Chapter 16: The hours of the work of God during the day
The words of the psalm are: I have uttered your praises seven times during the day. We shall fulfil that sacred number of seven if at the times of Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline we perform the duty of our service to God, because it was of these day hours that the psalm said: I have uttered your praise seven times during the day. (From Ch. 16 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
How does the rhythm of the monastic hours fit into my life as a householder? As an Oblate, I try to say some part of the hours each day, usually Lauds or Compline. But even more importantly, I establish the rhythm of my day by an effort to be faithful to my twice-daily meditation. The practice of meditation is like the head of a river, I believe; it's the discipline from which the rest of my day can flow, and thus I'm given a way to keep time holy.
Seven times a day and “in the night let us rise to glorify him.” Abba, that’s you the Rule is reminding me of again. Forgive my amnesia, Father. You love me, as Jesus tells me, like a mother hen, one of your restless, hyperactive, so tiny chicks. Keep me all day aware of you within me and with your protective wings around me every moment. Twice-daily meditation help nestle me there.
ReplyDeleteI will admit that I have not been keeping to the Benedictine prescription in this chapter. It is the Community, the Rule itself, which offers me a solution to my Lenten dilemma of what more I can do during Lent. It is difficult for me to separate from the daily goings-on and take a pause "to perform the duty of our service to God". This is my Lenten prescription, then—to add another “hour” for praying the Daily Office. It is a practice that can continue after Lent is over.
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