AView from the Cloister

Archives 2008

 

31 December 2008

A Year Ending

 

Software troubles have greatly hampered communications over the last month. I guess that's my personal sharing in the world's woes. The troubles are not yet over: my computer's nor the world's, but we'll all muddle on. At times, circumstances don't let us accomplish all that we'd hope, but that's a good reminder to us that all is not dependant upon our own will being done.

 

Advent promises of a new beginning have turned into Christmas graces found in Love Incarnate. This is the hope we take into the new year: everything is possible by grace. The Lord has come to save His people. Daily, the light of His grace is poured out for us in word and sacrament. The world's problems may be too much for us to fix, but God does't ask us to do that. The Lord simply wishes us to have a heart-felt response of love to what we personally encounter. That is more manageable. Peace.

 

 

23 November 2008

The True King

 

We could sleep an extra hour this morning, owing to the fact that it was the Solemnity of Christ the King. I awoke, however, at my usual 4:30 a.m. I have fairly well trained myself to make my first thought in the morning one of praise for the God who has given me yet another day. Typically, this first prayer goes something like: "Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation." Rarely are these first morning prayers liturgically specific, but today, my mind grabbed on to the prologue of the Holy Rule: "It is high time for us to rise from sleep (Romans 13:11) . . . to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord." As I lay in the morning darkness, I was struck by my own lucidity. It didn't take long to realize that these words were not of my own choosing.

At community recreation this evening, I was speaking with a few of the confreres. One made mention of the happy coincidence of the commemoration of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro falling on the Solemnity of Christ the King. While standing before the firing squad, this mexican martyr proclaimed his spiritual victory in the words: "Viva Cristo Rey!" "Long live Christ the King!" I thought again about my early morning prayer. Mentioning it to the brothers, one replied, "That was from your angel." It must have been. Thank you Guardian Angel, and Long Live Christ the King!

 

17 November 2008

Enter His Gate with Thanksgiving

 

Psalm 100 came to mind as I walked through the gate of the cloister garden today:

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Serve the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing for joy.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.

He made us, we belong to him,

we are the people, the sheep of his flock.

Go within his gates giving thanks.

Enter his courts with songs of praise.

Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,

eternal his merciful love.

He is faithful age to age.

This garden gate was a reminder to me today to be grateful that I belong in this place, to this flock. The monastery is a place on earth that points to heaven. Its life is ordered in such a way as to reflect the good order of God's kingdom. It is a privilege to dwell in the court of the Lord. He is ever faithful, and, quite marvelously, has made a commitment to me, to us, to be our shepherd. He is the protection of this house. He is the One whose love for us is without fail. For this, we daily serve him with gladness, thank him and sing his praises, for "He is faithful age to age."

 

12 November 2008

For Everything There is a Season

   

 

Wandering through the gueshouse garden the other day, a tree, the brightest red I have ever seen, caught my attention. It seemed not so long ago that the Lord had decorated this garden in purple and green. Now it is adorned in red and gold!

For one with a vow of stability, it is considerable consolation to know that no matter how many years may be spent in this place, it will never be twice the same. The Lord who made us understands perfectly how we occasionally need a change. We don't have to change our place, because our "place" is always changing if we are attentive to the Lord's works.

This can even be said of the Psalms. In the Divine Office, as it is prayed here at Mount Angel, we pray 3,600 Psalms per year (150 every two weeks). One is likely to pray over 200,000 psalms in a lifetime in the monastery, yet these inspired poems are ever changing under the influence of the Holy Spirit; one day read from this perspective, the next day read from another. The Lord knows that on different days we have different needs, season after season.

One who daily sings God's praise, ever attentive to His Word:

     He is like a tree planted

     beside the flowing waters,

     that yeilds its fruit in due season

     and whose leaves never fade.

                              (Psalm 1:3)

 

2 November 2008

Requiscat in Pace

 

All Souls Day is a peculiar celebration. It's a point of some pride that this solemn commemoration of the faithful departed has Benedictine origins. As early as the 7th century, Saint Isidore in Spain and in the 10th century, Abbot Widukind in Germany published decrees of formal prayers to be said in church for the faithful departed. The great French Abbey of Cluny, founded in 910 A.D., had the practice (as do all Benedictine monasteries) of remembering their deceased members each year on the anniversary of their passing. The Cluniac monasteries spread far and wide, numbering thousands of monks. Over time, reading the necrology each day became a practical burden due to its length. In response to this, Abbot Odilo of Cluny (11th century) instituted a single day of remembrance on November 2nd for all the deceased monks. Eventually, this practice spread to other churches and eventually found its way to Rome, where it was adopted throughout the Latin Church.

