11/07/2024

For those of us who have been rattled in our faith by the sinfulness that for over two millennia has been covered up by the  Institutionalizing of the Church founded on St Peter, Monastic Communities are still an existing enigma. Many of them are unable truthfully to resist the challenge that their own rules present to their chosen way of life. 

How can the ecclesial virtues be practised by communities that are giving their members a life style that is anything but poverty-stricken? And yet their communal life punctuated by disciplined prayer is an example for us all to follow.

St Benedict is one of the last Romans but is not one of the first hermits. As a Roman he was aware of the austerity that was a hallmark of the original Republic which had become an Empire and destroyed its own integrity by the vice of luxurious living. 

As a hermit he had wished to be left alone to get on with the prayer and meditation which he knew would help to bring him to the the life free of this worldliness that Father, Son and Holy Spirit has created for each one of us.

The representatives of the Institutional Church resented the contrast  that the holiness of Benedict's life presented to their own and there were two attempts by priests and monks to poison him. The corruption that is the Sin of this world was already rampant in the worldly institution that has still never fully realized that Jesus truly meant his proclamation before Pilate, "My Kingdom is not of this world".

St Benedict has been entitled "Patron of Europe" by the elites who rule that continent. I expect that if it were possible to ask him, the hermit of Subiaco would reject all the worldly values that are espoused by "Brussels", today. 

He would also be deeply hurt by the monks on planes, in airports and in prisons who have all vowed to abandon all earthly ties and stay in one place to pray, pray and pray again. He knows that God is not to be trifled with and that monastic communities have a responsibility to become centres of a holiness that we can trust; an example that it would be good to follow.

Dear Lord, help me to live today without sin. Let me continue in my studies. May I become less resentful of other peoples' lives and focus only on taming sinfulness that is potentially with me at every moment of my own life. May Mary and all the saints pray for the "Roman testudo" of worldliness  that we have erected over our beings and communities, to be broken and let us all become helpless as children needing only your love to care for us. Amen