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.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Chapter 33: Personal possessions in the monastery

It is vitally important to cut out by the roots from the monastery the bad practice of anyone in the community giving away anything or accepting any gift for themselves, as if it were their own personal property, without the permission of the superior. (From Ch. 33 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I find giving and receiving gifts delightful. But these words of St. Benedict's urge me to consider how even the most pleasant gifts (given or received) can come with hidden strings of ego attached. For my part, I will try to give and receive without selfishness, favoritism, attempts to control another or make someone indebted to me.

1 comment:

Wally SaundersNovember 11, 2013 at 4:19 AM
It shocks me to have personal ownership described as as a "vice" or an "evil practice". The consumer society in which I live calls greed a virtue and hoarding "prudence". Once more, today, a mini spiritual awakening reminds me that I actually own nothing except the "ABC's": my attitude, my behavior and my choices. Everything I call mine starting with my life and every breath is on loan, a moment by moment gift..
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