Chapter 22
A long time ago Benedictines saw fit to re-imagine this chapter and adopt cells for sleeping quarters in monasteries rather than the dormitory Benedict describes here. The re-imagining of the Rule has a long precedent. The process of adaptation must be careful, however, to preserve the spirit behind the specific instructions when the specifics are set aside.
In the case of the Canon Communities of St. Benedict, Benedictine life is re-imagined once again. Here the very notion of living in a monastery is set aside, but what is preserved is the mutual support and encouragement along the path of Benedictine spiritual formation, which, I believe, is the spirit behind this chapter.
Ours is to be a community in which gentle encouragement is the posture the members assume with each other. We each have a "bed" out of which we struggle to rise, and we each have a kind nudge to apply to a brother or sister.
Br. Chad 2012
For those who read this post today, please offer prayers for our beloved Br. Rawleigh, who was admitted to the hospital last night because of severe dizziness and nausea. He is scheduled to have an MRI this morning as well as some other tests to determine what may be wrong. They have mentioned the possibility of a mini-stroke as many as four days ago.
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