If people curse you, do not curse them back but bless them instead. (Rule of St. Benedict 4. 32) Sadly, the right to retaliate is not an inalienable right. It may be necessary to fight your enemies and to defeat them, for the sake of the common good. But the Christian must not inflict harm merely …
Tag Archives: Church
Hallow Your Speech Or Hollow Your Home
Rid your heart of all deceit. Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away when someone needs your love. Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false, but speak the truth with heart and tongue. (Rule of St. Benedict 4. 24-28) Do not lie to your children. What about Santa Claus and …
King Once And King To Be
It is love that impels them to pursue everlasting life; therefore, they are eager to take the narrow road of which the Lord says: Narrow is the road that leads to life Matthew 7:14. (Rule of St. Benedict 5.10-11) When my son was not yet six years old, he asked me at Christmas: “How can God be …
Rid Yourself Of Anger
You are not to act in anger… (Rule of St. Benedict 4.22) It’s easy to be angry when interacting with children, because children are constantly doing things wrong. The more children you’re responsible for, the easier it is to remain in a state of perpetual irritation. But just because it’s a chronic feeling doesn’t mean …
Trick Or Treat
Obey the orders of the abbot unreservedly, even if his own conduct—which God forbid—be at odds with what he says. Remember the teaching of the Lord: Do what they say, not what they do Matthew 23:3. (RB 4.61) Do what I say, not what I do? Well, we’ve all been there. We shouldn’t be too quick to …
Contend Courteously
The brothers, for their part, are to express their opinions with all humility, and not presume to defend their own views obstinately.…In the monastery no one is to follow his own heart’s desire.… (Rule of St. Benedict 3. 4-8) Sure, you have freedom of expression. But is it going to be the expression of a …
Eat Your Vegetables
Raising Kids …we must be vigilant every hour… (Rule of St. Benedict 7.29) The kid who is old enough to chew solid food will also be smart enough to realize that you’re cooking peas with his pasta. He’s willful enough to feel insulted. He’s passionate enough to throw a screaming fit. Because you’re a Christian …
Beware Fatal Attraction
Rage Definition We must then be on guard against any base desire, because death is stationed near the gateway of pleasure. (Rule of St. Benedict 7.24) Last week a man identified himself with death and stationed himself at the gateway of pleasure to deal it out. This was not a Kenny Rogers kind of …
Align Your Will With God’s Will
Scripture tells us: Turn away from your desires Sirach 18:30. And in the Prayer too we ask God that his will be done in us Matthew 6:10. We are rightly taught not to do our own will, since we dread what Scripture says: There are ways which men call right that in the end plunge into the depths …
Yield Your Imagination
Our thoughts are always present to God… God searches hearts and minds Psalm 7:10…. The Lord knows the thoughts of men Psalm 94:11…. From afar you know my thoughts Psalm 139:2…. That he may take care to avoid sinful thoughts, the virtuous brother must always say to himself: I shall be blameless in his sight if I …