An oratory is a physical structure constructed to demarcate a sacred space dedicated to prayer. There, members of a community can come and go freely to pray individually, without disturbing or being disturbed by the bustle of ordinary life. Without the interior compunction that recognizes the worth of the sacred, no physical structure can by …
Tag Archives: Church
Choose Your Destination
Choose your destination before you set out on a path. Their law is what they like to do, whatever strikes their fancy. Anything they believe in and choose, they call holy; anything they dislike, they consider forbidden (Rule of St. Benedict, 1.8-9) So . . . if you’re thinking that this is a description of …
Persevere
For Scripture has it: Anyone who perseveres to the end will be saved, [Matthew 10:22]and again, Be brave of heart and rely on the Lord. [Psalm 27:14]. (Rule of St. Benedict 7.36-37) Discipline for a goal always was, and still is worth it. People with ordinary faces get up every day and keep going: for the sake …
Silent Night, Holy Dawn
Elegant Definition We absolutely condemn in all places any vulgarity. . . . (Rule of St. Benedict 6.8) In the beginning, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. He spoke, and called forth formed things. To live a holy life is to move within these forms willingly. A holy life is an elegant life. …
Redemption
Place your hope in God alone. If you notice something good in yourself, give credit to God, not to yourself, but be certain that the evil you commit is always your own and yours to acknowledge. (Rule of St. Benedict 4. 41-43) Glaciers are receding, and at first the mountains they leave behind are as …
Endure Persecution For The Sake Of Justice
Endure persecution for the sake of justice (Matthew 5:10). (RB 4. 33) Brace yourself. To endure implies time, maybe a long time. Persecution is not a one-off, an insult from a passing stranger, a violation of a specific right on a particular occasion. Persecution involves systematic, sustained, deliberate attack, targeting you. So we’re talking about …
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Love Your Enemies
Love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6: 27-35). (RB 4. 31) Loving your enemies sounds like a nice idea until you actually have enemies yourself. An enemy is not merely someone with whom you disagree. You can disagree with your friends passionately and perpetually. Nor is an enemy an opponent in a game. An opponent recognizes …
Bear Injuries Patiently
Do not repay one bad turn with another 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9. Do not injure anyone, but bear injuries patiently. (Rule of St. Benedict 4. 29-30) First of all, bearing injuries patiently is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of goodness. Only the strong bear up. Only the good restrain themselves when …
Curb Your Urge
For this reason Scripture warns us, Pursue not your lusts Sirach 18:30. (Rule of St. Benedict 7.25) We live in a culture where it’s supposed to be fun to let yourself go. People announce that they’re about to let themselves go, and then they do it. Not only do they not feel shame: they expect you …
Wholly Holy And Hale
Do not aspire to be called holy before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so. Live by God’s commandments every day. (Rule of St. Benedict 4. 62-63) Of all the archaic vocabulary words that have become vestigial, holy has to be the most vacuous. We have no …