Bryan Sherwood

The Feast of St. Benedict

Today is the Feast of St. Benedict.  It's a special feast day for me and all those who follow the Rule of St. Benedict, including my friends at the Abbey of Gethsemani.  Today, instead of writing about Benedict, I'll refer you to other writings as the day wears on.  Check back and we'll see what other people are saying about this feast day.  Feel free to refer us to other blog posts about Benedict in the comments.

A prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, whose precepts are the wisdom of a loving Father: Give us grace, following the teaching and example of your servant Benedict, to walk with loving and willing hearts in the school of the Lord's service; let your ears be open to our prayers; and prosper with your blessing the work of our hands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (James Kiefer)

Check out:

• Brandon Fang:  Days in the Diocese
• Meg Funk:  For the Feast of St. Benedict  
• Alan Creech:  Benedict On My Desk 

Front Yard Shots, Tools Matter and Sr. O'Daly

I thought I'd get my camera out and take a few shots around our front yard tonight.  It's a beautiful evening in Kentucky - not too hot, not too cold.  The close-up shots aren't too bad considering I took them all freehanded.  Unfortunately, the grass and tree pollen are "very high" and that's causing me and lots of other people all kinds of allergy problems.

I'm reading (slowly) a book called Tools Matter for Practicing the Spiritual Life by Meg Funk.  She gives a good overview of the book and its direction on page 1 of her introduction:

This book is a brief presentation of tools found in the Christian tradition and how they worked for the early monks and nuns.  These monastics were people like you and me.  They felt the same impulse we do--they needed help.  To find that help, they went to visit the early hermits, quiet dwellers in the desert, and asked them, "How do you do it?"  "How can I do it?"  These wise persons taught them to guard their hearts, to watch their thoughts, to spend time in vigils, to fast, to confess, to practice ceaseless prayer, to practice the prayer of the heart, and to do manual labor, to name a few of the recommended practices.

If you're interested in monastic spirituality, I'd recommend picking up this book.

There is a beautiful reflection about the passing of Sr. Monica O'Daly at Sr. Eleanor's Cistercian Vocation blog.  May she rest in peace.  If I'm ever in Ireland (and I hope to be one day), I'd like to stop by St. Mary's Abbey and visit with the sisters there.  Cistercians in Ireland - does it get any better than that?

Peace to you.

Manual Labor - It's Good for the Soul

Heather and I just finished working in our yard.  I mowed and spent some time weeding.  Heather spent all of her time weeding.  Although the yard is far from perfect, it does look quite a bit better.  While I was bent over, pulling weeds, a passage from the Rule of St. Benedict came to mind.

(1) Idleness is the enemy of the soul.  Therefore, the brothers should have specified periods for manual labor as well as for prayerful reading.  . . . (8) When they live by the labor of their hands, as our fathers and the apostles did, then they are really monks.  (9) Yet, all things are to be done with moderation on account of the fainthearted.

How true that is.  I work pretty hard at my job, Monday through Friday.  There have been days over the last year that were absolutely exhausting for me.  I was emotionally and mentally drained, for sure.  However, that work is nothing like manual labor.  There's something about manual labor that allows the mind to rest.  It quiets me.  I get rid of some of the frustration of the day as I weed or mow or prune.  Although St. Benedict didn't have to deal with the computer age and all the good and bad that brings, he did know this truth:  manual labor is good for the soul.  He states it pretty strongly:  "When they live by the labor of their hands, as our fathers and the apostles did, then they are really monks."  (emphasis mine)

Amen.

The World Is Their Cloister

Heather and I drove down to the Abbey of Gethsemani yesterday for my monthly LCG Meeting. It was fun having her along. I did all the usual stuff: attended our LCG group meeting, went to Mass and stayed for a potluck meal. Fr. Michael passed along a great little article to us called The World Is Their Cloister which was published in The Tablet. The article talks about the increasing numbers of lay people who are interested in connecting to monastic life. I'm not exactly surprised by that--people are looking for deep, time-tested ways of being formed and find a lot of good wisdom in the monastic tradition.

I hope monasteries like Gethsemani will continue to add new vocations. Yet, it's hard to ignore the exponential growth of lay groups like the LCG. I believe the Holy Spirit is spreading the charism of monastic life around. It'll be interesting to see how monastic life changes over the next several decades.

Pax.

A Fire At Little Portion Monastery

Please offer prayers for Little Portion Monastery. Their chapel and common center burned to the ground last night. Their library was lost along with their community archives. John Michael Talbot writes:

We lost some most valuable things in the fire. Our community archives were lost and all of the books in our library. The Troubadour stockroom and inventory were lost to the flames. All of the various awards received were melted in the intense heat of the fire. We have some back-ups from computers, but nothing current. It is our hope that most of this is covered by our insurance.

God gave members various words or locutions. I shared that God is stripping us back to what is really essential to our way of life and that we will rebuild with greater efficiency, but in stone. Someone got the image of Gideon, who was repeatedly told by the Lord that he needed fewer men, but men well-prepared for battle. Another said that she got a word that God is with us through this trial. These served to inspire us and to keep our spirits hopeful and filled with faith, hope, and love. I believe we may have lost some buildings, but He will make us stronger for going through this together.

What a terrible loss and yet the community there appears strong and determined to build again. Please keep them in your prayers.

You can see photos here.

Pax.

A Little Update (Coffee, the Weekend and Patron Saints)

Listening to Johnny Cash, American III, Solitary Man.

