Tag: discipline
Faith and Surety
Becoming a disciple takes time. Sometimes I think I am just beginning to get it. Not even sure I’ve got it now, but certain things make more sense…years intervene while the convert (monk) struggles to become what he is. Michael Casey in an article on PATIENCE: Length of years is not that important when I think… Read More ›
Silencio: The Beginning of Prayer
Recently, we saw a situation whereby a family member made an observation that was unfair and uninformed. The temptation: confront. And sometimes, we have to correct a situation, to speak up. Yes. But when praying about a course of action, the word, “Silencio” came flying, surprisingly, into our thoughts. Was this a “word of knowledge”… Read More ›
The Dignity of Yard Work
Idleness is the soul’s enemy, so therefore at determined times the brothers (and sisters) out to be occupied with manual labor, and again at determined hours in Lectio Divina. (Rule of St. Benedict: 48:1) For the past couple of days, I’ve developed a pretty strong attachment to my leaf blower, a precious gift I received… Read More ›
Attainment of peace of heart
Aelred of Rievaulx lists six stages to be passed through in the attainment of peace of heart and tranquility of mind. The rejection of worldly standards, particularly the search for pleasure or possessions and the ambition for honors. The setting aside of self-love, vanity, pride, and the comparison of self with others. Reflection on the… Read More ›
Surmounting Temptation
What does it mean to surmount temptations, and what is the cure for them? The answer is this: you must never grow weary but pray to God with your whole heart, praising him and being patient in all circumstances; and then the temptation will leave you. Thus was Abraham tested, and he emerged victorious from… Read More ›
The Inner Self
There is and can be no special planned technique for discovering and awakening one’s inner self, because the inner self is first of all a spontaneity that is nothing if not free. Therefore there is no use in trying to start with a definition of the inner self, and then deducing from its essential properties… Read More ›
The discipline of silence
The silence of the Word in the womb of the virgin speaks to you, cries out to you, recommends the discipline of silence. For ‘in silence and in hope shall be your strength’ as Isaiah promises, who defined the pursuit of justice as silence. As the Christ-child in the womb advanced towards birth in a… Read More ›
St. Benedict, Father of Western Monasticism
Trusting in God and relying on His ever present help, he went south and arrived at a fort “called Cassino situated on the side of a high mountain . . .; on this stood an old temple where Apollo was worshipped by the foolish country people, according to the custom of the ancient heathens. Around… Read More ›
The need for Silence
Truly a trustworthy word and deserving of every welcome, O Lord, is your almighty Word, which in so deep a silence made its way down from the Father’s royal throne into the mangers of animals and meanwhile speaks to us better by its silence. Let him who has ears to hear, hear what this loving… Read More ›
Seven Reasons You’re Still Hungry
St. Benedict regulated the intake of food and spirits for his monks (see chapters 39-41 of the Rule). It is something for us all to live up to but for most of us dealing with everyday temptation we often fall short of the ideal. The principle reason is we were “craving” a particular food. Perhaps… Read More ›