24th February 2019 - Exploring what are Benedictine Oblates

On this weeks programme the SS102fm team are joined by Fr Columba McCann OSB from Glenstal Abbey to discuss and explore the idea of Benedictine Oblates. We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as some notices and other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks full  programme HERE.

Benedictine Oblates

On this weeks programme we are joined by Fr Columba McCann OSB to explore the idea of Benedictine Oblates. Oblates are people who make a formal linkage to a particular abbey and community and commit themselves to living out the Rule of St Benedict in their personal lives as much as their circumstances permit. Fr Columba takes us through the process of discerning when and how a person may decide to enter into the preparatory programme before making the final oblation to become an Oblate of the abbey.

Fr Columba makes the point that like the fact each Benedictine community is autonomous, each community will take a different approach as to how they discern and integrate their Oblates into the extended family associated with each community.

You can listen to the interview with Fr Columba excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

You can find out more about becoming an Oblate of Glenstal Abbey HERE.

Oblates: An Introduction
Benedictine Oblates of Saint Meinrad Archabbey - information including video testimonials for this abbey in the USA.
Benedictine Oblates stand at a crossroads in monastic history

Gospel - Luke 6: 27-38

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.* Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’

Reflections on this weeks Sunday gospel:

Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflection
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 3, 7th week in Ordinary time 

Saints of the Week

February 24th - St Walburga
February 26th - Saint Faustinian of Bologna
February 27th - St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
February 28th - Blessed Daniel Brottier
March 1st - St David, patron saint of 
Wales (First Friday)
March 2nd - St Chad (First Saturday)

27th January 2019 - Benedictines in Modern Ireland: A reflection with Dom Brendan Coffey OSB

On this weeks programme the SS102fm team are joined by Dom Brendan Coffey OSB from Glenstal to reflect on Benedictines in modern Ireland and the contribution of the monastic life to the world. We have our continuing series on the Theological Virtues, our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel, local notices and other liturgical odds & ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks full programme HERE.

Benedictines in Modern Ireland: A Reflection with Dom Brendan Coffey OSB

Fr Brendan Coffey OSB, Abbot of Glenstal Abbey joins us on this weeks programme to reflect on what is means to be a Benedictine and what the example of monastic life and in particular Benedictine life can offer us is Ireland today in this fast paced and hectic space. He introduces us to the Rule of St Benedict and the life of a monk and what it means to be a monastic in the modern world.

You can listen to the reflection with Dom Brendan excerpted from the main programme HERE.





Gospel - Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 3, 3rd week in Ordinary Time

Saints of the Week

January 28th - St Thomas Acquinas
January 29th - St Dallan Forghaill
January 30th - Bl Margaret Ball and Francis Taylor
January 31st - St John Bosco
February 1st - St Bridget of Ireland
February 2nd - Presentation of the Lord (Candlemass) - World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life 

Feast of the Epiphany - Homily of Abbot Brendan, Glenstal Abbey (and an Oak Anniversary of monastic profession)

From Glenstal Abbey's website:

Glenstal’s most senior monk, Fr Placid Murray, celebrated his Oak Jubilee – the 80th anniversary of his monastic profession – on Friday 6th January 2017.

Fr Placid made his first profession on the Feast of the Epiphany 1937, in the hands of the then Prior of Glenstal, the Belgian Fr Bede Lebbe. Fr Placid, who is 98 years old, is currently resident at a nursing home in nearby Newport, Co. Tipperary, but he returned to Glenstal on Friday to celebrate his jubilee.

He and the monastic community were joined by many of Fr Placid’s relatives and friends for Mass and lunch. During Mass, Fr Placid renewed his vows:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Eighty years ago, I, Brother Placid Murray, promised stability, monastic life and obedience in the monastery of Saints Joseph and Columba at Glenstal, in the presence of Dom Bede Lebbe, Prior of Glenstal. With gratitude, and trusting in the mercy of God, I renew my profession, and  promise stability, monastic life and obedience in the aforesaid monastery of Saints Joseph and Columba at Glenstal, in the presence of God and his saints and of you, Brendan, Abbot of this monastery, and of its monks.

