“God must still see the world as good, or He would not allow it to continue its existence.” (Hubert Van Zeller).
There were a couple of Saints born into the fifth century… They were twins – a boy and a girl and both of them became Saints…
The girl was Saint Scholastica and she was a loyal disciple of her brother, Saint Benedict.
Saint Benedict of Nursia is considered the father of Western monasticism because his system, discipline, rules and order became the basis upon which monastic life would be founded.
Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica were born to Roman parents and lived in Italy. He felt a calling to escape the mundane elements of the everyday – even as a young man. He considered such trifles a waste of his time and efforts in preparation for eternity… As a result he chose to leave his wealthy family and comfortable life to live in the mountains of Subiaco, where he lived for three years as a hermit. Later, he was asked to lead a monastery after their abbot had died.
This caused a problem, because Saint Benedict’s dedication and ascetism was considered too extreme by the monks. As a result, several of them tried to poison him. However, Saint Benedict blessed the poisoned cup and thereby rendered the poison ineffective. Following this episode, Saint Benedict returned to his cave and lived as a hermit while news of his holiness and miracles spread. Eventually he was surrounded by a community who chose to follow Saint Benedict’s way of life. As a result, Saint Benedict established twelve monasteries. The rule of these communities was called the Rule of Saint Benedict, and that same rule is observed by the Benedictines even today.
The discipline announced in monastic life adopted by the Benedictines meant that Saint Benedict became known as the Founder of Western Monasticism.
And I have been thinking about a few things in that story of those Saints today. You see, Saint Benedict retreated to spend time with God and as a result he was followed. Firstly, by his sister, who herself became a Saint, but also by other souls who wanted to become closer to God.
And I have been thinking about what a blessing this was – because it seems that when we retreat to our God, others come to follow us because it is not really us that they are following – but rather, God Himself…
And in order to feel that closeness to their Beloved, they experience a longing to be around those who are unashamed of His presence in their lives. And they express that lack of shame through their decisions to cast off the things of this world.
And today – as I sit inside my nice comfortable home wearing my nice comfortable clothes and living my nice comfortable life, it seems to me that I am forgetting to consider other things – things that are important to the blessings of the soul…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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