WCCM Oblate Blog: Reflections from Daily Reading of the Rule of St. Benedict

WCCM Benedictine Oblates are encouraged to read a designated portion of the Rule daily, and to write a brief, personal response. I hope that this blog will support our Oblate community in this practice. Please, keep blog entries brief and in a first-person ("I") voice. Refrain from discussing, offering an opinion, or commenting on other entries. Simply consider how a particular section of the Rule is speaking to you in your present circumstances.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Chapter 9: The number of psalms at the night office

During this winter season the office of Vigils begins with this verse recited three times; Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.

(From para. 1 of Ch. 8 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)

The images of night and winter are metaphors, for me, of the experience of silence and stillness in meditation. In faith, God "opens my lips" to a silent, interior saying of the mantra, and in this way, the praise of selfless attention is born.

2 comments:

Roger SessionsOctober 12, 2012 at 9:38 PM
During the winter season, Vigils begin with the verse: "O God, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise

Benedict reminds me, all prayers are to start with gratitude for the miracle of the life I have been given.
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val latonaOctober 13, 2012 at 4:30 AM
How many times I've misplaced the key to my front door, or car or office because of distractions. This opening antiphon for Vigils reminds me that God is the key that is never lost and the door that is always ready to be opened.
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