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.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Chapter 61: Monastic pilgrims from far away (paragraphs 2-3)

It may even be right to persuade such a one to stay so that others may benefit and learn from such an example. (From para. 2 of Ch. 61 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

The simple things that can "make my day": receiving a kind look, a helping hand, an encouraging word. These small acts come from people it's good for me to have around; I want to be like them.

2 comments:

Roger SessionsDecember 14, 2016 at 9:27 AM
Benedict tells me that I should welcome, even invite criticism. Thanks a lot, Benedict!
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valDecember 18, 2016 at 6:36 AM
This Chapter 61 is so rich with Benedictine wisdom. I cannot read it over hurriedly. Benedict's words advise me that wisdom can come from any direction if I keep myself open and not closed off because of pride,arrogance and self-defensiveness. I also need to remember that wise criticism is not the exclusive territory of age or position or relationship. God may have guided them to me for the very purpose of creative change.
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