He then sang the Suscipe chant, which is sung by all monks on the day of their profession, and which is sung by the brethren at monks’ funerals. Just before the final blessing, Fr Placid addressed the congregation, reflecting on the meaning of the Suscipe.

You can read Abbot Brendan’s homily below.

Today, we celebrate a festival more ancient in its origins than Christmas. This is the feast of the Manifestation of the Lord to the Nations, the Epiphany. Traditionally three great wonders mark this day; the arrival of the Magi from the east with their gifts, the baptism of Christ in the Jordan river and the miracle of the wedding at Cana in Galilee. These events reveal Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, the beloved.

Today’s feast is also a feast of time itself, because Jesus is revealed in time and the liturgy we celebrate continues to reveal him in time, our time. For this reason the Church has traditionally announced on this day the date of Easter and the dates of all the movable feasts for the coming year. For a Christian the year begins and ends with Easter and so does our calculation of time.

Today, in this monastery we mark another event in time. Not only do we celebrate the Manifestation of the Lord to the Nations, but we give thanks for eighty years of monastic life with our confrère Fr Placid. I’m told that this is called an Oak Jubilee, we don’t get to celebrate too many of those! I would have to be one hundred and nine before I could celebrate my oak jubilee of profession, so that’s not too likely to happen.

On the great feast of the Epiphany, in 1937, Fr Placid made his first monastic profession here in Glenstal Priory, before Fr Bede Lebbe, Prior of Glenstal. To get some context around this event; this was the year when J.R.R. Tolkien published The Hobbit, the year Walt Disney produced Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; it was in the 678th Olympiad; the 2,690th year from the foundation of the city of Rome, the year Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn into office for the second time, the year San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was opened to the public. The monastery itself was only ten years old at that stage and the fledgling community had started to grow.

Let me ask you, what do all these things have in common? They happened. In fact our lives as monks are lived in a constant relationship with all the varied events of the world around us, from the sublime to the ridiculous. One unique Spirit, that of the Father and of the Son animates everything. Our multiple charisms are a reflection of the seamless robe of Christ the Saviour who is made manifest this day, in Jordan water, at the miracle of the wedding at Cana and in kingly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Each one of us is given a fixed span of days to allow the Lord become manifest in our own lives. For a monk that manifestation comes primarily through the Work of God in choir, to which you Fr Placid have been most faithful. It is a tremendous testimony to fidelity, all too seldom seen today in any walk of life, that someone faithfully carries out their work for eighty years. As the psalm puts it – eighty for those who are strong.

The vespers hymn for today’s feast has this beautiful line sung in reference to the Magi, “Lumen requirunt lumine” “following a light they were searching for the light. Fr Placid, for eighty years you have faithfully followed the light of the Holy Rule of St Benedict, but you have been seeking the true light, the Lumen ad Revelationem Gentium, Christ the Saviour. The destiny of every human person can be seen in this journey of the Magi from the East: for our life is a journey, illuminated by the lights which brighten our way, so that we might find the fullness of truth and love in Jesus, the Light of the World. A jubilee is only a marker on the journey, it is the journey itself that is important and the roots we put down at the start support us all the way to the finish. Fr Placid, on this great feast of the Lord’s Epiphany, the day we announce with joy the date of Easter and the day eighty years ago you promised stability, monastic conversion and obedience, my wish for you comes from the letter to the Ephesians “May Christ live in your heart by faith and may you be planted in love and built on love.”

Ad multos annos!

SS102fm congratulations to Fr Martin Browne OSB



Br Martin making his promise of obedience to his bishop

Yesterday on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, in a musically beautiful liturgy, Br Martin Browne OSB was ordained priest by Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly in the church of St Joseph at Glenstal Abbey.

 

 

 

Br Martin or Fr Martin as he is now, is a friend of the blog and the radio programme and has been on with us a number of times.

 

We wish him every blessing and best wish as he journeys forward in his new ministry.

 

Dr Willie Walsh (bishop-emeritus of Killaloe), Dr Kieran O'Reilly (Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, ordaining prelate), Fr Martin Browne OSB, Dr Dermot Clifford (archbishop-emeritus of Cashel & Emly)

The photos above are from the Glenstal website by Andrew Hogan (3rd Year) and Br. Denis and more photos of the days liturgy can be viewed HERE.

