Chapter 23
The Rule of Benedict June 30
Instead of focusing on the punishments in this chapter, I would like for us to consider how to rid ourselves of any fault that would warrant correction. Let us lay aside our resistance and be motivated by a desire to share more fully in the spiritual riches of our common life and practice.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
June 29
Chapter 22
The Rule of Benedict June 29
Let us each remember during this upcoming month of quiet that we have in each other a mutually supportive community of prayer. We do not bear the burdens of our life alone even when we feel isolated due to our circumstances. You are each held in prayer every day.
The Rule of Benedict June 29
Let us each remember during this upcoming month of quiet that we have in each other a mutually supportive community of prayer. We do not bear the burdens of our life alone even when we feel isolated due to our circumstances. You are each held in prayer every day.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
June 28
Chapter 21
The Rule of Benedict June 28
It has become clear to me that the emphasis on roles was premature in the BSBSB. We can revisit the work we have done to that end if it seems that it would benefit our life together at some future time.
The Rule of Benedict June 28
It has become clear to me that the emphasis on roles was premature in the BSBSB. We can revisit the work we have done to that end if it seems that it would benefit our life together at some future time.
June 27
Chapter 20
The Rule of Benedict June 27
I hear from this chapter that the Divine Office is not an end in itself, but a means by which we are compelled to live a life of humility and devotion before God, our own highest end.
As I have taken on a practice which includes more Offices each day, our Father Benedict's instructions here have found new resonance in me. Each experience of praying an office is far less important than the cultivation of the disciplined obedience that comes from the act of stopping and turning my attention to God. A desire for a particular set of emotions or mental states only serves to further fix my attention on myself.
It is then, when we obediently turn our hearts and minds from ourselves that we can be surprised by divine grace, which may inspire us to linger in response to God's presence.
The Rule of Benedict June 27
I hear from this chapter that the Divine Office is not an end in itself, but a means by which we are compelled to live a life of humility and devotion before God, our own highest end.
As I have taken on a practice which includes more Offices each day, our Father Benedict's instructions here have found new resonance in me. Each experience of praying an office is far less important than the cultivation of the disciplined obedience that comes from the act of stopping and turning my attention to God. A desire for a particular set of emotions or mental states only serves to further fix my attention on myself.
It is then, when we obediently turn our hearts and minds from ourselves that we can be surprised by divine grace, which may inspire us to linger in response to God's presence.
June 26
Chapter 19
The Rule of Benedict June 26
I appreciate that Benedict describes the desired relationship between mind (our thoughts) and voice (the words we sing) in the Divine Office as "in harmony". "Harmony" implies a pleasant relationship between two distinct entities, not a top-down conformation of one to the other. Our task as we pray is not so much to submit our thoughts to the words of the Office, but to allow our thoughts the freedom to sing along. And as we all know from experience, such freedom takes practice.
The Rule of Benedict June 26
I appreciate that Benedict describes the desired relationship between mind (our thoughts) and voice (the words we sing) in the Divine Office as "in harmony". "Harmony" implies a pleasant relationship between two distinct entities, not a top-down conformation of one to the other. Our task as we pray is not so much to submit our thoughts to the words of the Office, but to allow our thoughts the freedom to sing along. And as we all know from experience, such freedom takes practice.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
June 25
Chapter 18 pt. 4
The Rule of Benedict June 25
Benedict places a high value on covering all the Psalms in the Divine Office. I believe this is because the Psalms serve a central role in his vision of spiritual formation. In our order, I wonder if one way we can honor this value is to eventually discern a schedule according to which we can cover the entire Psalter while praying only one or two offices a day. We have a very good example of such a schedule in the Daily Office at the back of our own Book of Common Prayer.
Over the last several months I have been using the BCP Daily Office arrangement of Psalms for Morning and Evening inserted into Lauds and Vespers from the Breviary. It has provided for me some needed expansion of Psalm repertoire in my daily prayer practice.
The Rule of Benedict June 25
Benedict places a high value on covering all the Psalms in the Divine Office. I believe this is because the Psalms serve a central role in his vision of spiritual formation. In our order, I wonder if one way we can honor this value is to eventually discern a schedule according to which we can cover the entire Psalter while praying only one or two offices a day. We have a very good example of such a schedule in the Daily Office at the back of our own Book of Common Prayer.
Over the last several months I have been using the BCP Daily Office arrangement of Psalms for Morning and Evening inserted into Lauds and Vespers from the Breviary. It has provided for me some needed expansion of Psalm repertoire in my daily prayer practice.
Friday, June 24, 2011
June 24
Chapter 18 pt. 3
The Rule of Benedict June 24
Last night we celebrated the Feast of St. Benedict (July 11) at our last Vespers service until August. Gil shared that the goal of the Benedictine path is to live a transparent life to oneself, to God, and to others. The Psalms are used in the Benedictine tradition to fulfill this end by giving voice to both our shadow self and to our self that walks in the full light of God. One task that is ours on Benedict's path is to recognize ourselves in these ancient songs of the human experience.
The Rule of Benedict June 24
Last night we celebrated the Feast of St. Benedict (July 11) at our last Vespers service until August. Gil shared that the goal of the Benedictine path is to live a transparent life to oneself, to God, and to others. The Psalms are used in the Benedictine tradition to fulfill this end by giving voice to both our shadow self and to our self that walks in the full light of God. One task that is ours on Benedict's path is to recognize ourselves in these ancient songs of the human experience.
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