The typical November rains held back just long enough for our procession to make its way to the cemetery after Holy Mass. Even though we rushed back to the monastery immediately following, I think the holy souls appreciated the effort. Each day of November the monastic community says a special prayer for the Poor Souls:

O Lord, you took on our human nature and were clothed in our flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mother. By dying you overthrew death and gave life to your faithful. Through the intercession of her who gave you birth, we ask now that you grant rest with your saints to those who have fallen asleep. You live and reign with your Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen

 

3 October 2008

Doctor of Divine Adoption

Today we get to celebrate one of our own, Blessed Columba Marmion. His spiritual teachings are both traditional and far reaching. It is not possible to choose a single favorite line from among his many works, but perhaps it might be: "We become by grace, what Christ is by nature." This transforming grace is begun in Holy Baptism, which Dom Marmion refers to as "the efficacious sign of divine adoption." Inspired by Saint Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1, Dom Marmion teaches that by the Sacrament of Baptism we receive divine "sonship," that is we begin the process of "deification," or sanctification, being incorporated into Christ's very Body. It is this Body that we receive in the Holy Eucharist, and it is this Body that we become.

Born Joseph Marmion in Dublin, Ireland in 1858, he was ordained a priest in Rome for the Archdiocese of Dublin. After six years of priestly service in Ireland, Father Marmion entered the Benedictine abbey of Maredsous in Belgium, receiving the name Columba. Eventually elected abbot of that house, he gained a reputation as a solid spiritual teacher - that, he remains today. Abbot Marmion died in the Lord in the year 1923, leaving many spiritual conferences to benefit the life of the Christian faithful.

For a bibliography of his works click here >>

The above icon was written for Marmion Abbey, Aurora, IL, by our Brother Claude, OSB. Perhaps you can read the scroll he holds. It bears another of his famous sayings: "Joy is the echo of God's life in us."

 

2 October 2008

A Long Awaited Return

One and a half years ago, our statue of the Guardian Angel was removed for safe-keeping while the Abbey's new bell tower was being constructed. If there is a single "icon" that represents Mount Angel Abbey, it is most likely this much-loved statue. This particular angel survived the great fire of 1926, and has kept watch over our monastery ever since. A surprising number of guests worriedly asked about its absence, some even in an accusing tone, as if in some kind of iconoclastic fit, we had done away it. Now everyone can relax. the Guardian Angel again stands watch over Mount Angel Abbey. May our guardian angels guide and protect us always.

 

29 September 2008

All Holy Angels

The Celebration of Saints Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and all Holy Angels holds the rank of Solemnity here at Mount Angel Abbey, for they are the principal patrons of our Monastery. It is a joyful day here at the Abbey, complete with a festive meal at noon and what we call a "haustus" after vespers in the monastic refectory. I guess we monks have funny names for things. A "haustus" is a festive gathering where wine, beer and soft drinks are served along with some delightful morsels before the evening meal. This all takes place in the "refectory" which in the monastic nomenclature, means "dining room."

As is often said: a good time was had by all. These celebratory meals are the very few times where speaking is not only permitted at meals, but encouraged.

We are so very grateful to our Holy Patrons. They have protected us well, and continue to do so day and night. I'm reminded of the prayer we pray at compline (there's another one of those words: night prayer) on feasts and solemnities:

Lord, come to this house and keep from it all evil forces.

Let your holy angels dwell here to keep us in peace,

and let your blessing be with us always.

We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

7 August 2008

Abbey Night

The other evening I was out for a stroll after compline, and noticed the light against the Abbey church. The summer nights here at Mount Angel have been really beautiful, all except for a few uncharacteristically hot ones. For a few evenings the church was so hot that our habits were sticking to the choir stalls and compline books were doing double-duty as fans.

Fall is making its move now. The days are mostly in the 70s and the nights are cool, the seminarians are returning and monks are preparing for the commencement of teaching. The seasonal changes really are a gift from God. I don't think I would enjoy summer so much if it were never cold and rainy. Well, that will be here soon enough, then we'll be looking for Spring and Summer again.

