Hello from the charming town of Carlsbad, California. I am Cider, an 11 year-old male. I would like to join the Feline Cloister because Aunt Stephanie thought it was really cool❤️. She is my mom’s daughter, and I trust her judgment about joining the Cloister.
I just loved my Zoom call with Novice Master Br. Ricky. He is so encouraging. When I explained that I am Siamese his ears perked forward. “We have several Siamese novices, but they look different from you.”
I explained that I am a Flame Point Siamese (also known as Red Point Siamese). I am of a rare variation of the Siamese cat breed, characterized by our distinctive red pointed pattern. We are a people-friendly breed and can be very vocal, even if just to ourselves.
Br. Ricky then asked me about my outstanding personality characteristics. I proudly shared that I am extremely smart. At that Br. Ricky looked down and pawed something quickly in his notebook with a tiny green pencil. He then looked up and gave me a feline smile. “Cider, being smart will help you in your study of the Rule of St. Benedict. You will be able to make connections between various chapters and ideas. This will help you learn how to live as a Benedictine feline.” I purred at that!
Looking more serious, he then continued. “Just remember that there’s always room for growth in who you are as a feline. One of the things you will learn about Benedictine humility is to know yourself, yes. But you are to recognize that you may not be “top cat.” He opened his well-worn copy of The Rule of St. Benedict in Mew and read this to me.
“The seventh step of humility is that we not only admit with our tongues but are also convinced in our hearts that we are inferior to all and of less value, humbling ourselves and saying with the prophet: I am truly a worm, not even human, scorned and despised by all” (Ps 22:7). RB 7.51-52
Wow! I gave an audible squeak at that idea! Noting the fur on my neck reaching for the ceiling, Br. Ricky quickly added, “Let me put that into contemporary language. In her book, St. Benedict’s Toolbox, Amma explains that Step 7 asks us ‘to recognize that we may not have the final answer and so listen to other people [and felines].’” (216)
I nodded in partial understanding and promised to keep Amma’s words in mind.
Deciding to move on to a new subject I mewed that I am very aware. Br. Ricky clapped his paws, and meowed, “Excellent, Novice Cider! That means you are living in the present moment, which is a very important Benedictine characteristic. This is so we can discover what God is calling us to do or what kind of feline God is asking us to be.
This is what the Benedictine vows of stability and obedience are all about. We are fully in the present (stability) and we listen for God’s direction. (obedience).
Illus. Winnie ready to clap paws.
Cider with his brother Frankie, “looking forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing.” RB 49.7
One thing I can be very aware of is my canine brother, Frankie. I explained that we get along most of the time. But we can fall into tense periods. We always make up, though, since we are both rescues and really appreciate our home.
I explained two things I like to do – sleep on my human’s bed and sneak outside. My human is okay with me on the bed but gets annoyed when I sneak outside. Br. Ricky nodded in understanding. He asked me to ponder and pray over this verse from the Rule in light of my desire to sneak outside.
“No monastics are to pursue what they judge better for themselves, but instead, what they judge better for someone else.” RB 72.7
Well, my human isn’t alone in being annoyed. There are things that I don’t like either, like riding in the car and going to the vet. And I really get annoyed when she vacuums or when the doorbell rings. Br. Ricky nodded sympathetically. He mewed that others in the Feline Cloister have the same responses to all four of these challenges. That made me feel better – I am not alone here.
As a novice I can also encourage my human to become a Lay Reader at her church, St. Michael’s by the Sea, in Carlsbad, California. Purr! Becoming a novice is the right decision!
My favorite verses from the Rule:
“Do not aspire to be called holy before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so. Live by God’s commandments every day; treasure chastity, harbor neither hatred nor jealousy of anyone, and do nothing out of envy… And finally, never lose hope in God’s mercy.” 4.62-67, 74
Novice Cider has an amazing vocabulary, the result of many hours of study and learning new words as shown here. His favorite word to use, especially when things get tense with Frankie is
Floccinaucinihilipilification.
It makes quite a mew. Br. Ricky looked up the word after the Zoom call. To see the definition, tap here.