The Love of Solitude and Silence [1]

[Rich]

The Love of Solitude and Silence [1]

SEEK a suitable time for leisure and meditate often on the favors of
God. Leave curiosities alone. Read such matters as bring sorrow to the
heart rather than occupation to the mind. If you withdraw yourself
from unnecessary talking and idle running about, from listening to
gossip and rumors, you will find enough time that is suitable for holy
meditation.
Very many great saints avoided the company of men wherever possible
and chose to serve God in retirement. “As often as I have been among
men,” said one writer, “I have returned less a man.” We often find
this to be true when we take part in long conversations. It is easier
to be silent altogether than not to speak too much. To stay at home is
easier than to be sufficiently on guard while away. Anyone, then, who
aims to live the inner and spiritual life must go apart, with Jesus,
from the crowd.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 20

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April 17th - St Stephen Harding, Cist. Order]
(1050-1104)

Monk, priest, writer, teacher and co-founder of the Cistercian
Order--Patron of the Cistercians Attributes: Dressed in the
Cistercian habit, abbot’s crozier, holding the Carta caritatis
(“Charter of Charity”), a founding document for the Cistercian Order.

Harding was born in Sherborne, Dorset, in the Kingdom of England, and
spoke English, Norman, French and Latin. He was placed in Sherborne
Abbey at a young age, but eventually left the monastery and became a
travelling scholar, journeying with one devout companion, into
Scotland and afterwards to Paris and then to Rome. He eventually moved
to Molesme Abbey in Burgundy, under the Abbot Robert of Molesme (c.
1027-1111).

When Robert left Molesme to avoid what he perceived to be the abbey’s
increasing wealth and overly strong connections to the aristocracy,
Harding and Alberic of Cîteaux went with him. Seeing no hope of a
sufficient reformation in Molemse, Robert appointed another abbot for
the abbey and then, with Alberic, Harding and 21 other monks, received
permission from Hugh, the Archbishop of Lyons and legate of the Holy
See, to found a new monastery in Citeaux, a marshy wilderness five
leagues from Dijon. There, they formed a new, more austere, monastery.
Eudes, afterwards Duke of Burgundy, built them a little church, which
was placed under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin, as all the
churches of the Cistercians from that time have been.

Stephen became the third abbot of Cîteaux. However, very few were
joining the community and the monks were suffering from hunger and
sickness. In 1112, Bernard of Clairvaux entered the community,
bringing with him 30 companions. Between 1112 and 1119, a dozen new
Cistercian houses were founded to accommodate those joining the young
order. Harding’s organisational skills were exceptional; he instituted
the system of general chapters and regular visitations. In 1119, he
received official approbation for the Carta Caritatis (Charter of
Charity), an important document for the Cistercian Order, establishing
its unifying principles.

Stephen Harding served Cîteaux Abbey as abbot for 25 years. While no
single person is considered the founder of the Cistercian Order, the
shape of Cistercian thought, and its rapid growth in the 12th century
were arguably due to Harding’s leadership. Insisting on simplicity in
all aspects of monastic life, he was largely responsible for the
severity of Cistercian architecture and the simple beauty of the
Order’s liturgy. He was an accomplished scribe for the monastery’s
scriptorium; his highest achievement is considered to be the Harding
Bible, famous among medieval manuscripts. In 1133, he resigned as head
of the order because of age and infirmity. He died on 28 March 1134,
and was buried in the tomb of Alberic, his predecessor, in the
cloisters at Cîteaux.

In a joint commemoration with Robert of Molesme and Alberic, the first
two abbots of Cîteaux, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates Stephen
Harding’s in a joint feast day on 26 January too.

The north aisle of the Church of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate in
London was formerly a chapel dedicated to him.


Bible Quote:
And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not
failing. [10] Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all
men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
[Galatians 6:9-10] DRV

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Salutations To The Hearts Of Jesus And Mary

Hail, Heart most holy.
Hail, Heart most gentle.
Hail, Heart most humble.
Hail, Heart most pure.
Hail, Heart most wise.
Hail, Heart most patient.
Hail, Heart most merciful.
Hail, most loving Heart of Jesus and Mary.
We revere Thee. We glorify Thee.
We give Thee thanks.
We love Thee.
We offer Thee our heart.
Receive it and possess it wholly.
Purify it. Enlighten it. Sanctify it.
That Thou may live and reign in it now,
always and forever and ever. Amen.