 

13 August 2008

Praise Him Sun and Moon

I just want you to know that no color enhancement was done on the above photo. The sunset this evening REALLY was this colorful. This photo was taken about 9:00 p.m. in front of the guest house.

The words of Psalm 148 "Praise Him sun and moon" come to life when God decorates His world with such magnificence. The monastic life, with its daily rhythm, encourages a good order that, in turn, fosters interior recollection. With this interior recollection we are better able to offer the Father fitting praise through our union with Christ His Son, who has given us the Spirit.

It is important that we notice all around us the natural beauty designed and executed by our mindful and attentive God. Our Father, who is so in love with us that He should come to us as man, has also given us innumerable gifts that express His omnipresent love for us, and remind us again of His greatest act of love: Christ Jesus.

 

6 August 2008

Transfiguration

 

It is one of the blessings of this place that each year on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, from our perspective, the sun rises directly behind Mount Hood. This is the view from the monastery.

The glory of the Son rising in us each day by grace transfigures us, it offers a glimpse of the glory that is to come in its heavenly reality. Just as the transfiguration of the Lord strengthened the disciples for the passion that would soon be upon them, the liturgical remembering of this Mystery of Faith gives us strength to endure the passions of daily life. Just as sure as the sun rises each day in the east, so does the Son of God rise in glory each day sacramentally. By this great grace, we will be ready when He rises in glory on that last day. Every sunrise is a promise: "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will He render to every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).

 

13 July 2008

High Mass to Bluegrass

 

Mount Angel Abbey enjoys a special relationship to about 630 oblates of our monastery. These spiritual associates of the Abbey join with the monks in prayer and work, in as much as their state in life permits. Most live at some distance from the monastery, and so cannot be with us physically each day, but they pray the Liturgy of the Hours, are active in their churches, and seek to live the values of the Benedictine way in their every-day lives. For more on Benedictine Oblates, click here>>.

The Sunday nearest to Saint Benedict's Day is always the oblate picnic. This year's gathering was a particularly nice affair. The weather was perfect, the german sausages were great, and the drinks plentiful and cold. We also had new chairs and tables, that made for a lot less getting up and down on the lawn.

After the Sunday solemn liturgy celebrated by Father Abbot Nathan, we made our way out to the mall in front of the church, where under the shade of the library awning, "LeRoy and the Sidekicks" entertained us with down-home tunes ranging from Bluegrass to Old Time Country Gospel and even Hawaiian melodies. One of the ladies of the band who played the kitchen spoons while doing a jig was a rare sight at the monastery - a wonder and delight to behold!

It's not every day that one goes from High Mass to Bluegrass so seamlessly, so needless to say, "A good time was had by all." The monks appreciate the presence of our oblates, and acknowledge the rich contribution of their lives of prayer and work wherever they might be. The fellowship enjoyed at the annual picnic is a sign of the Benedictine life we share, a life not only of prayer and work, but also of sincere hospitality and above all, peace.

 

11 July 2008

Saint Benedict's Day

 

Today we celebrated the Solemnity of our Blessed Father, Saint Benedict. He was born in 480 A.D. in the town of Norcia in present day Italy. He was educated as a young man in Rome, but was disedified by the worldly life of the city. The would-be saint fled to a cave at Subiaco, some distance from Rome, where he lived a solitary life of praise and penance. Pope Saint Gregory the Great, an early follower of Saint Benedict, tells of a group of monks visiting him at his cave and convincing him to be their abbot. Against his better judgment, Saint Benedict went with these monks and tried to reform them (as he had warned). They opposed him violently, so after many trials, he fled and founded his community of monks at Monte Cassino.

There's not much doubt that the monks of our day are just about as difficult as those of 1400 years ago, but now we have the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict, which the Church has blest and found to be a fruitful way of Christian holiness. So, we keep up our prayer and work, and today celebrate our blessed father, who has shown us a way to turn away from self and better follow the Gospel.

Blessed Father Benedict, pray for us.

 

4 July 2008

Freedom

 

A sure sign that summer has come to Mount Angel is the appearance of the wild roses. We have actually had some pretty summery weather as well. I suppose its about time, being the 4th of July.

Independence day is celebrated here at the Abbey by keeping to our prayers and passing the rest of the day rather leisurely without work or meetings. We will have a social in the cloister garden after vespers this evening, and after compline some will quietly observe the fireworks displays from the communities in the valley around us. There was a very fine display already last night at the Oregon Garden in Silverton that I watched from the window of my cell on the second floor of the monastery.

