November 13, 2011
Non-Feast Day Feast Day
Throughout the Benedictine monastic world today, November 13th, is usually celebrated as the Feast of All Benedictine Saints. But not this year, at least liturgically, as the Sunday celebration takes precedence. But that doesn't mean other aspects of the feast can't be celebrated such as festive meals and prayerful remembrances of all our sanctified but unknown Benedictine sisters and brothers. And that is just what we are doing here at Genesee.
Virtual Visit
Our Fr. Gerard returned from his nearly two week visit to our Chinese brethren at the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy on the island of Lantao, Hong
Kong. While there giving the brothers a series of conferences he took several photos which he arranged in a slide show and shared with us in our chapter meeting this morning. Along with the photos he gave a brief history of the founding and subsequent persecution by the Japenese and the Chinese Communists of the original monastery. It was really heart rending to become aware of the unknown sufferings and killings of our Chinese brothers known as the 33 martyrs of Yang Pia Ping during the lifetime of most us.
But by the grace of God and the indomitable courage of a few intrepid survivors the monastery was refounded and survives to this day. There are two lengthy accounts of this incredible story on line at http://veritasestlibertas.blogspot.com/2010/10/33-martyrs-of-yang-kia-ping.html and http://veritasestlibertas.blogspot.com/2010/10/trappist-monks-in-communist-china.html if you would like to learn more about them. Fr. Gerard's presentation this morning and our 'virtual visit' to Lantao provided another dimension of the day's celebration. Pictured here are some members of the present day community.
Holiness does not lie on the other side of temptation; it is to be found in the midst of temptation. It does not sit waiting for us on a level above our weakness; it is given us in weakness, or else we would elude the power of God that is operative only in our weakness. Rather we must learn to 'abide' in weakness, and to do so full of faith, open to the weakness and in utter surrender to God's mercy. It is only in our weakness that we are vulnerable to his love and power. Accordingly, to continue in the situation of temptation and weakness is the only way for us to connect with grace, the only way we can become miracles of God's mercy. Tuning Into Grace
Lectio Notebook
Andre Louf, OCSO
|
Visit our On-Line Store at monksbread.com. |