UPDATE: You can see more photos and commentary on the Glenstal Abbey website HERE.

Monks, music and musings on monastic life

From Mary DeTurris Poust:

I came across this video clip via the Morning Air Show on Relevant Radio and clicked on it mainly because I love Gregorian Chant, but it is so much more than an album promotion. It gives you a brief glimpse into monastic life in general and Benedictine spirituality specifically, along with some beautiful views of Italy and hauntingly beautiful music. It’s like a micro-version of the monastic feature film Into Great Silence. If you have a few minutes, this is sure to bring a little serenity to your day. The album, Benedicta: Marian Chant from Norcia by the Monks of Norcia, is available June 2.

Some web browsing...........

 
Some web browsing for you to look over while having that cuppa Barry's and the last few mincepies ;)


Pope Francis related articles:

• Radical Pope, Traditional Values - The New York Times
• How Pope Francis Is Changing Our Definition Of Success - Forbes
• 2013 - The Year of Pope Francis - Vatican Radio
• A very Franciscan Christmas after all - John Allen
• “Let us embrace those in difficulty” - The Pope appealed against indifference and selfishness in this year’s “Te Deum” During the solemn celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica the Pope reflected on the year that is about to pass and pointed out the priorities for next year

The Scandal of Christmas - The Plough

David Quinn: Packed Mass shows what the church must do: turn believers into belongers
 
The First Five Years - How the church can support young priests in a secular age - America magazine
 
Changed, Not Ended - A view of religious life from a young sister - America Magazine
 
Post-Clerical Catholics - America Magazine

Singing hymns at atheist services makes as much sense as celebrating one’s elbow - The Irish Times

 
What do you preach to a church full of Jews on Christmas?

  

Strength of Faith: A letter to a student with no ‘spiritual experiences’ - The Jesuit Post
 
Quiet Nothingness - "There are times in our prayer lives that we feel God is absent, or we struggle to feel or hear God in prayer. Those dry periods of prayer are incredibly challenging, especially when trying to discern. It is not until the dry period of prayer ends that I understand the value of what feels like God’s silence"
 
Dame Catherine Osbourne (aka Digitalnun) posted some very thought provoking pieces over at iBenedictines during the Christmas including this one on New Years Day 2014

Message to a heartbroken widow: embrace your grief - The Irish Times

Goodbye 2013 - Sr Louise reflects on New Years Eve

A reflection on the role of hospitality in our modern world - "The independent rootlessness of emerging adults presents potent opportunities for the practice of hospitality." - Blessed are the homesick: Hospitality for mobile Millenials

Holocaust History - as told by a survivor - The New York Times

Can Muslim lands learn to tolerate Christians? - Washington Post

Some nostalgia:

I’ve discovered that I am suffering from an inability to get rid of things

An ordered existence - Why do men leave the world behind for monastery life? Conor Pope gets some honest answers when he spends two days with the monks in Glenstal. Video for the article here. 

Watchmen of the Night

H/t Communio

An interesting video on the life of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Saint Mary Magdalene of Barroux, in short they are referred to as the monks of Le Barroux. It is a young community in history and in membership.

The documentary, “Watchmen of the Night” (2008), covers all the aspects and then some of Benedictine life, or may merely say, a life of truly living the New Testament. A viewer is intensely engaged in an hour long video that’ss in French with English subtitles.

Their work is “to pray in silence, and to pray to God in heaven.” With a clear ultimacy, monks serve no purpose; monks serve a someone. This is a difficult concept to accept for many people in this era: 5-6 hours of prayer, study, and work all for God. It’s a life totally and unconditionally oriented to the Eschaton.

The monastic life is one of many facets in Christian discipleship; it’s a vocation not given to all; and yet it’s an essential vocation in the life of the Church because of a definitive focus on the contemplative life. While all Christians are called to a life of contemplation, not all are called to a seriously focused life as a monk or a nun; all are called to be in relationship with the Lord though liturgical prayer, study, sacraments, mental prayer, and work, but not all are called to live this way in a community.

As the founder of Le Barroux, Dom Gerard (1927-2008) once said, “The monks unintentionally built Europe. It is an adventure that is primarily if not exclusively interior. They are moved by a thirst for the absolute, a thirst for another world. These monasteries, pointing to heaven, an obstinate reminder that there is another world of which this world is but an image, the herald, and the prefiguration.” So we follow the path given to us Christ.

