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.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Chapter 38: The weekly reader

During meals there should be complete silence disturbed by no whispering nor should anyone's voice be heard except the reader's. Everyone in the community should be attentive to the needs of their neighbours as they eat and drink so that there should be no need for anyone to ask for what they require. (From para. 2 of Ch. 38 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

The practice of selfless silence sets the stage for the an ever-expanding awareness of what is, taking in both the words of the reader and the needs of others.

2 comments:

Wally SaundersNovember 16, 2013 at 6:43 AM
“Be still and know,” says the psalmist. And St. Benedict adds that, while still and silent, I should stay alert to the needs of others and, if possible, pass the salt or help the cook before they have to ask.
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Melanie CondesNovember 16, 2013 at 7:40 AM
“The meals of the sisters should not be without reading.”

I observed that I can understand better the teachings of Fr. Laurence (which I usually listen from WCCM Youtube Channel) when I "silently listen" to them during mealtimes. These are sacred moments I enjoy during weekends when I am at home…
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