Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

Living the Rule rss

Stories and examples of how monastics and oblates live out the Rule in their daily lives.

Wondrous

(rambling-ness-nonsense) Beauty surrounds and imbues every moment, on occasion hidden from immediate view , perceptions clouded by life’s uncertainties, the present lost in the inner cluttered borne. Faces old and young and those in-between, smooth skin, laugh lines, deep creases, one of times gifts, eyes wise with experiences or bright with life’s beginnings, or simply… Read More ›

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Logos

To life we are called, abundance our destiny, yet often in inner poverty trapped, rigid stances, Thanatos’s grip strong, it’s chains wrapping the soul in a cold embrace, freezing out hope and the warmth it gives, the tree of life dormant within. Wintery grey taken for the whole of reality, with only nothingness expected, yet… Read More ›

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What we are

The “Song of Songs” is a beautiful book of erotic poetry, describing what many find hard to accept, longings infinite, emotions strong, our beauty alluring to the eternal, which is presented or revealed to us as a love sick suitor running after the beloved. Each human an object of desire by the infinite, perhaps the… Read More ›

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Being thankful for the dark times

A thanksgiving retreat We had a retreat on thankfulness this Mon-Wed of this week (2016).  This time of the year the number is usually small; we had five participants.  Usually we have larger groups.  I do like the smaller ones however.  When I started off the discussion, I reminded the group that when thinking about… Read More ›

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About choice

People have different understandings about faith, what it is, why some have it and others don’t and also as one matures, the above understandings change, it seems to be a life long process. A slow maturing that never ends, an ever deepening adventure for those who are on the path, pilgrims who learn to deal… Read More ›

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March of Years

Written a few years ago… Well I am 59 today, birthdays don’t bother me though I have never really celebrated them. My friends like to at times and I go along, for it is done out of love, who can find anything wrong with that? In some way I like the march of years, so… Read More ›

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Soul’s memory

Its memory long and deep, remembrance of things past abuses done when it was innocent; physical, mental, sexual, actions also committed the cycle continued, in a dark inner room hidden shivering in its dread of pain received and agony delivered awaiting it’s judgment feared. Crying out in its pain not understanding the why of it… Read More ›

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To remember the dead

Once a month our community has what we call a “Month’s mind mass” in remembrance of our dead, our community members who have passed on, our loved ones, friends and benefactor and those buried in our ‘Green Cemetery” across the way.  I believe that it is a beautiful tradition.  Some mornings during the meditation between… Read More ›

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All Saints Day

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one– as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.—John 17:21 Today within Christendom all Saints day is celebrated. It is in reality a… Read More ›

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Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: The human experience for everyone is a rough journey.  We can often hide from others what is going on inside of us; we can smile when in reality there is a war going on within.  We experience injustice, injury, doubt and yes despair.  We can also go… Read More ›

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