Hi. Br Ricky here. How are you doing with your Lenten discipline? Don’t be discouraged if you’ve had a lapse. Read on to learn how I helped Resident Novice Sebastian Thomas. I hope my suggestion will help you, too.
As a monastic leader,
Br. Ricky strives to faithfully follow the Rule
Br. Ricky Identifies a Need
Resident Novice Sebastian Thomas was looking more worried than ever.
I was acutely aware that his countenance had fallen as Lent moved along.
Quick action was needed, or Sebastian Thomas would miss the joy of Easter as Benedict instructs.
Novice Sebastian Thomas
“[During lent]…let each one deny themselves some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing.” RB 49.5-7
After a Chapter meeting, I asked the young novice to come to my office for a mew. He looked down at his paws, gave a sigh, and trailed reluctantly behind me. We seated ourselves on two comfortable, but not-too-comfortable cushions. Obviously apprehensive, Sebastian Thomas shifted and squirmed as he waited me to begin. I recalled what St. Benedict said in the Rule to guide me.
“The abbot and prioress must be chaste, temperate and merciful, always letting mercy triumph over judgment (James 2: 13) so that they too may win mercy.”
RB 64.9b-10
I gently inquired what might be troubling Novice Sebastian Thomas. “You look even more worried than ever, Sebastian Thomas.” {Br. Ricky possesses great skill in winning souls. RB 58.6).
Novice Guy La Fur wistfully pondering his empty food dish during Lent
Novice Sebastian Thomas Confesses
to Br. Ricky
With a woeful sigh and a discouraged look, the novice confessed, “I am upset with myself for failing in my Lent disciplines.
“I vowed to turn Jesus when I got worried. Well, I still just turn to more worrying. I promised to do 15 minutes of lectio each day. I manage 5 minutes or none at all!
“And I promised that I would give up crunchy treats. That hasn’t happened either. Sr. Espy leaves treats out in bowls and I can’t help myself.”
Sr. Espy emphatically
mews, “What’s wrong with
leaving bowls of treats out
for consumption?
Aren’t treats to be eaten??”
The little novice continued. “It’s only a few more weeks until Easter. I’m no further along than when I began. Lent will be over, and it will be all too clear that what I promised I didn’t do! Everybody else will sail into Easter with flying colors. But not me!” He looked down once again and sighed.
Br. Ricky Encourages Sebastian Thomas
Seeing a tiny tear fall from the little novice’s eye touched my heart. I gave Novice Sebastian Thomas a sympathetic and understanding nod.
“I hear you. It is really hard to be faithful to what we promise. We are felines. Just like humans, our felineness means that we aren’t perfect. All of us will miss the mark. But I am so proud of you, Sebastian Thomas.” At that he gave me a startled look. “Yes, you practiced the fifth step of humility which is not easy.”
Sharing with a trusted friend
calms the soul
“The fifth step of humility is that we do not conceal from the abbot or prioress any sinful thoughts entering our hearts, or any wrongs committed in secret, but rather confess them humbly.” RB 7.44
“It’s so important to share when we feel that we have missed the mark.
Novice Sebatian looked up and plaintively mewed, “I understand that, but what am I to do now?”
I gave a feline smile and offered, “I have an idea.” His ears perked up as I continued to mew my thoughts. “Amma shared an experience with me once that really helped me let go of my guilt about not doing what I promised.
Her story helped me to try again and not get stuck fretting over what I didn’t do. Does that sound like a plan?” The novice nodded. “Okay, here we go.”
The Fine Art
of Nibbling –
Different strokes for different folks
Amma’s Favorite Pastime
“Amma is a faithful and committed nibbler—nothing really bad, mind you – raisins, peanut butter. Mary’s Sea Salt Thins. Her favorite – Whole Foods Fat and Salt Reduced Popcorn. She laughed when she confessed that the only thing not reduced was the level of her consumption!
“Unlike the brother who is to readily admit his mistake in the liturgy (45.1) or during other work (46.1–3), she happily blamed circumstances for her weakness. Stress, tiredness, anger, boredom or just walking into the kitchen activated the nibbling response. But instead of exploring the underlying reason for her nibbling, she opted for an oblivious crunch.”
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Amma’s Lenten Discipline – Nix the Nibbling
Illus. of the many dollars sutffed into an envelope to avoid stuffing food into mouth
“For her Lenten discipline one year, Amma devised a plan to combine self-denial with almsgiving. When the urge came to nibble, she would resist the temptation, and, instead, place a dollar in an envelope. She confessed surging through twenty-five one-dollar bills in the first three days!!” At this Novice Sebastian Thomas gave a little feline chuckle.
