Reflections from Turvey Abbey
Just as there is an evil and bitter zeal that separates one from God and leads to hell, so too there is a good zeal that separates one from evil and leads to God and eternal life. Thus monks should practice this zeal with the warmest love: ‘Let then strive to be the first to …
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‘A brother may be assigned a burdensome task or something he cannot do. If so, he should with complete gentleness and obedience, accept the order given him. Should he see, however, that the weight of the burden is altogether too much for his strength, then he should choose the appropriate moment and explain patiently to …
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‘(The abbot) most so arrange everything that the strong have something to yearn for and the weak have nothing to run from.’Ch 64, The Election of an Abbot If I had to choose just one sentence from the Rule, I think this would be it. Benedict treads a careful, clear-sighted and loving path in his …
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‘Receive me, Lord, according to your promise and I shall live; do not disappoint me in my hope.’ Ps 118.116 In Ch 58, The Procedure for Receiving Brothers, this Psalm verse is chosen by St Benedict as the central text for the ceremony of monastic Profession. It is traditionally sung solo three times in English …
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‘If there are artisans in the monastery, they are to practise their craft with all humility, but only with the abbot’s permission.’ Ch 57, The Artisans of the Monastery This chapter of the Rule assumes that creative activities are taking place in the monastery. I think it might be one of the best kept secrets …
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For the daily meals, whether at noon or in midafternoon, it is enough we believe, to provide all tables with two kinds of cooked food because of individual weaknesses. In this way, the person who may not be able to eat of one kind of food may partake of the other.Ch. 39, The Proper Amount …
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In Chapter Four of his Rule St Benedict offers the monastic a set of ‘tools’ for monastic living. These tools are seventy-three spiritual practices which cover every aspect of monastic life:Yearn for everlasting life with holy desire. (Tool 46)Day by day remind yourself that you are going to die. (Tool 47)Do not aspire to be …
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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 …
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‘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. …
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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 …
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