Abbey News

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI and St. Benedict

In his general audience for April 9th our Holy Father spoke to Europeans suggesting that for those searching for true progress in Europe, it might be beneficial to go back to the Rule of the father of Western monasticism, St. Benedict, for inspiration and guidance. The full text of his talk can be found at St. Benedict of Nursia.

His remark that, In the search for true progress, let us listen to the Rule of St. Benedict and see it as a guiding light for our journey. The great monk is still a true teacher in whose school we can learn the art of living a true humanism applies to all peoples looking for guidance in the art of living.

Dom Bernardo Visits Genesee
Dom Bernardo, prior of our daughter house in Brazil, Novo Mundo, is with us for a few days after giving a retreat to our sisters at Wrentham. He spoke to us in chapter this morning (while snow was gently falling) of the current state of affairs at Novo Mundo. It was good to hear of the continued growth of the community there and that as time goes on the community is becoming more Brazilian and less dependent on American or European members.

All of the requirements for an independent priory to be elevated having been met the community will petition the general chapter this September to become a full fledged abbey.

Pictured here is Dom Bernardo on the left and Dom John on the right.

Yet Another Coming and Going
This time, yours truly. Early tomorrow morning (4 AM to be exact) I'll be heading out to the Abbey of New Melleray in Dubuque, Iowa for the Junior Seminar. I should be back home on April 28th if all goes well, which is asking for an awful lot these days with all sorts of airline flight cancellations. Say a couple of prayers that all those participating in the Seminar will travel in safety and that it will be an occasion of blessings for everyone involved.

While I'm away there will be no Abbey News or Homilies Updates.

We must try to keep the mind in quietness. For if the eye is constantly shifting its gaze, one moment this way or that, then veering between upwards and down, it cannot see clearly what lies directly in front of it. It has to bring its gaze to bear on this object so as to see it clearly in focus.

In the same way a mind distracted by thousands of worldly concerns cannot possible bring a steady gaze to bear on the truth.

Another image: you cannot write on wax tablets unless everything previously written on them has been erased - and the soul cannot receive godly teaching without first clearing out of the way its own preconceived ideas. With this in view a time of withdrawal is of the greatest benefit, as it calms our compulsive passions and gives reason a clear space to cut them down to size

Letter Two
Basil the Great