“Dollar after dollar disappeared into the envelope. [1][i] But as the days and weeks of Lent trooped slowly by, her resolve weakened. She began to form ‘cleverly devised myths’ (2 Pet.1:16) to ‘allow’ the crunching.
Celery, carrots, or lettuce leaves “rabbitly” consumed before dinner didn’t count. Peanuts and raisins munched after dinner while Prior John and she did dishes were a part of dessert. Popcorn furtively consumed when under stress was a mental necessity.
Thud! Clearly, Amma had fallen off the Lenten Wagon.”
Novice Sebastian Thomas’ eyes were wide at the reality of Amma falling off the wagon. I continued with the story.
Illus. A stand-in for the real Lenten Wagon
Cindy Helps Amma Get Back on Track – Reducing Calories isn’t the Goal!
“That year Amma’s parishioners contributed reflections on Scripture for each day in Lent. The Lenten reflection by Cindy, a wise member of her parish, was her wakeup call. [2]
”Cindy’s reflection reminded Amma that faithfulness and steadfastness were also a part of the promise made to God. It wasn’t just abstinence.
Lent calls us to a change of heart, not just a change of habit. When we fall, or jump, off the Lenten wagon, it’s really a slip in our faithfulness and our steadfastness. I think we are jumping off wagons all the time, even when it’s not Lent. Lapses in our faithfulness to any number of things, and to God, are a year-round reality.”
Faithfulness and the Benedictine Promise of Stability
“Faithfulness and steadfastness are a part of the vow of stability. Newcomers like you who come to the monastery agree to live in a particular community and to remain steadfast to that community. (RB 58:17) It’s also a promise to be faithful to living according to a Rule that puts Christ at the center of all things. “ (RB 72.11)
Novice Sebastian Thomas chimed in. “That’s right! Benedict says that we are to prefer nothing whatever to Christ.” (RB 72.11)
At that I had clapped my paws. “That is absolutely right, Novice Sebastian Thomas. Your heart is in the right place.
All people who chose to follow The Rule of St. Benedict promise to be faithful in their lives, too. They promise to remain committed to family, friends, their church community, the wider community, business relationships, and, first and foremost, to God.
“And all this is true for us felines, too.”
Getting Back On the Lenten Wagon
“Our Lenten disciplines are outward signs of our inner commitment to God in Christ. They are evidence that we embrace, as best as we can, Benedictine stability. Our resolve to live a Gospel-directed, Christ-centered life every day of the year reflects this inner commitment.
“The grace is that when we aren’t faithful, God will always give us another chance. The writer of the Lenten reflection put it this way:
‘I know if I regress, I can always jump back on the Lenten Wagon and start again.’
“Sebastian Thomas, with penitent hearts and renewed resolve you and I can turn to Christ and his unconditional love. We can humbly and gratefully walk back to the wagon.
What we’ll find is the hand of the compassionate, forgiving Christ held out to us. We can put our paw in his hand and let him lift us back onto the wagon.
Beside him we can begin again to live as faithful and steadfast felines of God.”
Illus. The Lenten Wagon
Novice Sebastian Thomas
Begins Again
Sebastian Thomas looked radiant. “I can begin again. That’s really a comfort!”
“God is not a score-keeper,” I reminded the conscientious novice. “And God delights when we turn back to God’s love.”
Even now, a picture comes to my mind. Novice Sebastian Thomas smiling a sweet feline smile. His purr loud. His eyes bright. “I’m ready to get back on the Lenten Wagon, Br. Ricky. Thank you.”
I breathed a prayer of gratitude for this little novice with the big heart.
Are You Ready to Get Back on the Lenten Wagon?
If you slipped away from your Lent practice, join Novice Sebastian Thomas. Return to Christ and the Lenten Wagon.
Here’s a meditation to help you.
Close your eyes. Now picture standing behind a beautiful wagon. Jesus is there in the wagon. Look at him. Then imagine his hand reaching out to you to help you back onto the wagon. Stretch out your hand. Take his hand and let him lift you up back into the wagon.
Now, take a few moments to sit beside him in the wagon. His Presence is strengthening you. His love is inspiring you. Be thankful.
“See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life.” (Prologue 20)
© March 2025 by Br. Ricky and Jane Tomaine
Endnotes
[1] All monies were to be given to the Good Shepherd Home in Cameroon, a home for children orphaned by the ravages of AIDS. This home was begun by Sr. Jane Mankaa, who founded the Benedictine Sisters of Bethany in 2002 for the purpose of educating and caring for the children of the streets of Cameroon. Should you wish additional information, see their website at www.goodshepherdhome.org
[2] Amma Jane gives thanks for Cindy Brady and her reflection.
The above article was based on an Interlude in St. Benedict’s Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living by Jane Tomaine
