for the Oblates of our Community
With the Gospel for our Guide
SECTIONS 1
READING AND REFLECTION
Our holy Rule in chapter 4, verse 55, exhorts us as follows: Listen to holy reading and devote yourself often to prayer. Chapters 8-19 give detailed instructions for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, for Benedictines the Opus Dei (Work of God). Chapter 20 teaches “reverence in prayer”. Let us re-commit ourselves from TODAY to PRAYER. We cannot go very far without prayer – every day, not just when we feel like it, or when we have the “space”.
Spend time with the following texts:
· 2 Corinthians 13:7
· James 5:16
· 3 John 2
· Acts 26:29
· Acts 27:29
· Romans 9:3
· Romans 8:26
· Ephesians 6:18
· Philippians 1:9
· 1 Timothy 2:8
· Hebrews 13:18
· Jude, verse 20
· 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Texts which translate “to ask” also use the word for prayer.
These are:
· Luke 14:18
· John 4:31
· John 14:16
· John 16:26
· John 17:9
· John 17:15
· John 17:20
As Oblates of St. Benedict, our two main ways of prayer are the Liturgy of the Hours and Lectio Divina. We are urged to pray part of the Liturgy of the Hours daily. We are asked (by St. Benedict) to do “lectio divina” (reading of the scriptures) DAILY. How are we going as people committed to prayer? Well? Not very well? We each need to answer the question honestly and if we have fallen by the wayside, let’s turn back and start again. That’s all it takes.
SECTION TWO
FURTHER READING & REFLECTION
Blessed Columba Marmion has the following wisdom to offer us:
One of the most important truths of the spiritual life is incontestably the necessity of prayer for obtaining the help of God. “Ask,” said Our Lord, “and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” Our needs are immense, and without Christ’s grace we can do nothing. How are we to obtain the help of Christ? By prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours is first and before all a Divine Praise, the cry of the soul who, full of faith and love, admires and magnifies God and the works of God. We come to the Liturgy to praise God, to glorify Him, to think upon His glory, to lend material creation our lips with which to sing, and our heart with which to love God: the first and direct end of the Liturgy of the Hours is the glory of the Creation. “Lord our God, we praise your name through all the earth.” The dominant idea of the Liturgy of the Hours is drawn from these words of the Psalmist, as it is summed up in the ever recurring doxology: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
It is the custom of following, under the Church’s guidance, the mysteries of Jesus, that gives to Benedictine spirituality such a specifically Christian character. It is a fact that those who pray the Divine Office truly, who let themselves be replenished with the truths of the psalms and follow Christ step by step in each of his mysteries, find abundant and fruitful life. Usually their lives are free from complications. If we try to create or arrange our own spiritual life, there is the danger of putting much of ourself into it, much that is human, and there is the risk, at times, of not taking the way that God wishes us to follow in order that we may attain to Him. Walking in the footsteps of the Church, there is no risk of going astray. The secret of Benedictine spirituality lies in the fact that it draws its life from the Holy Spirit, ever present in the Church.
The Holy Spirit, Author of the psalms, deeply engraves within us God’s truth. It is the Holy Spirit who fills us with love for God and praise of God. Little by little we live on these truths, we are nourished by the words of the psalms and the scriptures, and we see and judge all things as God sees them and judges them.
The Liturgy of the Hours will produce its precious fruits in us only if it is well prayed. It is a privileged means of union with God, on condition that we bring to it the necessary dispositions. What are these dispositions? Before we begin to pray one of the hours, we must first of all prepare ourselves. Scripture tells us: “Before prayer, prepare yourself.”
In monasteries all over the world, Benedictine monks and nuns prepare for every hour of the liturgy by a time of silence beforehand. In this silence they recollect themselves before the awesome responsibility which they are about to carry out – praying from the heart of humanity, for humanity, through Christ Jesus.
SECTION THREE
ABOUT THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT
Let us spend time with chapter 20 of the Rule of St. Benedict, REVERENCE IN PRAYER. What does this chapter mean? Look at some of the key words:
· Ask
· Humbly
· Respectfully
· Humility
· Sincere devotion
· Purity of heart
· Tears of compunction
This is a fairly blatant portrait of what this chapter is saying.
Perhaps we could go back to John 3 and read about true worshippers who worship the Father in spirit and in truth. St. Benedict is very insistent on our sincerity, and not impressed with “show”. St. Benedict would surely be the friend of the Publican, rather than the Pharisee.
Take all the key words listed on page 4, and spend time with them, looking up the meaning of each word, gaining deeper and deeper insight into what is the mind of St. Benedict on this matter of “reverence in prayer”.
SECTION FOUR
COMMUNITY HISTORY
We are very happy that two of our sisters from the Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert, New Mexico, U.S.A. will be living with us in community from July until September. You may want to come and pray an hour of the Liturgy with us while the sisters are here in community.
