Chapter 45: Mistakes in the Oratory
Anyone who makes a mistake in a psalm, responsory, antiphon or reading must have the humility to make immediate reparation there before all the community in the oratory. A failure to do that so clearly shows lack of the humility to put right a fault which was due to carelessness that it must incur a more severe punishment. (From Ch. 45 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
I think about how my distracted state of mind -- my lack of attention -- interferes with meditation or other work I do. But am I alert to how my distracted state of mind makes a difference to those around me?
Like any toddler, Abba, I make mistakes and fall down constantly. And like a healthy, well-loved toddler I get to laugh at myself and happily say: “baby fall down.”
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