Hello from Somerset, England. I’m Teddy Bear, a 3-year-6-month-old male cat. I would like to join the Feline Cloister because I am a Christian cat who wants to learn about St. Benedict and Jesus. I also want to surrpawt my mommy in her work as a Vicar. I am her emotional surrpawt already, but I would like to be her spiritual surrpawt as well.
In my Zoom interview Br. Ricky, our Novice Master, gave me a delighted smile. “In the Feline Cloister an important practice is to surrpawt each other in our journey with Christ. The way to begin is to have this verse be your touchstone and guide.”
“Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ.”
RB 72.11
I purred mightily. With Christ as my preference I know that he will help me become that spiritual surrpawt I yearn to be.
What kind of feline am I? I am very talkative and very energetic. My mummy says that I am terribly handsome. I added that I am tall and proud to be a vicarage cat. Br. Ricky mewed that I am like the porter at the gate of the monastery who welcomes visitors and parishioners “with all the gentleness that comes from reverence of God.” RB 66.4b Porters are to answer the door as soon as anyone knocks or calls out. RB 66.3 And so, Br. Ricky asked me stay close to the front door of the vicarage.
This request may be impossible for me to carry out. I love to run around like a crazy thing. Br. Ricky asked me to try, especially when my mummy is expecting visitors. But if that proves to be too difficult to let him know.
Benedict has a way for a monastic to negotiate when a task seems impossible. (Chapter 68: Assignment of Impossible Tasks to a Monastic) Br. Ricky mewed that together we would then work out a less demanding assignment.
I confessed that I love to jump on the bed when my mummy is in it. This does startle her and I am not 100% convinced that she enjoys it as much as I do. Br. Ricky asked me to reflect on this verse from the Rule.
“No monastics are to pursue what they judge better for themselves, but instead, what they judge better for someone else.” RB 72.7
Worldwide Novice Teddy Bear zoned out after one of his high-speed runs
around the vicarage
When Br. Ricky asked me to share what I don’t like, several things immediately popped out in an energetic meow. The first?
I don’t like to do what I’m told!
After he pawed something in his little notebook with his tiny green pencil he explained that one of the Benedictine vows I will take is obedience. Hearing that my ears became pinned to the back of my head! We felines resist being told what to do. It is part of our nature.
Noting my pinned ears and upright fur, our Novice Master explained that Benedictine obedience is about being Christ to others. We listen to the feline, human or situation carefully with eyes and ears. Then we respond with a loving heart as Christ would.
Purr. I thought what he said was wonderful and wise. My ears unpinned. I mewed that I would do my best at the holy task of obedience. Br. Ricky clapped his paws.
Teddy Bear begging for attention when his mummy is at the computer
I confessed that I do get annoyed when my mummy is on the computer too much. Since one of my goals is to learn about St. Benedict I asked if the Rule had any suggestions to help me be a better surrpawt. Br. Ricky suggested two practices in the Rule. “Both will help you to be less focused on yourself and more compassionate when things are not to your liking.”
“First and foremost, there must be no word or sign of the evil of grumbling, no manifestation of it for any reason at all.” RB 34.6
“The second step of humility is that we love not our own will nor take pleasure in the satisfaction of our desires; rather we shall imitate by our actions that saying of Christ’s: I have come not to do my own will, but the will of the One who sent me” (John 6:38). RB 7.31-32
He then explained how I can help. “Your mummy is doing God’s will as a vicar. This means that she must spend time on the computer preparing sermons and communication with others. She is following the second step in Benedict’s ladder of humility. You can too by refraining from excessive mewing and walking on the keyboard just to get attention.”
I am concerned about my mummy. As vicarage cat I have firsthand knowledge of how busy she is taking care of the parish and its people. She needs more times of quiet to restore her soul and listen to God. Br. Ricky suggested that we schedule some time to do lectio divina together. (RB 4.55) Purr. What a wonderful suggestion!
I’m so happy to be a Novice in the Feline Cloister. I can’t wait to learn more!
My favorite verses from The Rule of St. Benedict:
“Let us get up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: It is high time for us to arise from sleep (Rom. 13:11). Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from the heavens that every day calls out this charge: “If you hear God’s voice today, do not harden your hearts” (Ps. 95:8). Prologue 8-10
Novice Teddy Bear opening his eyes to the light that comes from God (Prologue 9)