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, February 21, 2020

Chapter 18: The order for reciting the psalms (paragraphs 1-2)

Each hour begins with following verse: O God come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me. (From para. 1 of Ch. 18 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)

How wonderful that Benedict directed his monks to begin each hour of the Divine Office, with the same verse that Cassian had recommended as a formula for continuous prayer. And, for Fr John, Cassian's recommendation of a formula became the key to his recovering the Christian tradition of the mantra. The psalmist, Cassian, St. Benedict and John Main all point me continuously towards God.

1 comment:

Wally SaundersFebruary 21, 2020 at 4:59 AM
You sent the Spirit of your Son into my heart crying “Abba, Father”, joining me to all, confirming them all as my brothers and sisters. You instantaneously respond to any request I make to you for help or assistance.
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