We are grateful to God that our community is growing, both in numbers and in spiritual depth. We are aware that we are ONE community, whether we be Nuns or Oblates. We are one in the bonds of the mystery of prayer. It is tangible, surely.
We pray for Colleen, Brenda and Judy, three wonderful women who are going to make their commitment as Oblates in the next few months.
SECTION FIVE
LITURGY
MAY:
24 – Our Lady Help of Christians – S
25 – St. Bede the Venerable – M
26 – TRINITY SUNDAY-S
27 – St. Augustine of Canterbury – M
31 – Visitation of Our Lady to Elizabeth - F
JUNE:
1 – St. Justin-M
2 – CORPUS CHRISTI – S
3 – Charles Lwanga and companions - M
5 – St. Boniface – M
7 – SACRED HEART OF JESUS – S
8 – Immaculate Heart of Mary – S (in Wollongong Diocese)
11 – St. Barnabas – F
22 – Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More – M
23 – Sts.Ethelreda, Mildred & Holy Nuns of England. (Omitted this year, as it falls on a Sunday) - M
24 – Birth of John the Baptist - S
28 - St. Irenaeus – M
29 – Sts. Peter and Paul - S
JULY:
3 - St. Thomas - F
9 – St. Maria Goretti – M
11 – St. Benedict, Patron of Europe - F
12 - St. John Gualbert M
15 - St. Bonaventure M
16 - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel M
22 - St. Mary Magdalen
26 - Sts. Joachim and Anne
29 - Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus M
31 - St. Ignatius of Loyola M
AUGUST:
4 - St. John M. Vianney M
5 – St. Dominic
6 - Tranfiguration of the Lord –F
8 – blessed Mary MacKillop - F
10 - St. Lawrence F
11 - St. Clare M (omitted this year because it falls on a Sunday)
14 - Sr. Maximilian Kolbe M
15 - SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY.
19 - St. Bernard Tolomei M
20 - St. Bernard M
21 - St. Pius X - M
24 - St. Bartholomew M
27 - St. Monica M
28 - St. Augustine M
M = Memoria. F = Feast. S = Solemnity.
All other days are Ferial days.
SECTION SIX
YOUR COMMUNITY
WE WISH YOU THE RICHEST BLESSING OF PEACE ON YOUR FEAST DAY:
May 21: Wendy Godric Orrock, Paul Godric Griffiths, Ian Godric Thomas
May 22 – Doreen Rita Soballa
May 24: Amanda Mary Hickey
May 25: Alan Bede Hickey, Fr. Ronald Bede Harden, Cheryl Bede Townsend, Carney Bede Fisher, Patrick Bede Quinn, Antonio Bede Zaragoza, Heather Bede Thompson
May 31: Jo Elizabeth Wickens. Mary Elizabeth Locke, Margaret Elizabeth Crooks, Sr. Elizabeth Funder (our Prioress).
June 5: Jeff Boniface Smart and Arno Boniface Struzina
June 11: Jan Barnabas Trevenen
June 22: Katherine Thomas Lindsay, Margaret Thomas More Whetham.
June 23: Frances Mildred Cormack.
June 24: Carmen Giovanni Xuereb
June 30: Annette Cuthbert Dawes
July 11: Ian Benedict Macdonald, Valerie Benedicta Dickson, Ken Benedict Press, Bill Benedict Price, Patrick Benedict Sleight, Marianne Benedict Scarf, Sonia Benedicta Aquilina, Sr. Benedetta Cerato, Russell Benedict Collins, Margaret Benedicta Houen, Geraldine Mary Benedicta Doyle, Tim Benedict O’Donnell, June Benedicta Jenkins, Garry Benedict Gleeson, Ellen Benedicta Woods, Benedetta Marina de Mattia.
July 15: Pamela Henry Herrick
July 16: Sr. Carmen Ruiz and Fr. Paul Gurr O.Carm.
July 22: Sr. Magdalen Mather, Margaret Mary Magdalen Oomens, Kerri Mary Olson
July 25: Peter James Lambert-Brown.
August 8: Peter of the Cross Guy
August 11: Sr. Clare Gamble, Shirley Clare Basham and Rev. Ann Dittmar McCollim
August 15: Sr. Maria Frances Slade
August 14: Henning Maximilian Harders
August 20: Bernard Quinn, Peter Bernard Smith
August 27: Sr. Monica Rice and Colleen Monica Fletcher.
August 28: Joan Augustine Lorente, and Monica Augustina Rodriguez.
LET US PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER AS OUR ANNIVERSARIES OCCUR:
May 30: Wendy Godric Orrock
June 7: Ian Benedict MacDonald
June 12: Christine Gertrud Phillips, Lenka Gregoria Hill, Catherine Frances Turek, Peter Damian McElhone, Alfred Anselm Breznik, Susan Frances Carter, Rhonda Scholastica Kinsela, Debi Gertrud Russell, Isabel Frances Vicary and Kevin Francis Vicary, Maxine Francis Pickering.
