“Thanks be to God that you are here!” (RB 66.3) I’m Sr. Nikki, OSB-F (Order of St. Benedict – Feline). You may be wondering about the title of my Mewsing, a “take off” on RB 48.1 in The Rule of St. Benedict - "Idleness is the enemy of the soul." In the winter 2023...
Moderation/Balance
The Rule Of Benedict – Chapter 48, Verse 1 Idleness is the Enemy of the Soul
“Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the community members should have specified periods for manual labor as well as for prayerful reading.”RB 48.1Welcome to my article unpacking verse 1 in Chapter 48 – The Daily Manual Labor (RB 48.1) from The Rule of St....
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...
The Lure of Private Possessions
I saw it! It was right there in plain view. I saw a toy peeking out from a corner in one of the cat beds, One of my Benedictine feline companions had secreted it as if it belonged to them! I hissed in shocked disbelief because this action is not what is written in...
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...