Lilibet – My Promise for 2025
What prevents me from preferring nothing whatever to Christ?
I am very headstrong. I opt for my way in my time. This means that I prefer myself to Christ and the Rule.
Practices from the Rule to help me craft my promise:
“Obedience is a blessing to be shown by all, not only to the prioress and abbot but also to one another, since we know that it is by this way of obedience that we go to God.” RB 71.1-2
“Renounce yourself in order to follow Christ (Matt 16:24; Luke 9:23).” RB 4.10
“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
My 2025 Promise:
I am not sure I can totally renounce myself to follow Christ, but I promise to do this 40% of the time to start. I am sure Novice Shadow and my human Chrstine will appreciate my effort. I will increase the percentage over the coming year.
What my human needs to learn to help her prefer nothing whatever to Christ:
Remember I am a kitten still and need to burn off excess energy. Also, my instincts tell me to hide first and ask questions later, so when strange people come to visit that’s exactly what I do. Please let me do things my way until I learn to trust a bit more.
Practices from the Rule to help my human craft her promise:
“This, then, is the good zeal which members must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another.” RB 72.3-6
“No monastics are to pursue what they judge better for themselves, but instead, what they judge better for someone else.” RB 72.7
“Place your hope in God alone.” RB 4.41
My Human’s 2025 Promise:
Lilibet asks you to join her and craft your own 2025 Promise.