BLOG NEWS

LIVING THE ZEAL OF BENEDICT BLOG is now at http://eriebenedictines.org/zeal-blog.
Hope you will check it out often.
Peace, 
Sister Marilyn 

Pray With Us

Psalm 17

O God, hear a cause that is just;

listen to my plea.

Turn to me and hear my prayer;

free my lips from deceit.

From you may my judgment come,

for you behold the truth.

You search my heart, even in the night.

You test me and find in me no wrong.

My words are not sinful.

I keep from violence because of your word.

I keep my feet firmly on your path.

I call and you hear me, O God.

Turn to me;  /  hear my words.

Show your great love to your friends.

Save them from those who rebel against them.

From the attack of the wicked,

hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Keep me as the apple of your eye.

With hardened hearts my foes surround me.

With haughty speech they attack me.

They wait to strike me to the ground

as lions, eager for prey.

Arise and confront them;

O God, cast them down!

Rescue me from the wicked,

from those whose reward is in this life.

You give them their fill of your treasures.

They rejoice in abundance of offspring

and leave their wealth to their children.

As for me, when I awake

I will be filled with the sight of your glory.

CHAPTER 73 - This Rule Only A Beginning of Perfection

The reason we have written this rule is that, by observing it in monasteries, we can show that we have some degree of virtue and the beginnings of monastic life. RB 73:1


This chapter is generally considered an epilogue or summary of the Rule. The general message is to encourage followers of Benedict to avoid complacency and continue to make progress on one's spiritual journey of seeking God. 


To many people, monasticism is held in esteem as an advanced form of Christian life. Benedict, however, reminds us that this is only a beginning. His rule tells us over and over that each day has the potential to be a new day of the unfolding of one's spiritual growth.


He expected that the ordinary monastic life would result in a real experience of God here and now. Benedict offers us potential - potential to experience the fullness of life now if we are willing to undertake the discipline of the Rule, the teaching of Scripture and the message of early church writers.


"Are you hastening toward your heavenly home? Then with Christ's help, keep this little rule that we have written for beginners. After that, you can set out for the loftier summits of the teaching and virtues we mentioned above, and under God's protection you will reach them. Amen."  RB 73:8-9

Pray with us!

Psalm 23

You are my shepherd, O God,

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where you give me repose.

Near restful waters you lead me,

refreshing my spirit.

You guide me along safe paths,

you are true to your name.

Though I walk in the valley of darkness,

no evil do I fear.

Your rod and staff are comfort to me.

You prepare a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you anoint with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely, goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.

I shall dwell in your house forever.

(From That God May Be Glorified:The Liturgy of the Hours in Inclusive Language.
Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Inc.)

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

I am no longer afraid of death,
I know well its darkness
and cold corridors leading to life.

I am afraid rather of that life
which does not come out of death.

I live each day to kill death.

I die each day to beget life,
and in this dying until death,
I die a thousand time and am reborn
another thousand through that love
from my community, which nourishes hope.

You will then know how marvelous it is
to live threatened with Resurrection!

To dream awake,
to keep watch asleep,
to live while dying
and to already know oneself resurrected.


Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

(Threatened with Resurrection
by Julia Esquivel p. 63, 65)

Holy Saturday Tenebrae Lamentation

Aleph:

How the gold has grown dim;

how the pure gold is changed!

The holy stones lie scattered

at the head of every street.

Beth:

The precious children of Zion,

worth their weight in fine gold,

are reckoned as earthen pots,

the work of a potter's hands.

Heth:

The steadfast love of God never ceases,

 mercies never come to an end, 

they are new every morning; 

great is this faithfulness.

"God is my portion,

therefore my hope will not be in vain."

Teth:

God is good to those who wait;

to those who do not waver.

It is good that we should wait quietly

for the salvation of God.

It is good for us that we bear

the yoke in our youth.

(Lamentation 4:1,2; 3:22-27)