Conception Abbey

"Do not…run away from the road that leads to salvation."

St. Benedict seemed to realize that sometimes monks would be tempted to run away from the monastery even after they took vows for life. Already in the Prologue of the Rule (45—50) St. Benedict speaks of this and encourages us to be faithful to the life which we have been given by God and which we have promised to live. To quote from the Rule:

Therefore, we intend to establish a school for the Lord’s service. In drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome. The good of all concerned, however, may prompt us to a little strictness in order to amend faults and to safeguard love….But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love. Never swerving from his instruction, then, but faithfully observing his teaching in the monastery until death, we shall deserve also to share in his kingdom. Amen (prologue)

While St. Benedict is speaking directly to the monks here; that is, those who have chosen the monastic life, these words apply to each of us and especially to those who are oblates. Whether you live in the monastery or in the world it is important to be committed and to be faithful to the commitment which you have made. Certainly married people make a commitment to each other and that commitment is for life. Others make a commitment to the single life in the world, oblates certainly make a commitment to the Benedictine life, not by vows of course but by a promise to God made at the time of your final oblation. That commitment is made for life and it is made to a particular monastery. Obviously there can be good reasons to break any commitment but in general commitments are meant to be kept for life.

A week ago I had a chance to visit my brother and his wife overnight in Kansas City. I was so impressed with the way they continue to be committed to one another. I know they would not want me to say this, but it was an inspiration to me. Both of them are almost 84 years old. They are in their 59th year of being united in marriage. My sister in law has not been in good health for the last two or three years as she suffers from osteoporosis, and a couple years ago got a bad case of shingles from which she still suffers a great deal. Then this summer she had to spend about a week in the hospital with bronchitis and lung problems. One day while in the hospital the phone rang and she could not reach the phone so she got up, fell, and broke her arm. She is now back home and it is an inspiration how my brother is devoted to taking care of her. When she gets up from sitting he has to help her. He has to help her or be with her when she walks, helps her to dress etc. In the morning at breakfast, before my sister in law got up, he stepped outside where they have a lot of flowers and picked a couple of beautiful blossoms, brought them in and put them each in a small glass and put them on the table. His wife says he does that everyday.

I mention this, not to brag, or embarrass them, but because I think that is what St. Benedict talks about in the prologue I quoted.

All of us want to grow in our lives, be faithful to our commitments, and grow in love whether we have been married, or professed or ordained, for one year or fifty or sixty or more years. If for some reason we have had to break a commitment in our own life or someone has broken it for us, we can still live a life of commitment to God and to the service and love of other people. Living in this way will bring us to everlasting life which is what we are all seeking.

God bless you.

I invite you to check out my personal blog at http://kennethosb.blogspot.com