Hi! I’m Dora Maxwell. I would like to join the Feline Cloister because Kate, my human, does these ‘Benedictine’ things and uses strange words like vespers and compline. I want to understand what she’s doing so I can interrupt better.
When he heard this on our Zoom call Novice Master Br. Ricky quickly pawed something in a little notebook with a tiny green pencil. “Your heart is in the right place, Novice Dora,” he mewed with broad feline smile on his kind face. “You want to learn more about St. Benedict and his Rule.” I purred at this and gave a feline thumbs up.
“Is your human happy to be interrupted?” Truth is that my interruptions are not always welcomed. Br. Ricky nodded. “Benedict is very clear that we are to consider the other person or feline first before ourselves.” Flipping through his well-worn copy of The Rule of St. Benedict in Mew he shared this.
“No monastics are to pursue what they judge better for themselves, but instead, what they judge better for someone else.” RB 72.7
Br. Ricky suggested that I could find a time when interruptions would be welcome. This sounded reasonable because I really am very affectionate. That is when I’m not having a case of the Zoomies. You see, I’m a kitten about ten months old. I love speeding around the house.
I love to hang over the arm of the chair I’m sitting in, too. It’s great fun to climb up on the bookcase and look down on the world. I also chase balls and invisible intrude
Br. Ricky grinned. “Sounds like you are not an idle kitten. St. Benedict would be pleased. In Chapter 48 – The Daily Manual Labor he lays out a plan for a balanced life. This includes physical activity.”
“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 48.1
Novice Bertram following Benedict’s instructions to perform
manual labor
Novice Dora enjoying a rare
idle moment
Br. Ricky explained many activities not thought of by humans as manual labor are considered manual labor in the Feline Cloister. He promised to talk to Amma about including zoomies in this category. I offered another thumbs up.
I told Br. Ricky that I don’t like treats. This surpised Br. Ricky as he is a big treat lover, as are most felines. I then learned that Benedict allows two kinds of cooked food. (RB 38.1-2) Wet food and treats. Purrfect again.
Two things really annoy me. First, when there’s not enough on horizontal surfaces to knock down. Watching things fall is such fun, I mewed with glee. I asked if this could be considered manual labor, too. “No, Novice Dora,” he responded gravely. “In fact, as a novice this is something I would ask you to refrain from this pastime. Everything in our homes is to be treated with reverence. In Chapter 31 we read that all utensils and goods of the monastery are to be regarded as sacred vessels of the altar. RB 31.10 And we are asked to treat things with care.”
I don’t mean to be careless. It’s just fun.
Illus. Kitty Biting
The second thing that annoys me is that my human won’t play kitty-biting. I explained that I give my human little nips. Br. Ricky flipped through the Rule again and mewed this verse.
“In the monastery every occasion for presumption is to be avoided, and so we decree that no one has the authority to excommunicate or strike [Br. Ricky added “or bite”] any member of the community unless given this power by the prioress or abbot.” RB 70.1-2
He then explained that Amma would never allow hitting or biting and other aggressive actions. It isn’t aggression, I mew, defending myself. It’s how I show affection to my human, but she doesn’t like it. Br. Ricky nodded and mewed that overwhelmingly humans don’t like feline teeth.
With a deep breath I then shared what I think my human needs to learn: The joys of sharing bites to show affection. She has this strange aversion to my teeth. She would be much happier if she simply let go of her fear.
After pawing a quick note in his little notebook with his tiny green pencil, Br. Ricky gave me an encouraging feline smile. He understands mydiscouragement about kitty-biting. He offered to help me come up with a different way of showing affection that would satisfy both me and your human. He is very nice.
“I am so glad you’re here, Dora Maxwell, Br. Ricky mewed. “Being a youngster in the Feline Cloister will help you grow up into a proper Benedictine adult. Your human told me that the Rule has been doing that for her, to be sure.”
Purr!! I promised to try my best.
Illus. Feline thumbs up
My favorite verses from the Rule:
“We must, then, prepare our hearts and bodies for the battle of holy obedience to God’s instructions. What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Holy One to supply by the help of grace.” Prologue 40-41