Our national holiday always causes me to reflect on the nature of freedom. It is a precious gift bestowed by our Creator so that we can choose the good and reject evil. Some will ask why God didn't just program us to be good. Many a trial and hardship could then be avoided. Freedom, however, is the price of love. Without it we would be animals acting according to mere instinct. Love is only given in freedom. No one can compel it. God created us in freedom so that we could choose to love Him, and choose to love our neighbor as our self.

It seems that many in our world have given up true freedom in exchange for a radical individuality that insists upon the priority of the self, and expends great resources in the indulgence of the passions, mistakenly thinking that pleasure and happiness are synonymous.

The monastic life is intended to confront this erroneous understanding of freedom. Its requirements of obedience, disciplines of behavior, and practice of poverty are all ways to say no to self so as to better say yes to God. True love of God, family and nation stand as witnesses against the tyranny of radical individuality because they all require sacrifice. It is, of course, the Sacrifice of Christ which is the greatest act of love and our model of life. From a heart unencumbered by slavery to sin Our Lord Jesus Christ freely chose to give Himself without reservation for the eternal good of others. That is a freedom well worth celebrating.

 

29 June 2008

Year of Saint Paul

 

We celebrated the great apostles Peter & Paul today, kicking off the Pauline Holy Year decreed by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, which commemorates the 2000th year since the birth of Saint Paul. Brother Claude has written an icon to commemorate this year of jubilee, one depicting the scene from the Acts of the Apostles where our Risen Lord sends Saint Paul to proclaim the Gospel to the gentiles. It will be enshrined in the Abbey church where we can venerate it as part of our Holy Year observance.

Father Abbot Peter presided at pontifical vespers last evening and Father Paul took the duties this evening, so each had a role to play for their name's day celebration

(it also happens to be Abbot Peter's birthday, as well). The High Mass was celebrated by Father Abbot Nathan.

In attendance were about eight men here on a monastic discernment retreat lead by Father Subprior Joseph. I had an opportunity to speak with them after Mass today about monastic prayer and liturgical spirituality. I was impressed with their attentiveness and thoughtful questioning. God willing, we will soon see some of them in the cloister. We are blest to have right now three novices and three postulants. The Lord is good to send us such men. Each new arrival reminds us of our own fraternal responsibility to witness faithfully to the Gospel and its law of love enshrined in the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict.

I think I'll start my Pauline Year observance by adopting each week a different spiritual admonition from the Holy Scriptures: "Rejoice always. Pray unceasingly. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thes 5:16-18). If I can follow this admonition alone, my Gospel witness will improve much this coming year.

 

26 June 2008

No Man's Land

 

Most will agree that the Abbey has a really beautiful entry drive up the hill. I remember the positive impression it made upon me the first time I drove its winding way to the top over 20 years ago. A persistent problem, however, has been the "no man's land" that greets guests when they near the summit. From Our Lady's grotto to the Damian Center has always been a rather barren intersection of roads devoid of flower or bush. During the summer months it was also without color, as there is no water in "no man's land." For those who have not been to the Abbey before, I don't want to give the impression that we have a little patch Death Valley on our doorstep, but if you are walking up the hill , it is an unexpected and unpleasant final 100 yards to the top.

With the assistance of our good friends at North Santiam Paving, "no man's land" will soon be no more. A small army of tractors and trucks arrived to begin the transformation. Roads are being re-routed away from buildings, foot paths are being created, grading is taking place so as to better control erosion, and irrigation is being installed. Soon guests on foot will no longer have to share the way with vehicles, and a pleasant curving path will guide one past the grotto and across a green meadow and past the old chestnut trees all the way to the plaza in front of the Damian Center where there is a fantastic new view of the Abbey church and bell tower.

Long after the tractors and trucks have gone on to their next project, the benefits of their work will be appreciatively enjoyed, not only by the monks, but by the increasingly great number of guests who walk the hill, some on a daily basis. If you haven't yet enjoyed this jaunt up the hill, we hope you'll have time to make it. Many will agree that this short pilgrimage is good for both heart & soul.

 

16 June 2008

A Beautiful Day

 

There really isn't anything extraordinary to report today, other than the fact that we are presently enjoying nearly perfect weather: sunshine and 72º. Many who visit the Abbey notice the willingness of moss to grow on just about anything. The grasses are tall this year, and the battle against the weeds is being fought valiantly by the novices and postulants who spend many hours in the flower beds. These things betray the fact that it more typically rains, or at least, drizzles here.

