivity-human dignity and human freedom-were both honored."
The Archbishop has called out for us as Christians to stand upon the shoulders of the Saint; to participate in a Way of life that is in fact life giving. To understand the vision of St. Benedict for humanity in his Rule of Life; which later became known as the Rule of St. Benedict. To allow for our lives to become formed in The Way of love; as put forth in understanding and practicing by way of the rule as a trellis.
For those of us who are seeking to live a life as Oblates, we have been called into this historic weekend, to recognize the significance of living in this Way of life; it's magnitude upon both our lives and the Church. Our lives and our practices form who we are; who we become. I am thankful that two spiritual giants who live in our time - share the love of St. Benedict - and the Saint's love of Christ and humanity. St. Benedict lived his life in The Way that provided space for imagination to impact an entire world. He did this in his community; let us do our humble part in ours. We pray our lives as Oblates can share with others this vision the monks have given us as a gift to share with the world we live in.
We give thanks today for the Beatification of John Henry Newman, prominent in the Anglican and Roman Catholic world as a spiritual leader of his time. His life having provided a living bridge from which to stand upon; above turbulent waters of differences. Today we are able to stand upon the shoulders of these two spiritual leaders and saints; able to stand and see The Sacrament of Unity.
As this day is marked in history - I personally give thanks for your life son - happy birthday Z.
pax
Archbishop Williams, in his address to the Pope and all who were in attendance, highlighted St. Benedict in the following exert:
"St Gregory was the first to spell out...the magnitude of the gift given to Christ's Church through the life of St. Benedict...who, through a relatively brief Rule of Life, opened up for the whole civilization of Europe since the sixth century the possibility of living in joy and mutual service, in simplicity and self-denial, in a balanced pattern of labor and prayer in which every moment spoke of human dignity fully realized in surrender to a loving God. The Benedictine life proved a sure foundation not only for generations of monks and nuns, but for an entire culture in which productive work and contemplative silence and receptivity-human dignity and human freedom-were both honored."
The Archbishop has called out for us as Christians to stand upon the shoulders of the Saint; to participate in a Way of life that is in fact life giving. To understand the vision of St. Benedict for humanity in his Rule of Life; which later became known as the Rule of St. Benedict. To allow for our lives to become formed in The Way of love; as put forth in understanding and practicing by way of the rule as a trellis.
For those of us who are seeking to live a life as Oblates, we have been called into this historic weekend, to recognize the significance of living in this Way of life; it's magnitude upon both our lives and the Church. Our lives and our practices form who we are; who we become. I am thankful that two spiritual giants who live in our time - share the love of St. Benedict - and the Saint's love of Christ and humanity. St. Benedict lived his life in The Way that provided space for imagination to impact an entire world. He did this in his community; let us do our humble part in ours. We pray our lives as Oblates can share with others this vision the monks have given us as a gift to share with the world we live in.
We give thanks today for the Beatification of John Henry Newman, prominent in the Anglican and Roman Catholic world as a spiritual leader of his time. His life having provided a living bridge from which to stand upon; above turbulent waters of differences. Today we are able to stand upon the shoulders of these two spiritual leaders and saints; able to stand and see The Sacrament of Unity.
As this day is marked in history - I personally give thanks for your life son - happy birthday Z.
pax
Friday, August 13, 2010
Lectio Divina : reading as a sacrament
St. Benedict saw the sacred reading of the scriptures as a source for spiritual energy, allowing us to experience the presence of God by the otherness and mystery of Christ; and Christ in others. This differs greatly from reading engaged in a form of direct learning, intellectual stimulation or pure enjoyment, which are done specifically for ourselves. While the Rule of St. Benedict (RSB) provides a trellis for spiritual formation and development, Lectio Divina allows for the soil (soul ) of our lives to be enriched every day in its’ practice of seeking the Divine. As Michael Casey so eloquently puts it, “Lectio Divina is an element in a lifelong process of turning toward God.”
We engage our intellect, memory, conscience and spirit in the daily practice of Lectio Divina. This is accomplished through the four spheres or cornerstones of Lectio (reading), Meditatio (meditation), Oratio (prayer), and Contemplatio (contemplation). However it is understood by the great monastic fathers that have come before us that prayer is present throughout these four fluid spheres which make up Lectio Divina; becoming prayer itself.
Prayer, Study, Work and Worship formed the foundation from which the RSB was shaped. Monasteries were established and parishes were originally developed on a similar model and structure. What would this look like today in our society, in our Dioceses, in our parishes, if we practice together this ancient art of prayer? Let us continue to seek the Holy, experience the presence of God, and take seriously our praxis together of Lectio Divina.
