Hello there! Glad to be back with you again. I noticed this morning that my paws seem to be digging into the floor. Does that ever happen to you? It happens to me when I faced with the prospect of doing something I don't want to do. My paws may dig into the carpet...
Benedictine Vows
Turning From the Crickets
I had a long mew with Amma last week. She’s concerned that there are Cloister members who are straying from their deeper purpose – to love God and others and to follow the guidance of the Rule. Aware of Benedict’s instructions to the superior to “exercise the...
A Tool for Playing Catch Every Day – Tossing Words and Acts of Kindness
Purpose of the Tool To begin a spiritual discipline of playing catch every day, tossing words and acts of kindness. Background on the Tool One of my favorite verses in The Rule of St. Benedict is about kindness. In Chapter 31 – Qualifications of the Monastery...
Playing Games and The Rule of St. Benedict
Do playing games and The Rule of St. Benedict seem miles apart? On first glance it might seem so. St. Benedict was serious about the search for God and salvation. And the times were uncertain and harsh. Yet Benedict was understanding and compassionate. Might he...
Helping Others In Sadness or Grief
I have some sad news to report. We lost one of our faithful members in the cloister of eight. Marcy had cancer and got really thin and weak. Amma Jane and Prior John did all they could to help her. The vet tried hard as well. But when Marcy left the house...
Dragging the Cat Bed
Something happened the other day that sent me to the Rule. I wanted to discover Benedict's thoughts on change and acceptance to answer this question - How much should we try to rearrange things around us if certain things are not to our liking? Br Ricky Redecorates...
Trade Panic For Calmness and Peace
Hi! The Rule of St Benedict has taught me many things about what kind of person I am to be and how I am to treat others. I have also learned ways that I can foster a positive environment for everyone, including me. In particular, I need to be aware of and follow...
The Danger of Leaving the Enclosure
In Chapter 66 - The Porter of the Monastery, Benedict points out that the monastery is to be constructed so that everything needed is within the walls of the enclosure. He is concerned about the danger of leaving the enclosure. Benedict fears that his members...
The Benedictine Art of Meandering
Have you ever seen a wild turkey? Abbess Jane said that she once saw seven wild turkeys clustered around her bird bath drinking the foul stuff like patrons around a bar. Yuck! After several minutes of liquid refreshment, a couple turkeys wandered off to forage in...