June 14: Jean Julian Reid
June 22: ValerieBenedicta Dickson
June 23: Aaron Placid McElhone, Margaret Benedicta Houen, and Carmen Giovanna Xuereb
June 25: Nancy Hilda Sage, Colleen Monica Fletcher, Varcha Giles Sidwell, Elizabeth Lioba Anderson, Bernadette Mary Maher, Paul Godric Griffiths
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Anthony Anselm Tarleton, Ewa Mary Grajewska.
July 11: Rev. Ian Patrick Crooks and Margaret Julian Crooks. Billie Jude Balson, Patricia Mary Atkins.
July 12: Margaret Mary Magdalen oomens
July 22: Kerri Mary Magdalen Olson
July 26: Anne Sophia Norrie.
August 6: Kilian Veronica de Lacy.
August 18: Valerie Mary Cecilia Proverbs
August 20: Rev. Joseph Bernard Clare
August 22: Laura Gertrud Moya, Marianne Benedict Scarf, Irene Patricia McAllister, Josette Elizabeth Wickens, Aubrey Patrick Connors, Mary Gertrud Connors, Antoinette Gertrud Jenkins, Ruth Hedwig Huebner, Assunta Benedicta Aquilina, Wilfrid Ambrose Moon, Nereda Gertrud Blake, Bernard Daniel Fitzgerald, Doreen Adela O’Sullivan.
August 30: Henning Maximilian Harders and Gabriele Maria Angelica Harders.
MAY ETERNAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM AND MAY THEY REST IN PEACE:
May 29th, 1876: Sr. Mary Ann Hogan
May 31st, 1966: Dame Mary Clare Bocher
June 2nd, 1924: Mother Mary Austin Marum
June 2nd, 1987: Sr. Marian Bourke
June 4th, 1976: Sr. Mary Gertrude Flannery
June 8th, 1903: Sr. Mary Scholastica Therry
June 10th, 1973: Sr. Mary Bernard Bryant
June 13th, 1988: Sr. Miriam Murray
June 16th, 1920: Dame Mary Paul Fairland
June 16th, 1932: Dame Mary Stanislaus Egan
June 18th, 1861: Sr. Mary Aloysius Shortall
June 18th, 1980: Sr. Mary Audrey Bourke
June27th, 1972: Sr. Mary Bede Muschialli
June 28th, 1894: Mother Mary Placid Loughnan
June 29th, 1932: Mother Mary Justina Merewether
July 2nd, 1888: Sr. M. Elizabeth Dwyer,
July 10th, 1891: Sr. M. Bridget O’Sullivan
July 15th, 1943: Dame Mary Scholastica Sugrue
July 15th, 1985: Sr. Mary Boniface McConnell
July 23rd, 1994: Oblate Clare Scholastica Empen
July 24th, 1952: Sr. Mary Ann Harrington
August 9th, 1968: Mother M. Mildred Potts
August 11th, 1950: Dame M. Annette Cunningham
SECTION SEVEN
SAINTS
From the Life of St. Antony of Egypt:
“Antony was so attentive at the reading of the Scriptures that nothing escaped him. He retained everyting he heard so that his memory served him in place of books.” We may recall that many centuries later, St. Thomas More did the same!
From the writings of Peter of Celle:
“Reading is bound to silence. Constant and attentive reading done with reverence, purifies one’s inner being.”
From the Spiritual Exercises of St. Gertrud the Great of Helfta:
O Lord, let me taste the sweetness of your Spirit. Make me thirst that your will be done on earth. May my life of service always be acceptable to you. Amen. Jesus, fountain of life, allow me to drink a cup of the living water from you, so that, having tasted you, I will thirst eternally for nothing but you.
SECTION EIGHT
FOR REFLECTION
“The Benedictine monk (nun/oblate) who lives the monastic life and its values, does not waste time thinking of self, or what others are doing, or of the wrongs that may have been done to him/her. The monk (nun/oblate) does not turn over in the mind all these trifles, but seeks only God. Whenever it is possible, such a person turns one’s heart towards God, to cleave to Him, to express to God one’s desires. That is the tendency with a follower of St. Benedict. Such a follower withdraws into the very depths of his/her being, in order to find God there – God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. The life of a Benedictine becomes a communing with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And in this union we find the well-spring of joy.
A Benedictine feels the need of consecrating one hour exclusively to communing with God. In fact, it is impossible for one to have arrived at a state where prayer is one’s life, without giving oneself, in an exclusive manner, at certain hours of the day, to the formal exercise of prayer. Perhaps that is why St. Benedict, who has regulated everything in his monasteries with a view to maintaing a lifeof prayer, did not see it necessary to fix set times of prayer for his followers. He wants his children to seek God. And if the desire of seeking God be true and sincere, the Benedictine will try to find hours where s/he can be alone with God.