Ever wonder what the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) is?

The Digital Nun - The Sunday Edition CBC Radio One

Sister Catherine Wybourne is a nun, a cloistered Benedictine nun. Which makes it all the more remarkable that she has conquered the internet. Sister Catherine blogs, she tweets and from her tiny monastery - composed of two nuns and a dog - she has an enormous global digital reach. In fact, she is widely known as the Digital Nun.

Called to the faith more than 30 years ago, she was quick to spot the potential of the internet for religion. A former banker, and "jill of all trades" - including poultry keeper, cook and printmaker - she tackled digital language with the same spirit with which she learned Hebrew.

 

She developed the website for her monastery, offering a virtual five minute retreat, among other services. To her the internet is a sacred space.Now traditional religions of every "brand" are hoping to grow virtual communities, as real attendance declines in bricks and mortar places of worship. But the internet is a consumer supermarket, where the real thing and the fakes can be difficult to separate. These are concerns for Sister Catherine, and naturally, she blogs about it.

Laura Lynch spoke to Sister Catherine Wybourne, prioress of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Howton Grove, Herefordshire, England.

 

You can listen to the interview HERE.

5th May 2013 - 6th Sunday of Easter - Br Columba McCann OSB and the Benedictine Life

On this weeks programme we are joined by Br Columba McCann OSB who is a monk at Glenstal Abbey in Murroe Co Limerick to discuss and reflect on life as a Benedictine monk. We also have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as some notices and other liturgical odds and ends.

The podcast of this weeks full programme can be listened to HERE.

Bro Columba interview can be listened to HERE.

Life as a Benedictine Monk - Bro Columba McCann OSB

Regular listeners to the programme know that SS102fm likes to share the life and charisms of different members of our church in Limerick and we joined this morning by a guest from Glenstal Abbey to talk to us about the Benedictine life.

From the Abbeys own website:

Glenstal Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in County Limerick, Ireland. Founded in 1927, it now numbers 50 monks. The Abbey, founded in memory of Blessed Columba Marmion, is dedicated to Saints Joseph and Columba. It belongs to the Congregation of the Annunciation, in the confederation of Benedictine monks. The monastery is directed by an Abbot - Dom Patrick Hederman (who has previously been on SS102fm), who is elected by his brothers for an eight year term. The monks run a boarding school for boys, a farm and a guest house, and are involved in scholarly and pastoral activities. They assemble in the church five times a day for prayer (the Divine Office and the Mass), in which Gregorian chant plays a significant part. The Benedictine liturgical style is characterised by beauty and harmony, celebrating God’s presence, while it evokes a response of loving reverence in the monk.

A monk is also a man of Peace. Over the main archway of Glenstal Abbey there is a bronze motto, which consists of one word: ‘PAX’: (PEACE). A monastery is a place where peace reigns, where the monks practise fraternal charity and forebearance towards each other and to all with whom they come into contact. A monastery is a place apart, where all may find peace, quiet, recollection, and ultimately God Himself.

A Benedictine monk leads a life of prayer dedicated to seeking God in everything, under a Rule and an Abbot. The prayer of the monk is expressed in community by the chanting of the Divine Office. The monk’s prayer is also expressed silently wherever he may be.

There is a rich variety of monastic work at Glenstal. Monks of this abbey are engaged in academic, artistic, literary, domestic, administrative and agricultural work. There is no specific work associated with a monk and the monastic apostolate is primarily one of presence, witness and service. The Work of God, the Sacred Liturgy, comes before all else in the life of a monk. Images of the work and life of the community are available HERE.

You can learn about Benedictines, St Benedict and the Rule of St Benedict here.

Br Columba shares with us his story and how he discerned his vocation to priesthood and his journey from Dublin via college to Glenstal Abbey and life as a Benedictine monk. He shares about life in the monastery - a spiritual laboratory to provide a place for a person to seek God. Prayer, community, work, lectio are the elements involved in opening you to the voice of God which allows the heart to expand to experience the Divine Love.

Reflecting on the process of discernment Bro Columba speaks of the need to seek advice, of regular prayer, daily scripture readings and ultimately to see where the joy leads you.

