Annie – My Promise for 2025
What prevents me from preferring nothing whatever to Christ?
When my brother Linus attacks me I get really annoyed. It upsets my whole day. I think bad thoughts about him over and over and can’t seem to let these thoughts go.
Practices from the Rule to help me craft my promise:
“This, then, is the good zeal which members must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another.” RB 72.3-6
“Do not repay one bad turn with another (1 Thes 5:15; 1 Pet 3:9). Do not injure anyone, but bear injuries patiently.” RB 4.29-30
“Hour by hour keep careful watch over all you do, aware that God’s gaze is upon you, wherever you may be. As soon as wrongful thoughts come into your heart, dash them against Christ and disclose them to your spiritual guide [Br. Ricky].” RB 4.48-50
My 2025 Promise:
The verses I found will help me to be a better cloister kitty. The first will help me to be more understanding of Linus and the second, not to react in kind, either physically or in my mind. The third I will remind me to turn to Christ and let go of the bad thoughts.
What my human needs to learn to help her prefer nothing whatever to Christ:
My human needs to learn how to put Benedictine practices to life as a caregiver.
Practices from the Rule to help my human craft her promise:
“Care of the sick must rank above and before all else so that they may truly be served as Christ who said: I was sick and you visited me (Matt 25-36), and, What you did for one of these least of my people you did for me (Matt. 25-40). RB 36.1-3
“Idleness [change to overwork] is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the community members should have specified periods for manual labor as well as for prayerful reading…But after Sext and their meal, they may rest on their beds in complete silence.” RB 48.1, 2, 5a Modified by Novice Annie
“…members are to be given help when it is needed, and whenever they are free, they work wherever they are assigned.” RB 53.20
“Place your hope in God alone.” RB 4.41
My Human’s 2025 Promise:
Annie asks you to join her and craft your own 2025 Promise.