I just finished ordering coffee from Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee. I'm the self-appointed "coffee guy" at St. Patrick's. If you need coffee, I can help! I'm always entertained at how people perk up when you hand them a bag of fresh roasted coffee at Mass. Word and Table (and coffee!) - it doesn't get better than that! It doesn't hurt that Land of a Thousand Hills is doing some wonderful work in Rwanda. You should read more about them on their website.

The weekend was "full" but fun. Heather and I went to a party Friday night at the Olson's and again on Saturday night at Fr. Peter's house to celebrate Trudi's birthday. Sunday morning was filled with our Priory meeting and sharing life. It was all very good. Even more exciting, we're thinking about a name for our little Priory. Names of Catholic saints are encouraged, especially those of the Celtic variety. Suggestions?

By the way, Kyle has been writing about Saint Patrick's Monastery in a series of posts on his blog. You should check them out.
Saint Patrick's Monastery: To De-Pimp and Re-Monk the Church
Saint Patrick's Monastery: Benedictine Monasticism and Celtic Mission
Saint Patrick's Monastery: More Monastic Values
Saint Patrick's Monastery: Matters of Organization
Saint Patrick's Monastery: Relationships
Saint Patrick's Monastery: The Abbey and the Wider Church

Good, good stuff. I'm pleased to be a part of it.

I guess that's about it from here.

Pax.

On Prayer

I've been reading Joyce Chittister's book, The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages. In it, she shares a story from the Sayings of the Desert Monastics that I like. I thought it worth posting here.

Once upon a time the disciples asked Abba Agathoon, "Among all good works, which is the virtue that requires the greatest effort?" Abba Agaton answered, "I think there is no labor greater than that of prayer to God. For every time we want to pray, our enemies, the demons, want to prevent us, for they know that it is only by turning us from prayer that they can hinder our journey. Whatever good work a person undertakes, if they persevere in it, they will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath."

Questions on Monastic Life

I come to monasteries like Saint Meinrad's and I can't help but feel drawn here.  The Spirit seems to call out to me about monastic life.  I'm sure I'm quite the mystery to many people.  They ask questions like "Why do you go to the monastery so often?"  "What do you do there?"  Some seem interested in my responses while others just think I'm strange.

Why do I come to the monastery?  That is actually a very good question to wrestle with.  As I said before, this life, this ancient way of being Christian speaks to me deeply.  Yet, I'm not going to be a Benedictine or Cistercian "monk"--at least not in the common way that's understood today.  After all, I'm happily married with a secular job, a house and a mortgage to pay.  I don't think the Cistercians are going to let me put on a habit and start living with them.  So, where does that leave me and others who ask similar questions?

It seems to me that the understanding of monastic life must broaden.  The current definitions of monastic life are too small and narrow.  The Holy Spirit is calling many like myself to this way of living.  You can certainly see it in the Cistercian tradition.  Lay Associate programs have popped up near Cistercian monasteries all over the US and all over the world.  For many years, they weren't aware of each other.  Like me, they too have this yearning for monastic life.

Like the monks at Gethsemani, I've adopted a Rule of Life for myself that helps me structure my daily life, in the spirit of Saint Benedict.  I too live in community with others:  my family, my wife, those in my work place and those in my parish.  I too value the hours of prayer and the Work of God.  Like any good monk, I'm doing my best to love others.  Each day I'm learning to love God and my neighbor.  I've entered into a way of life that is transforming and has been lived out by generations of Christians before me.

Why do I come to the monastery?  Because I've been called there and it's a calling that I can't ignore. 

Peace.

First Impressions

My first few hours at St. Meinrad's have been very different from what I'm accustomed to as a retreatant at Gethsemani.  First, let me say Benedictines eat better or at the very least, their guests do!  I just had pork chops, roasted potatoes with cheese, corn, and dessert.  The food is remarkably better and I for one, have no problem with that! 

Vespers was a bit different than I'm used to as well but was very beautiful.  The chanting here is extraordinary.  The church is arranged in a much more inclusive and open way.  I enjoyed it very much.  It doesn't look as though they pray compline together which makes me a little sad.  I guess I'll be doing that in my room this evening.

Technology seems to be everywhere here.  Each guest room has a wired internet connection and there are computer stations in the guest house and library that are available for use as well.  Currently, I'm sitting in the guest house lobby typing this post.  It's probably good that I didn't bring my laptop--that would probably be distracting to me.

Each guest room is also stocked with a few books to read including a Bible and a book on The Rule of Saint Benedict.  Kind of a nice touch, I think.

The size of this campus is much larger than I'm used to at Gethsemani.  It's beautiful though and I'll enjoy roaming around here for the next several days.  If the weather forecast holds true, I should see four or more inches of SNOW while I'm here.  Nothing could make me happier!

Okay, I guess that's all that I have for now.  I'm going to take my coffee back to my room for some quiet reading.

Pax.

Packing for My Retreat

I'm packing for my retreat this morning and have been thinking about what books to take with me. Of course, St. Meinrad's library has over 170,000 volumes so why I'm taking any books with me is beyond me. There are a few books which have made their way into my luggage:
> Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N.T. Wright.
> First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew
> Benedictine Daily Prayer

I think that's probably enough. I'm packing my Canon S5 with lots of extra batteries so I can bring back some pics of this place. Oh, and with any luck, I'll get to enjoy some SNOW while I'm gone! I'll see you in a few days.

Pax.