 

Contact information and details about vocations here.

Gospel - John 14:23-29

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical Odds and Ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Week 2

Saints of the Week

May 6th - Bl Edward Jones and Anthony Middleton
May 7th - St Rose Venerini
May 8th - St Peter of Tarentaise
May 9th - St Catherine of Bologna
May 10th - St Comghall
May 11th - St Ignatius of Laconi

Notices

Link to the weekly newsletter from Limerick Diocesean Pastoral Centre

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje – 14^th to 21^st September 2013

Bed & Breakfast and Evening Meal. Flights from/To Shannon. Come and join us for a relaxing and reflective week. Cost €689 Contact: - John Keily 069 76253 or 087 6751795

IEC2012 - Timothy Radcliffe and Patrick Hederman

As regular readers/listeners will know, both Timothy Radcliffe OP and Patrick Hederman OSB are particular favourite authors of some of the Sacred Space 102fm team. Below we have posted the videos of their talks given at IEC2012 which are available from iCatholic which you might be interested in.


Fr Timoth Radcliffe OP - "Spirituality for Today, Suffering and Healing"




Dom Patrick Hederman OSB - ‘James Joyce and the Structure of the Mass’

Benedictines of Glenstal Abbey

To find out more about Glenstal and the life of the monks, go here.

10th February - Feast of St Scholastica

February 10th is the feast of St Scholastica - twin sister of St Benedict. To all our Benedictine readers and listeners, happy feast day!

O God, to show us where innocence leads, you made the soul of your virgin Saint Scholastica soar to heaven like a dove in flight. Grant through her merits and her prayers that we may so live in innocence as to attain to joys everlasting. This we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen

More about St Scholastica:

• Catholicculture.org
• American Catholic.org
• Catholic Online

Some web browsing.........

Some web browsing........


As preparation for the 800th anniversary of the Approval of the Order of Preachers (a.k.a. the Dominicans) in 2016, they are preparing a "Novena" highlighting certain aspects of the charism of the Order. The theme for 2012 is "Go and tell my brothers, Dominican women and evagelization". The letter of the Master of the Order, Fr. Bruno Cadore, OP, reflecting on the role of women in the work of the Holy Preaching is here. While it is aimed specifically at the Dominicans, there is a lot of food for thought for the church universal in it as well.


We have all heard the expression "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus". But what impact has the changing roles of men in society had on the understanding of their role and the impact on the rough and tumble of raising boys. Two pieces which discussed it recently: Raising Boys in a culture that is often alarmed by them and from First Things - The Killer Instinct.

Digitalnun has some thoughts on the upcoming Year of Faith which begins 11th October 2012. She also had a piece reflecting on the feast of St Anthony and the eremitical vocation.


Deacon Greg has an interesting piece about a Hermitage gets a deacon in Texas.


He also has an interesting piece about "Why do Catholics get married in church?"


The IEC2012 is coming June 2012 and the preparations are continuing around the world! Here is a short video from northern Uganda about their preparations. I have meet Sr Maureen, she is a hoot!

Protecting Jesus: the story of the Catholic Chaplain on the sinking Italian cruise ship.
A quick history piece: The Other Successors of St Peter - The Patriarchs of Antioch.


Ever wonder what to think when someone says "I am spiritual but not religious"? A few other points of view on it - Are you spiriual or religious?

A first: South African bishops pick nun as Secretary General.

International coverage of the self-immolation by Tibetan monks has been a bit mixed, here is a piece which asks the question, "Why are Tibetan monks setting themselves on fire?"

We have all heard how the new Social Media such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter etc helped in the Arab Spring. This is an interesting piece looking at How Luther went viral - five centuries before Facebook and the Arab spring, social media helped bring about the Reformation

Some pictures showing the Celebrations of Epiphany from Ethiopia (Coptic Christians) and from Russia and Eastern Europe (Eastern Orthodox Christians).

And finally......

RTE Religious Programming

For those who might be interested some programming from RTE:

Dom Mark Patrick Hederman
- The Irish Times

New Years Eve, Marian Finucane interviewed Dom Mark Patrick Hederman, Abbot of Glenstal Abbot. As always Dom Mark has some extremely thought provoking insights. Link to interview podcast here.

