Reflections from Turvey Abbey
As often as anything important is to be done in the monastery, the abbot shall call the whole community together and himself explain what the business is; and after hearing the advice of the brothers, let him ponder it and follow what he judges the wiser course. Ch 3, Summoning the Brothers for Counsel When …
Continue reading “Jubilee of Consecrated Life: St Benedict, Pilgrim of Hope (3)”
‘Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see him who has called us to his kingdom.’ One of the gifts of monastic life for me is the experience of living close to the Scriptures. …
Continue reading “Jubilee of Consecrated Life: St Benedict, Pilgrim of Hope (2)”
St Benedict begins his Rule in the most hopeful of ways. He begins with an invitation to listen: ‘Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it and faithfully put it into practice.’ Prologue, Rule …
Continue reading “Jubilee of Consecrated Life: St Benedict, Pilgrim of Hope (1)”
Luke 17:5-10 In the opening of his Rule St Benedict makes an invitation to anyone who is serious about seeking God: ‘Is there anyone here who yearns for life and desires to see good days?‘ To those who respond he says: ‘See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life. Clothed …
Continue reading “Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)”
Luke 16:19-31 Week after week the Gospel texts have presented us with a range of challenges. This week’s text is no exception. At first sight the parable is a warning about riches and the fate of those whose earthly life focused on wealth alone. Luke uses the framework of a well-known Egyptian folktale to begin …
Luke 16:1-13 When we listen to the parables of Jesus it can be easy to forget the urgency in his preaching. A new age is dawning and Jesus himself is the embodiment of the Kingdom he preaches. This Kingdom offers both promise and challenge. These past weeks we have listened to Luke outlining his theology …
Therefore we intend to establish a school of the Lord’s service. In drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome. Rule of St Benedict, Prologue All aspects of monastery life are focused on seeking and serving God. I often speak of monastic life as an ‘intentional life’. Monastic life is …
Luke 14:1,7-14 ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you would …
TOGETHER ‘Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.’ (Ch. 72, On Good Zeal) St Benedict began his life of faith in the small town of Norcia, just outside of Rome. As a young boy he was sent to Rome to study; he found himself unhappy …
LOVEThe seventy three chapters of the Rule of St Benedict are a framework for living in community. Every aspect of monastery life is covered, sometimes in detail that is a little surprising. Some parts of the text are very demanding and others are tender and considerate. This strictness is seen by St Benedict as means …