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.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Chapter 65: The prior or prioress of the monastery (paragraph 1)

There have been instances when some of these officials have conceived out of an evil spirit of self-importance that they also are superiors and for that reasons have assumed the powers of a tyrant, so that they encourage scandalous divisions in the community. (From para. 1 of Ch. 65 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

There have been instances where my ego has conceived out of an evil spirit of self-importance that it is my superior and for that reason assumes the powers of a tyrant, encouraging scandalous divisions in myself and my relationships.

1 comment:

Wally SaundersApril 21, 2020 at 4:59 AM
That “evil Spirit of self-importance” always lurks within me as you know, Abba. It tells me I have to be large and in charge. The Spirit of your Son, however, gently invites me to get safely in the back seat and happily let you do the driving
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