Lent this year begins on February 17th. While that is still a few weeks off, it is good to begin thinking about what practices would be good for us to take on this Lent, 2010.

To quote from the Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 49:

"The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent. Since few, however, have the strength for this, we urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times. This we can do in a fitting manner by refusing to indulge evil habits, and by devoting ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial."

While probably not many of us are able to live according to the ideal St. Benedict presents for Lent on a daily basis, the implication of St. Benedict is that what happens in Lent also applies in principle throughout the year. The reward of any Lenten observance of course has nothing to do with outward display but with the reward of the kingdom. So it’s a matter of motive. If I let it be known, or even brag about how much I fast, or give to charity, it becomes something public and even competitive. What really makes a good Lent is interior transformation. We are to "rend our hearts and not our garments," as St. Paul reminds us.

Lent always points toward Easter and so there is a note of joy in the Lenten season. During the Lenten season we look forward with joy and spiritual longing to Easter.

So as we all look forward to the Lenten season we need to reflect what extra works would be good for me to take on this Lent. What would help me to transform my life, to turn more to Jesus Christ, to know his love? St. Benedict urges us to devote ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial. Father Michael Casey says that compunction is a dual sensitivity. It places before us both the reality of our sinful condition and the urgency of our desire to be totally possessed by God. It is precisely the comparison between what we are and what we could be that constitutes the triggering cause of compunction.

So let us use these coming weeks to prepare ourselves for the Lenten season. This week, probably about Tuesday, January 26, I will be mailing you a letter and a card for renewing your oblation. Sometime during the year you are asked to return signed card to the oblate office. If you would like to have a blessing on your Lenten works, you are welcome to send them to me. However, if you wish them to be returned, please include a stamped self-addressed envelope for this purpose.

Thank you and God bless you.

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In our little brochure that we have here at Conception Abbey as an introduction to the oblate life, we mention that the oblate should "participate frequently in the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation. Oblates who are not Roman Catholic should be faithful to their denominational beliefs and practices." I would include with this that an oblate should be active in the parish to which they belong. In other words I see the Oblate of St. Benedict as taking a leading role in the life of the parish. Not that the oblate should try to come across as holier or better than others in the parish but he or she should "participate" in the life of the parish.

Each of you will have to do that of course in your own particular way. A few of the oblates are permanent deacons. They of course are usually given a specific parish and way to be active in their parish life. Other oblates volunteer as lectors at Mass, as communion ministers, as ushers etc.. But, of course the most important way you can be active in the parish is by "participating frequently in the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation." In other words when you participate in the Eucharist and sing and pray with the community then you are truly oblates.

Some of you I know try to participate in the Eucharist on a daily basis. For others that is not possible because of your work and other duties. What I think is important is that our oblates and others in the parish, know that you are not withdrawing from the parish but rather that your association with Conception Abbey and the oblates is a help for you to live a good Christian life and to take an even more active part in your parish life.

What are we celebrating on the feast of Epiphany? The word “Epiphany” is of Greek origin. It means manifestation or disclosure. In the ancient Greek mystery religions, an epiphany occurred when one of the gods appeared and manifested himself or herself to someone. While the word is not used in the Gospels, we find it already being applied to Jesus Christ in the third century. It could be applied to him in it’s truest and fullest sense. Jesus Christ is indeed “God manifest” in a way no pagan god could ever be. 

Originally it was celebrated, especially in the Eastern Church, in the context of Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan. It was then that the voice from heaven proclaimed “You are my beloved Son.” Here the Father makes manifest for the first time who Jesus really is, the Son of God. Next Sunday, January 10, we will celebrate the baptism of the Lord and conclude the Christmas season.

When Rome and the Western Church adopted the celebration of the Epiphany, about the beginning of the 4^th century, it was the visit of the Magi that was emphasized. The Magi of course represent a non-Jewish or Gentile people and so prefigure the acceptance of Jesus by all the world.  Another manifestation of who Jesus is was at the wedding feast of Cana when he changed water into wine.

St. Matthew in his account is especially making the point that the Magi could not have found the infant Savior unless God had manifested him to them. The Magi can be said to represent all of us. We also cannot find the Savior, cannot find Jesus, unless God manifests him to us.

And so the Epiphany celebrates three events as is stated in the antiphon for 2^nd vespers of the feast: “Three mysteries mark this holy day: today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast; today Christ wills to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation.” 

Have a HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR as we begin the year 2010. 

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16

This has long been a favorite passage of mine. It seems to express what Christmas is all about. God sent the Son, Jesus Christ, to bring salvation and eternal life to all the world, to all people. The love God has for us is overwhelming. It is more than we can fully understand. We think we have to earn love from others. God is love. He loves us even as sinners. But, of course we try to return his love by our love for God and our love for our brothers and sisters. As Jesus makes clear what we do to others we do to Him.

With that spirit of love then I wish all of you our oblates, as well as others who read this blog, a very blessed and happy Christmas.  You know you will be in my prayers and remembered in my Masses on Christmas day, as well as in the prayers and Masses of all the monks.

Merry Christmas.

With love and prayers,

Father Kenneth, O.S.B.
Director of Oblates