February 19, 2012
. . .here comes Lent! Even though it's rather late this year Lent has a way of sneaking up on us catching us unprepared if we're not careful. Here at the Abbey we have the tradition of remotely preparing for it with a communal penance service on the Friday before Ash Wednesday. A good wake-up call it is integrated with the office of None and followed by individual confessions for those desiring it. Having celebrated that this past Friday we're ready for the next step - Ash Wednesday.
Another hallowed monastic practice is that of communal Lenten reading. This week will find the brothers choosing the book they would
like for their reading and having it approved by the abbot. They will be distributed on the first Sunday of Lent and Lenten reading will begin the following Monday. If you are still searching for a Lenten book for yourself you might find something of interest on our bookstore site at Lenten books. A highly recommended book is Pope Benedict's Jesus of Nazareth for Holy Week listed there under Jesus of Nazareth.
Lectio Notebook |
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People associate monasticism and monks with asceticism, and that's correct. But they often think asceticism means a denial of the senses, and there they go wrong. We've learned from traditions like Zen that asceticism means disciplining the senses so that you develop your capacity to experience every dimension of existence with heightened sensitivity. Monasticism at its best has emphasized this always and in all traditions. To the truly alert palate, a drink of spring water is full of flavor. Rightly understood, asceticism means training. The word comes from the training of athletes, askesis in Greek. When we seek quality in our life, we study, we develop techniques, we refine our language, movements, and diet. So too, with spirituality. Music of Silence |
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