Pax
We engage our intellect, memory, conscience and spirit in the daily practice of Lectio Divina. This is accomplished through the four spheres or cornerstones of Lectio (reading), Meditatio (meditation), Oratio (prayer), and Contemplatio (contemplation). However it is understood by the great monastic fathers that have come before us that prayer is present throughout these four fluid spheres which make up Lectio Divina; becoming prayer itself.
Prayer, Study, Work and Worship formed the foundation from which the RSB was shaped. Monasteries were established and parishes were originally developed on a similar model and structure. What would this look like today in our society, in our Dioceses, in our parishes, if we practice together this ancient art of prayer? Let us continue to seek the Holy, experience the presence of God, and take seriously our praxis together of Lectio Divina.
Pax
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
PREP SCHOOL: OBLATES
On Sunday July 11, 2010 I had the great joy of sharing in the Feast of St. Benedict with our Brothers of the Monastery of The Holy Spirit. We also discussed "Images of God" in a retreat forum which infused our imagination with this topic. As St.Benedict so clearly understood that love, compassion, hospitality, charity, and most importantly humility was his "Image of God" as seen in Jesus Christ. Unconditional love - directly experienced through his disciplined prayer, study, work and worship commitment to the Trinity.
We also share this week, in fact today, July 13, 2010, in remembering St. Henry - Patron of Benedictine Oblates. Through his efforts in Germany many centuries ago, monasticism and monastic practices served as a renewal in the church. We as Oblates share in the love of Christ and are committed to monastic practices in the world, outside of the cloistered life of the monks; which through our prayer, study, work and worship continually re-new, re-store, re-source, and re-orient, thereby re-forming our lives around the Image of God.
Let us as Oblates shape our lives around our teacher, St. Benedict; and share with the world the water from the well of the monasteries where these precious monks across the world make sense of their life through prayer. This image, made visible by men and women of cloistered Benedictine and Cistercian communities, calls us as Oblates to share with the world outside of the walls of the monasteries and convents.
Alasdair MacIntyre has called out prophetically for a new St. Benedict. Let us as followers of the Rule of St. Benedict model our lives on obedience, stability and the humility to know that we are being formed by our practices. We will in fact become what we practice. Let us pray that as Oblates of St. Benedict, we will answer MacIntyre's call for a new St. Benedict; spiritually connecting and collectively making visible in the world a life of prayer and praxis, providng space for a renewal in the Church as a model for spiritual formation. Assisting our parishes and congregations in becoming Prep Schools for the Lord's Service.
Oblates Prayer:
"God, most compassionate and loving. Strengthen me in my commitment to follow you in the way of St. Benedict. Through my ora labora, may I be inspired to live in Christ, to bring his love to the world, and peace to all hearts. I ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen."
...from the - "Work of God"
Pax
We also share this week, in fact today, July 13, 2010, in remembering St. Henry - Patron of Benedictine Oblates. Through his efforts in Germany many centuries ago, monasticism and monastic practices served as a renewal in the church. We as Oblates share in the love of Christ and are committed to monastic practices in the world, outside of the cloistered life of the monks; which through our prayer, study, work and worship continually re-new, re-store, re-source, and re-orient, thereby re-forming our lives around the Image of God.
Let us as Oblates shape our lives around our teacher, St. Benedict; and share with the world the water from the well of the monasteries where these precious monks across the world make sense of their life through prayer. This image, made visible by men and women of cloistered Benedictine and Cistercian communities, calls us as Oblates to share with the world outside of the walls of the monasteries and convents.
Alasdair MacIntyre has called out prophetically for a new St. Benedict. Let us as followers of the Rule of St. Benedict model our lives on obedience, stability and the humility to know that we are being formed by our practices. We will in fact become what we practice. Let us pray that as Oblates of St. Benedict, we will answer MacIntyre's call for a new St. Benedict; spiritually connecting and collectively making visible in the world a life of prayer and praxis, providng space for a renewal in the Church as a model for spiritual formation. Assisting our parishes and congregations in becoming Prep Schools for the Lord's Service.
Oblates Prayer:
"God, most compassionate and loving. Strengthen me in my commitment to follow you in the way of St. Benedict. Through my ora labora, may I be inspired to live in Christ, to bring his love to the world, and peace to all hearts. I ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen."
...from the - "Work of God"
Pax
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