We truly are, however, blessed to live on this butte in the Willamette valley. Mount Hood is our view to the northeast, to the west the view is across the valley, and to the south and east we can see the foothills where the terrain begins its climb into the Cascade mountain range.

The monastic tradition reminds us to live each day mindful of God's creation and the place He has given to each of us within it. We are encouraged to live each day with gratitude, knowing that the Lord has placed such beauty before us out of a loving attention for all that is good and necessary for our joy and happiness, both in this life and in the next. So, when the wet weather returns, and it most certainly will, I suppose it would be good to keep in mind the words of the Prophet Daniel we pray at Sunday Lauds:

Cold and chill, bless the Lord.

Dew and rain, bless the Lord.

Frost and chill, bless the Lord.

Ice and snow, bless the Lord.

Nights and days, bless the Lord.

Light and darkness, bless the Lord.

Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.

Praise and exalt Him above all forever.

 

8 June 2008

Bless, Consecrate & Sanctify

 

My voice didn't work very well this morning as I tried to sing Lauds with the rest of the monks in choir. Several of us had returned to the Abbey rather late (at least late for monks) last evening. We made the trip up to Seattle for the priestly ordination of one of our oblates and recent graduates from the Seminary.

This was a very special ordination. There were three men becoming priests yesterday, but one of them I had come to know quite well, as I was his spiritual director. During the rite of ordination, my full attention was given to the words and gestures which are the vehicle of the Holy Spirit's grace, a grace so powerful that it effects an "ontological" change. Reaching back to my collegiate philosophical studies, ontology is the branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being. This is important because the Holy Spirit truly effects change. A man's very being is changed by the Sacrament of Holy Orders so that Christ may continue His work of salvation in the Church.

The Rite of Ordination refers to the three functions of the priest: to bless, to consecrate and to sanctify. There is only one High Priest, Jesus Christ. But, it is His will to ordain, to conform others to His own being, so that His one, perfect and eternal Sacrifice of the Cross might be made present in every age for the salvation of souls. The ordinand becomes by grace "another Christ," (alter Christus).

I heard the Archbishop call my friend to Holy Orders, and I heard the applause of the concurrence of the People of God. Church Triumphant was powerfully present as we called upon the help of heaven in the litany of saints. I heard promises of obedience and faithfulness to the Church's tradition. Archbishop Brunett laid hands on the ordinand's head and the Holy Spirit rushed down. The vastness of heaven seemed to pour out over him and then throughout the cathedral. I could feel it welling up down deep within me. Then I was given my opportunity to show spiritual agreement with the Archbishop as all the priests present, one by one, lay hands upon the ordinands.

Again the Spirit of God was called down in the prayer of priestly consecration. The deacon's stole was then replaced by the new vestments of their priestly office in the Church: the stole and chasuble. Each ordinand knelt before the Archbishop who anointed their hands with Holy Chrism, the scented oil that marks the work of the Holy Spirit. Still with fixed attention I saw the gifts of bread and wine entrusted to the new priests, a sure sign of the sacrifice their lives are called to be.

From old memory, to prayer, back to recollections and into prayer again, my heart moved facilely through the present experience. I had such joy for my friend - now my brother - and such gratitude for the gift of Holy Orders I received some 15 years before. But, I also felt a conviction, maybe even had a vision of the priest that I have failed to be, but still hope to become. The Holy Spirit changes things. With that, joy and gratitude won the day.

I embraced this new priest of God in the "Kiss of Peace," that ancient Christian gesture of true communion. That's what this ordination was really about: true communion with God our Father, through Jesus Christ the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit, all present in the Church. My sight began to blur with tears as I made my way back to my seat. The Spirit that had been welling up within me was now flowing over. Yes, the Spirit of God moved powerfully that day in the Cathedral, and "another Christ" is given to us, to bless, to consecrate and to sanctify. Yes, hope is given to us.

 

30 May 2008

Meek & Humble

 

There is, what I would call, a "privileged" time in the monastery: an interval between vigils and lauds in the morning. This half-hour is protected by the grand silence still in effect, and is set aside for quiet prayer. Many days this is the time in which I offer the Holy Mass at one of the side altars in the Abbey church, but since I was assigned to say the Conventual Mass, the community's daily common celebration of the Holy Eucharist, I devoted this time to "lectio divina," a method of praying the Sacred Scriptures much championed by we Benedictines.

