Archives for June 2017

This week, St. Mary’s Monastery and St. Scholastica Priory will be entering into their annual retreat—a week-long period of silence, prayer and reflection on conferences given by the retreat master. You may be asking yourselves, “Why do monks and nuns need a retreat? Aren’t their whole lives a retreat?” Well, that’s an excellent question.

While consecrated religious do in fact live a blessed life of prayer, even we who have committed to a monastic life are influenced by the effects of original and personal sin. So, we too can stray from the intended path, or at least grow slow and sluggish along it, and need a special time of renewal. It is an occasion when most burdens of work are lifted, and more time is given to “spiritual leisure”—reading, enjoyment of God in nature, longer periods of prayer and meditation, in order to revive the fervor of our hearts for God. Pray for us, then, as we too will be praying for you!

 

Twice a year, St. Scholastica Priory hosts what we call “Monastic Experience Weekends”. These events are opportunities for young women to enter into the spirit of monasticism “on site” for about 48 hours—just enough time to gain exposure without being overwhelmed!

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting three young women, welcoming them into our guesthouse, choir stalls, refectory and workplaces. It is a time for prayer and reflection, conversation with sisters and discernment of vocations. We hope to witness to the beauty of a life lived for God alone, and to act as guideposts for those on the journey. It takes courage to try something new and “launch out into the deep” (cf. Lk 5:1-11), and yet what divine blessings are in store for those who do. May Our Lady of the Way lead us all along the right path—the path into the heart of Christ!

Hospitality is a central aspect of Benedictine life that has its roots in the Desert Fathers and Mothers, and ultimately in the Scriptures. Most Benedictine monasteries have some form of lodging for guests. It is a beautiful part of our lives to receive all guests with a loving, welcoming spirit. Here at St. Scholastica we receive many different guests from various religions, cultures, ages, socio-economic backgrounds. It is a deeply enriching experience for our community. Laypeople as well as priests and religious often find here a place where they can quiet down and be renewed for their continuing path in life. Guests often say that this is an oasis for them, a place they can find some quiet and peace. It is an honor for us to share our liturgy and way of life with others.  In turn, we are also inspired by our guests.

For Benedictines, hospitality goes beyond mere social courtesy. In his Rule, St. Benedict devotes an entire chapter to the reception of guests (Ch. 53), in which he says that guest are to be “received like Christ,” and that to them “the greatest care and solicitude should be shown, because it is especially in them that Christ is received.” When we encounter guests, we encounter Christ. This part of our monastic charism is to me a symbol of the eschatological nature of religious life. Our world finds it difficult to open a door to strangers. This call to hospitality that we live is a foreshadowing of life in heaven, where we will live as one, unified in the joy of seeing Christ.

St Benedict, help us to see Christ in everyone and everything!

One of the most striking aspects of a contemplative Benedictine life is its silence. While it is not a formal vow that consecrated religious take, the humble, loving practice of silence is indispensable for the monk or nun seeking God in a monastery. For at the beginning of every spiritual search is some sort of self-denial, a quieting down of human desires that oppose the Spirit. “Whoever wishes to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24).

Restraint of speech is one such example of turning away from the inclination to assert oneself, so as to create space for God. It fosters an atmosphere of holy reverence for divine things and encourages the interior prayer to which all religious are called to practice unceasingly. Within this silence, the soul is able to discern the “still, small voice” (1 Kgs 19:12) of God and perceive his ever-so-gentle presence.

A common favorite hymn of those in monastic life is one adapted from the ancient liturgy of St. James, entitled “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”. This hallowed piece evokes an increasing sense of reverence with every stanza, drawing the listener into the awe of Christ’s presence in his Incarnation, in the Holy Eucharist, and in every grace-filled soul. As we read the words to the hymn below, may each of us be drawn ever more deeply into this sacred stillness—the very atmosphere of God.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
set your minds on things eternal,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descended,
come our homage to command.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
once upon the earth he stood;
Lord of lords we now perceive him
in the body and the blood.
He has given to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank, the host of heaven
stream before him on the way,
as the Light of Light, descending
from the realms of endless day,
comes, the powers of hell to vanquish,
clears the gloom of hell away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim with sleepless eye
veil their faces to his presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”