RTE is celebrating its 50th anniversary as the national television broadcaster and they are currently trawling through the archives. One of the programmes shown was a gentle, respectful yet informative interview with Mother Teresa of Calcutta which was repeated on 4th January 2012. Link to interview on the RTE Player here.

Please bear in mind that the RTE Player may not work in countries outside of the Republic of Ireland and that programmes on the RTE Player are usually only available for 30 days after broadcast.

Conversion of Life - Benedictine Monastics

A Benedictine Monk from the Abbey at Le Barroux ,France, reflects on the general 3 traditional Religious Vows associated within Benedictine 'Conservatio Morum': Conversion of Life. This is speaking of common Religious vows, though Benedictines themselves vow Conversion of Life, Stability and Obedience.

Rome Reports - An Irish monk to Jerusalem

The solemn entrance of Dom Gregory Collins OSB as the new Abbot of the Abbey of the Dormition in Jerusalem. Dom Gregory is formerly a monk of Glenstal Abbey who was elected abbot by the community in July 2011.

St Benedict - Father of Western Monasticism

"Listen carefully, my son, to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart....What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Lord to supply by the help of his grace...Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away...as we progress in his way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love."


Prologue to the Rule of St Benedict

Today is the liturgical feast of St Benedict of Nursia.


From the website of Glenstal Abbey:


Benedict was born in the year 480, in the province of Nursia, Italy. The Roman Empire had come to an end only four years before, in 476, and thus the young Benedict grew up in a country where the decay of the old Roman civilisation was in evidence everywhere. His parents were Christian and sent him to study law in Rome when he was about sixteen years of age. However, the atmosphere of the great city shocked and depressed him. He decided to leave Rome and for a short time joined a small group of like-minded young men at a place called Enfide. His companions called themselves monks, but they followed no rule, each apparently ordering his life as he wished. Not satisfied with this situation, Benedict, though still under twenty, resolved to lead the more strict life of a hermit. According to the testimony of his first biographer, Pope St Gregory the Great, Benedict found a narrow cave at a place called Subiaco, where he spent three years in solitude and prayer.


After this period of preparation, Benedict gathered a number of disciples around him and organised them into a community. Already, at this stage, he was determined to reform the accepted way of monastic life in Italy. Above all, he was anxious to introduce regular observance and some form of community life. However, this first experiment met with such opposition that some of the monks tried to poison him. Undaunted, Benedict returned to his cave at Subiaco, and after some years succeeded in attracting to the place a number of young men who were prepared to follow his lead. He built twelve cells or small monasteries in the valley of the Anio, and drew up a Rule or way of life for the monks. Subiaco is thus the cradle of Benedictine monasticism.


Again trouble broke out, this time from a neighbouring priest, so that Benedict, along with some of his monks, was forced to move to a new and very beautiful site overlooking the plains of Campagna. This place was called Monte Cassino. Here Benedict built a monastery in 529, and also wrote his famous Rule for monks. He remained in Monte Cassino until his death in 547. Monte Cassino can be considered the second cradle of Benedictine monasticism. Though the monastery has been destroyed no less than three times – the last time was in 1944 during World War Two – it has always risen from the ashes.


Up to St Benedict’s time there was no such thing as Western monasticism. Whatever monasteries existed were adaptations, or imitations, of the way of life followed by the monks of the East. St. Benedict can be said to have saved the monastic institution from decline by introducing a number of essential elements. First of all he insisted on his monks taking a vow of stability. This meant in practice that they should reside and persevere in the monastery they had joined. He did not approve of those monks who were continually travelling from monastery to monastery. Secondly, he insisted that his monks – at least those who could read – would spend some time, each day, in what he called ‘Lectio divina’ (Holy Reading). Many of Benedict’s fellow monks were ignorant of the Sacred Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church. Benedict set out a certain time each day for study and reflective reading.