I read today from the Gospel of Saint Matthew (11:25-30), the passage read in the Mass of today's great Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart." I recalled the old prayer: "Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine." I keep many images of Christ in my heart, but "meek" is not one I readily attribute to our Lord. In my mind meekness is more proper to mice than to the Almighty!

With a little help from Merriam-Webster I came to realize just how perfectly meek is the Heart of Jesus. The dictionary defines meekness as "enduring injury with patience and without resentment." The yoke of the cross was carried by our Lord with perfect meekness. It's so easy to gather resentments as we carry the cross through this life. Our Lord seems to teach that meekness and humility are the foundation of true freedom from the burdens of anger and resentment. Our lives are not meant to be without sacrifice and trial. We are to live like Jesus: loving patiently, enduring injury without resentment. So, I think I'll keep up that old prayer: "Jesus  meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine."

A short homily on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

25 May 2008

Panis Angelicus

 

It is the practice of our monastery for the monks who are priests to be sent on occasion to assist in local parishes. Saint Mary's Church, in the town of Mt. Angel, is pastored by our Father Philip. It is at least a two-priest parish, but for now, Father manages to get all the Masses said and confessions heard with a little help from his brother monks. This is how I ended up today at the little church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary at Crooked Finger. It is a mission of Saint Mary's with a long and proud tradition of its own. Its devoted congregants live in the rural hilly areas east of the Abbey.

I know with some certainty that God was very pleased this morning as he observed the devotion of this small congregation. Altar servers in their cassocks, first communicants in white veils, a flock of little children in new red capes, all preparing the way for the Lord of Glory. The faithful followed in procession behind the banner of Our Lady, singing from the heart, and praying the Lord's blessing upon the world. This grand little procession made its way from shrine to shrine, and back to the church again.

Very happy, if a bit worn out from the effort, we gathered in the church basement for some First Holy Communion cake, and a round of good cheer knowing that, Jesus, the Bread of Angels, is well adored in Crooked Finger.

 

20 May 2008

Ad Quid ?

 

The hilltop is very quiet with all the seminarians away for the summer and the guest house closed for the week. This is the time of year when we observe our community's annual retreat. A monk usually comes from another monastery to lead the spiritual exercises, but this year, our Father Stephen, age 92, is doing the honors. He reminded us today of an inscription over the main entrance to the monastery: "Amice Ad Quid Venisti." Friend, for what have you come? We all entered this way of life underneath that very saying. An annual retreat is a time to remember why we do what we do day after day, year after year. For some, like Father Stephen who professed his vows over 70 years ago, they have been praying and working in this monastery for many decades. Why do it? The most simple answer is love. But, of all the ways to express love, why this one? That will probably remain somewhat mysterious, for I don't think we can ever completely explain God's call to the human heart. Father Stephen gave us a clue however: Colossians 1:24 "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ on behalf of His Body, the Church." Why did I come to the monastery? It seems as though the reason gets less clear with time, but the reason I stay becomes more clear, year after year: gratitude for salvation in Christ Jesus. Having received so great a love, we can now become that love living in the Body of Christ and sharing in His continuing work of salvation. Now, if only I can keep this in mind when the next challenge to charity arises!

 

11 May 2008

Come Holy Spirit

 

There is little debate in my mind about favorite hymns in the Divine Office. There are many "greats" of course, but the "Veni Creator Spiritus," which is sung at vespers from the Solemnity of the Ascension to Pentecost, is dearest of all. But this year, what caught my attention at Mass today was the "Veni Sancte Spiritus," the sequence sung before the "Alleluia." It is surely a most beautiful prayer, petitioning and extolling the activity of the Holy Spirit, but tucked away eight lines down, is a verse that resounded interiorly: "Bend the stubborn heart and will; melt the frozen, warm the chill; guide the steps that go astray." The Holy Spirit was, no doubt, reminding me of my hardness of heart. But, the Holy Spirit never convicts us without purpose, that is, this encounter is always the beginning of something more. This "conviction" was a realization of need, but the joy that followed was the realization that the Holy Spirit can, in fact, powerfully "bend" the heart away from its chill, and move it toward the warmth of God. In other words, where there is the Holy Spirit, there is hope. Come Holy Spirit!

