Feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus
Chapter 46
The Rule of St. Benedict July 26
One aspect of community life is the wealth of stories that accumulate over the years. One such story I overheard at St. Gregory's Abbey last year had to do with the instructions in this chapter. It seems that a procedure for "com[ing] immediately before the Abbot and the community" after breaking something took on the form of kneeling with the broken item in hand at the entrance of the place where the community would gather next. So, if the next community gathering is prayer, one would kneel at the entrance of the chapel, if a meal, one would kneel at the entrance to the refectory, and so on. One day, many years ago, a brother was cleaning the bathroom before lunch and happened to break the toilet seat. So, as the community and guests, of which there happened to be a large number that day, came silently into the refectory after the lunch bell, they had to walk past this brother kneeling with a toilet seat. I was told that the procedure was modified after that.
Chapter 46 calls each member of the community to take responsibility for any fault they contribute to the common life, whether through a small, inconsequential accident or a "sin-sickness of the soul." Our Father Benedict desires to cultivate a climate of trust and intimacy in the community. Without trust, the community is poisoned by cycles of deception, suspicion, and accusation. Without safe intimacy, the individual suffers the soul-killing trajectory of hidden guilt, self-loathing, and hardness of heart.
Br. Chad 2012
Friends:
ReplyDeleteAt this time in my life, I have come to needing people to talk to who actually listen to what I say and hear it as I am saying it, rather than reading into it how I might be saying it about them personally.
I have had folks ask me to be completely honest with them about something, what i thought was merely an observation on my part. Or..at the very least use the comment as a way to begin a conversation about that which they were asking.
Many times that has blown up in my face with recrimination flying back at me over the honesty of the comment. Some people really wanted the honesty and understood that they would get the same again and again. But...then there were those who really wanted only fluff about what they were asking me to comment on at the time.
Most often my comments had no malice in them but facts as I observed them.
It is exhausting to have to be a diplomat in every conversation. I do realize of course that, some situations need finessing without being manipulative. I also understand that at times we must explain to those to whom we are talking, the same thing two or three times until they get it. This is part of teaching and I am willing to do it.
I feel that when we oblate s and novices are gathered together with our Prior in conversation, that I can say what is on my heart. openly. Whether it is confusion over a part of the Rule that day, or the development of my personal daily Rule, or being conflicted with a discipline issue I have read, over missing a verse in the Psaltery. I need a place to be open where my words have the the place to be heard with patient loving hope of growing together with friends.
Peace and Possibilities,
In Christ,
Br Rawleigh
Br. Rawleigh, I'm glad you are finding a place where loving honesty is welcome. It's not always easy to find such a space... and such spaces are even more difficult to maintain. May God continue to bless you and the Benedictines there as you grow together in the stature of Christ. We, the Community of Sts. James & John in Manitoba, pray for you all as we gather for the daily offices. Pax. Fr. Shane Bengry OSBCn
ReplyDeleteFr. Shane
ReplyDeleteI am learning to trust the ROB each day as I try on each new section.
Thanks for the prayers...
Br. Rawleigh