Chapter 49: How Lent should be observed in the monastery

Therefore we urge that all in the monastery during these holy days of Lent should look carefully at the integrity of their lives and get rid in this holy season of any thoughtless compromises which may have crept in at other times. (From para. 1 of Ch. 49 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Where are the gaps? At what points in my day is there a disconnect between who I truly am and what I do? What are the thoughtless compromises in which ego takes place over Love, distraction takes place over attention, self takes place over others? May I learn to recognize these habits, and allow being truly present to change me.

Chapter 48: Daily manual labor (paragraphs 6-7)

If there are any who are so feckless and lazy that they have become unwilling or unable any longer to study or read seriously then they must be given suitable work which is within their powers so that they may not sink into idleness. (From para. 6 of Ch. 48 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

At the beginning of this chapter, St Benedict said, "Idleness is the enemy of the soul."  That means to me that idleness is a disconnect between body and spirit, and that simple, mindful, prayerful work can mend the gap.

Chapter 48: Daily manual labor (paragraphs 3-5)

As a special provision during these days of Lent each member of the community is to be given a book from the library to read thoroughly each day in a regular and conscientious way. (From para. 4 of Ch. 48 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I have to acknowledge that, with all of my personal independence at this stage of my life, I am often distracted, and with no one else to blame for my "semi-conscientious" ways. I say that as if I think that after all these years of meditation I would be a bit more focussed! Maybe I am, or maybe I'm better at recognizing my distraction. Maybe I 'm better at accepting distraction as part of the human condition. Maybe I'm kinder with myself about it.

Chapter 48: Daily manual labor (paragraphs 1-2)

Idleness is the enemy of the soul, therefore all the community must be occupied at definite times in manual labour and at other time in lectio divina. (From para. 1 of Ch. 48 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

For me, to be idle is a recognizable but unsatisfying state, characterized by distractibility and fantasy, and it is not true rest. I find that the difficult but true remedy for idleness is a discipline of giving one-pointed attention, and the openness of spirit that comes from that, through hands-on work, through an inner listening to the Word. I know I am not idle if my soul is resting in God.

Chapter 47: Signalling the times for the work of God

The superior is personally responsible for making sure that the time for the work of God, both at night at during the daytime, is clearly made known to all. (From para. 1 of Ch. 47 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Something as simple as letting my family and friends around me know that I meditate, and that those times are regular and sacred, is a way for me to "signal the time for the work of God". Doing this helps me in my commitment, and helps others to respect the appropriate boundaries of my practice.

Chapter 46: Faults committed elsewhere

Any member of the community who in the course of some work in the kitchen, in the stores, while fulfilling a service to others or in the bakery, the garden or the workshops or anywhere else does something wrong or happens to break or lose something or to be guilty of some other wrongdoing, must as soon as possible appear before the superior and the community with a voluntary admission of the failure and willing reparation for it. (From para. 1 of Ch. 46 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

For me, this passage poses an examination of conscience: am I aware that every task, every moment, every relationship is an opportunity to work with love and gratitude?  Does my work mediate Christ's love, no matter how small the work seems?  Am I alert to the difference it makes to my consciousness, and to those around me?

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  -- a lack of being totally present -- interferes with meditation or other work I do.  But am I alert to how my distracted state of mind diminishes my community?