Thirdly, Benedict believed that monks, especially younger ones, needed guidance and discipline. His Rule is not a severe one, but rather inspired by discretion and prudent moderation. He wished to arrange everything in the monastery so that the strong might have something to strive for, while the weak ones would not be driven away. The Rule is a wonderful harmony of wisdom, good sense and firmness. Modelling his monastery on a Roman villa, Benedict intended that each monastery be independent. It seems unlikely that he intended founding a religious Order as such, but rather a group of separate and autonomous houses. Thus each monastery has its own traditions, customs and identity. No two Benedictine monasteries are alike in every detail. What gives them a unity is the Rule. Indeed, the real influence of St Benedict down the centuries was not so much due to the monasteries he founded, as to the Rule he wrote for monks. The Rule spread though out all Europe, and so widespread was Benedictine monasticism during the Middle Ages, that the years 600 to 1200 are often called “The Benedictine Centuries”.


Other reflections about St Benedict:

• The Anchoress reflects on being a Benedictine Oblate in 2010 and 2011 but also has links for reflections by Pope Benedict on the contribution of St Benedict to Western civilization as well as why Joseph Ratzinger took the papal name Benedict.
• Frank Webster over at Why I am Catholic reflects on Tips on Fatherhood from St Benedict.
• Digitalnun reflects on the St Benedict Patron of Europe
• Dr Lilles has a interesting reflection on St Benedict and reliance on God.
• Stillsong Hermitage reflects on "Unlearning possession".

Some web browsing........

A few bits and pieces from around the web for your to browse through..........

“Break your mirrors!  Yes, indeed — shatter the glass.  In our society that is so self-absorbed, begin to look less at yourself and more at each other. Learn more about the face of your neighbor, and less about your own. I suggest this: when you get to be 30, 40, 50, or even 70 years old, you’ll get more happiness and contentment out of counting your friends than counting your dollars.  You’ll get more satisfaction from having improved your neighborhood, your town, your state, your country and your fellow human beings than you’ll ever get from your muscles, your figure, your automobile, your house, or your credit ratings. You’ll get more from being a peacemaker than a warrior. I’ve been both, so I speak from experience.  Break the mirrors! Be peacemakers of the community, and you and your family will be happy.”  -- A quote from Sargent Shriver - American peace builder, political leader and activist. He was the first leader of the Peace Corps under President John F. Kennedy. The husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, he was also a beloved father.

• A Reflection on the Beatitudes - - To be Blessed: An Attitude
• Rediscovering the meaning of sacramentals, for those that are married, did you ever consider that your wedding bank is one? And for those who can't remember what a sacramental is as opposed to a Sacrament!
• A reminder that when we look at refugees and migrants that we Christians have to be very careful in our care and repect for them, after all, our Messiah was a refugee too!
• A permenant Deacon ministers where he didn't expect to be and reminds us of the importance of chaplains in a culture of cutbacks in our public health services!
• Ever wonder what the impact is when one partner converts?
• The need for contemplation and action in our every day lives. Another reflection on how a daily life can be interrupted by God
• Have we become too protective of our children and not allowed them to play and act as children? Are parents too anxious?
• We all have doubts about faith, Jennifer over at Conversion Diary reminds us that we should Explore your doubts but do so in peace.

Ethiopian Christ icon found 500 years on

Pondering the idea of praying through time

The New York Times had an interesting piece on How meditation can change the brain

I would safely say that the editors had a serious case of tongue in cheek when they were looking at this story - Vatican has the highest rate of misdemeanor crime

The Pope's strong message for World Communications Day was summed up by America magazine as "Pope says join Facebook, but love is offline"

The Irish Times religious affairs correspondant Patsy McGarry reminds us all that "Churches have duty to give hope"

Further insights to a modern saint - Dorothy Day's letters show heartache, faith

Elizabeth Scalia reminds us that qualifications do not define a person and their worth.

As we count down the days to the beginning of the Lenten season, a short piece about the Compelling Spiritual Discipline of Ascetisism

A moving Carmelite tribute to a Bishop's final benediction

Would be interested to hear what people think of this new version of the Gloria. It is a new musical arrangement to the prayer using the new translation which we will be using in the English speaking churches around the world from Advent 2011 so the words are a little different to what we use at the minute. The new setting is written by Jeff Ostrowski.

Continuing another story from the Trappist monks killed in Algeria, one of the survivors speaks about how he continues to pray for for the conversion of his attackers.

Irelands only Benedictine Abbot reflects on how during the Celtic Tiger, it was a really crazy fantasyland we were in