benedict for beginners
I have been asked what is so great about St. Benedict. From my perspective I really find the following fascinating:
1. St. Benedict was trying to reform the church from it’s laxness and compromised position of being wed with the state. He was trying to regain the counter-cultural-ness of Christ’s Kingdom. I love that radical spirit and that passion for bringing an alternative way of life - and wait for it - he bases his model for radical Christian living on the family!
2. St. Benedict is a Church Father all can relate to and emulate. He was a layman (not a priest); he desired to reach out and minister to and with whomever God brought along his path (ie - Benedictine hospitality); and no one tradition can call him their own (Benedict is pre-Great Schism and pre “reformation”).
3. St. Benedict makes the four Gospels the model for directing our life. His way forward was thoroughly Christological. In the prologue of the Rule he invites the reader to follow a new life and to “make the Gospels our guide.”
4. As I mentioned yesterday - I also like the extremes, even paradox, that Benedict weaves into the lives of those who follow his rule - stability and constant conversion; work and leisure; flexibility and asceticism; cloistered yet hospitable - and of course his commitment to guiding the day by the liturgy of the hours (the work of God) and the recitation of the psalms.
5. St. Benedict is not for those who are “really serious” or some graduate level spirituality for the “super pious” - St. Benedict was writing for the average Christ-follower. He again writes in the Rule that his purpose is, “to erect a school for beginners in the service of the Lord.”
Benedict is for beginners!
[…] The Savvy Bookworm wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt I have been asked what is so great about St. Benedict. From my perspective I really find the following fascinating: 1. St. Benedict was trying to reform the church from it’s laxness and compromised position of being wed with the state. He was trying to regain the counter-cultural-ness of Christ’s Kingdom. I love that radical spirit and that passion for bringing an alternative way of life - and wait for it - he bases his model for radical Christian living on the family! 2. St. Benedict is a Ch […]
Doug,
I just wanted you to know that I am still here, reading and enjoying.
Aloha to you, my friend!
Monty
thanks my hawaiian friend - peace to you and your family.
This is a great connection.
I’m working on the Liturgy of the Hours
on my Benedictine flavoured
liturgy and spirituality site:
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/ofthehours/resources.html
thanks for the link Bosco!
Great stuff!! thanks for coming by - please make it a habit.
Let’s not forget the eggs that my wife loves so much…
jk…
Finding some radical way to follow Jesus in this world is so hard. I’m more of a Francis guy myself, but the whole Benedictine thing is so intriguing, too. Pretty simple, like all good things seem to be.