 

10 May 2008

Hoots & Hurrahs!

 

The Seminary celebrated its 120th commencement today. As the names were called and the degrees conferred, my thoughts wandered back through my own years as a seminarian. There I found the expected vignettes of academic duress and many hours of prayer. I seemed to recognize again a somewhat simpler faith, one which produced a type of prayer that was probably more a kin to pleading than praising. I remember petitioning God often for the graces, grades and positive evaluations required in order to arrive at that most coveted goal: ordination day. Perhaps it is better to “praise” than to “plead” in prayer, but a keen awareness of God’s providence isn’t bad either.

A bit further on, past the recollections of dining in the seminary refectory day after day and the delight of truly imaginative stage productions, there was something else recalled: that deep bond and the lasting relationships forged by life together, enduring common adversity, and most of all, through shared faith and fraternal love. I saw that again today. As the graduates processed from the Abbey church, moving on toward that coveted ordination day, their brothers cheered: and not just politely. From the second floor of the Abbey church, their brothers leaned over the rails and cheered their accomplishment with hoots and hurrahs!

Extraordinary in the simplicity of its expression, the fraternal charity so enthusiastically expressed here today is a hopeful sign that our Seminary embodies the wisdom and hope of that ancient hymn: "where charity is true: there is God."

 

4 May 2008

The Blessed

 

Saint Matthew's Gospel relates to us the eight Beatitudes preached by our Lord. It probably is a bit bold, but I'd like to propose a ninth: Blessed are they whose lives become a blessing to the generations. This year the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord fell on May 4th, and that is, of course, the Mass we celebrated here today, but this also happens to be the day our community remembers the Blessed of Engelberg.

Blessed Konrad of Seldenburen was the noble donor of the land and founder of our motherhouse of Engelberg in 1120. he would later become a monk there, but was quite sadly murdered soon after by his own greedy family in 1126. Blessed Adelhelm was the founding abbot, originally a monk of the Abbey of Muri. The second abbot, Blessed Frowin was postulated from the Abbey of Saint Blaise in the Black Forest. To "postulate" means that the monks of Engelberg elected him abbot while he was still a monk of another monastery; apparently a good choice. He experienced a holy death in 1178. The third abbot, Blessed Berchtold is known to have worked miracles of charity. There was a famine in his time, and the people came to him in their need. Abbot Berchtold blessed the lake near Stanzstad, and many fish rose to the surface to the great delight of the hungry people. The Blessed Abbot went to the Lord in the year 1197.

These four Blessed of Engelberg established holiness as the way of life in their monastery. This is the tradition our "Mother" has passed on to us: Benedictine holiness. We are blest to follow a Rule of life that the Church shows us to be a true way to God. Our monastic fathers have demonstrated this to us through lives of humility, obedience and charity. Holiness is not simply a fad of the 12th century, but rather, an opportunity handed on to us here in the 21st. This does beg a question, however: what will I hand on? Blessed are they whose lives become a blessing to the generations. Dear Blessed of Engelberg, pray for us.

 

1 May 2008

Into Paradise

I tend to like Gregorian chant to begin with, but I especially love the "In Paradisum." With its rather plaintive melody and periodically rising tonal painting, it raises one's spirit along with it. This is always beneficial when one chants the "In Paradisum" for a loved one. We did that today. Our dear Brother Benedict, whom many a visitor will remember from his years in the gift shop, was laid to rest this morning in the Abbey cemetery. After 55 years in the monastery he can likely use that rest. As is the custom at Mount Angel, we will offer prayers for the blessed repose of his soul for 30 days, and then annually on the anniversary of his death. If Brother Benedict doesn't quickly arrive at the gates of Paradise, most of us will have little chance at all. As Christians, we don't want to presume of God's mercy, even though we certainly hope in it. Saying prayers and offering spiritual sacrifices for the dead is a wholesome and virtuous thing, as we are reminded in the Book of Maccabees (12:43-46). So, please join us as we keep Brother Benedict in our charitable prayers.

In Paradisum dedúcant te Angeli:

in tuo adventu suscípiant te Martyres,

et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.

Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat et cum Lazaro,

quondam paupere, aeternam habeas requiem.

May the angels lead you in to paradise;

may the martyrs come to welcome you

and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.

May choirs of angels welcome you,

and where Lazarus is poor no longer

may you find eternal rest.