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, March 7, 2014

Chapter 30: The correction of young children

There is a proper way of dealing with every age and every degree of understanding, and we should find the right way of dealing with the young. (From Ch. 30 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I think that more than anything else, young people need examples of self-discipline and compassion, of forgiveness and reconciliation.

2 comments:

Melanie CondesMarch 7, 2014 at 4:53 AM
Many times, instead of becoming child-like I am childish. But despite that Oh Lord, I can feel how you correct me in the most loving way. With thy grace Oh Lord, I want to follow your example.
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Wally SaundersMarch 7, 2014 at 6:55 AM
My grandchildren challenge me, chiefly by their simple honesty and trust. The three and five year old grandsons insists that I “get down” on the floor with them to play. None of this staying up in my easy chair. They remind me that “getting down” to right size, in other words, childlike humility, is the pathway to the kingdom of peace and joy.
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