memorial of st. benedict

July 11, 2009.. Amy Hayes' birthday. Feast of St. Benedict, who lived around 500 and who established an order of monastic living based on his "Rule" which outlines a system for holy living for laymen. I've read parts of the Rule, and this one part caught my attention. One talked about community living and the need for forgiveness always. Recognizing that the brothers would aggravate one another, Benedict spoke as a loving father to his children... seeking to encourage them to "get along"... that they must practice forgiveness all the time. I remember reading that section and marveling at his clear seeing.. that one of the truths of community living, whatever that community looks like, is that people are bound to chafe with such proximity to different people. Benedict was pragmatic! .. and that in order for peace to reign, individuals had to practice forgiveness over and over again. He described a situation where two of the brothers are responsible for the kitchen duties one week, and one works more slowly than another, and yes, how aggravating that could be... that brother is NOT GOING TO CHANGE. So, practice patience and forgiveness. I found this in a lovely little book,Praying with Benedict, by Sr. Katherine Howard, a Benedictine sister who teaches at College of St. Benedict's in St. Joseph, MN. "One of the regular ways for repairing broken bonds and restoring harmony was the twice daily recitation of the Lord's Prayer by the abbot. This was done during the divine office and according to Benedict's own directions:

Assuredly, the celebration of Lauds and Vespers must never pass by without the superior's reciting the entire Lord's Prayer at the end for all to hear, because thorns of contention are likely to spring up. Thus warned by the pledge they make to one another in the very words of this prayer: Forgive us as we forgive (Matt 6:12), they may cleanse themselves of this kind of vice. (Rule, 13.12-13) "

So today, I ask God to bless Amy on her birthday and to bless our community that we take up the Lord's Prayer and Benedict's encouragement to love one another.