Holy Rule for May 30
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St. Mary's Monastery
May 29, 2026, 4:43:10 PM (13 hours ago) May 29
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 29, May 30, September 29
Chapter 7: On Humility (24-30)
We must be on our guard, therefore, against evil desires, for death lies close by the gate of pleasure. Hence the Scripture gives this command: "Go not after your concupiscences" (Eccles.18:30). So therefore, since the eyes of the Lord observe the good and the evil (Prov.15:3) and the Lord is always looking down from heaven on the children of earth "to see if there be anyone who understands and seeks God" (Ps. 13:2), and since our deeds are daily, day and night, reported to the Lord by the Angels assigned to us, we must constantly beware, brethren, as the Prophet says in the Psalm, lest at any time God see us falling into evil ways and becoming unprofitable (Ps. 13:3); and lest, having spared us for the present because in His kindness He awaits our reformation, He say to us in the future, "These things you did, and I held My peace" (Ps. 49:21).
REFLECTION
The theme of God seeking His laborers first expressed in the Prologue comes back here, like background hints of melody woven through an overture. God SEES us, yes, but He also SEEKS us, seeks those who seek Him. If we forget that, God's loving, watchful care over us (He assigns angels to us!) is reduced to the lackluster charm of a security camera, an "Eye in the sky."
Ever lose somebody in airport? It's a funny sort of panic, because both of you know that ultimately, somehow you will connect. Until that happens, however, a lot of anxious hunting takes place. Do you know the joy when two such people finally find each other? It is not slight! While one says "Thank heavens I found you!" the other is saying, "But I was looking for you, too, EVERYWHERE!" There is a great common blessing in such moments, one which far transcends the anxiety of the search which preceded it.
That's how it is with God. While we are seeking Him, even BEFORE we are seeking Him, He is seeking us. There is so much love in that searching, on both parts. The novice is to be examined to see if she truly seeks God. But the question is not just for novices. "Quaeremus inventum," said St. Augustine: "Let us seek Him Whom we have found." And so it goes. A monastic life done right has seeking and finding writ large on every page, from beginning to end.
Angels got a bad press in the Roman Catholic world in the 1960's and 70's. It became fashionable to be rather scornful of such belief and some skeptics viewed guardian angels as only a slight step beyond the fairy godmothers of children's tales. Well, folks, it was one time they weren't on the crest of a wave. The signs of the times told them that emphatically when a ground swell of popularity arose with angels as its focus.
Angels are more than human, but less than divine. They share our status of being creatures, but they have powers beyond our ken. No wonder popular culture embraced them: they are a very good entry level awareness of something beyond, something spiritual. Whatever else they may be, they are real. Why waste 'em? Let them help us all they can and let us ask for more besides!
There may be reservations among some of our readers about praying to saints, but Scripture abounds with examples of conversations with angels, a comforting assurance for our Protestant readers. Go for it!
A couple of years ago, a confessor recommended that I pray to my Guardian Angel about a problem. No one had said that to me in years! I took his advice, however, and loved the results.
By the way, the Guardian Angels are the patrons of the American Cassinese Congregation. I know some guys who probably would have loved to change that during the "bad press" years. Thankfully, no one did! Holy Guardian Angels, pray for us!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 29, May 30, September 29
Chapter 7: On Humility (24-30)
We must be on our guard, therefore, against evil desires, for death lies close by the gate of pleasure. Hence the Scripture gives this command: "Go not after your concupiscences" (Eccles.18:30). So therefore, since the eyes of the Lord observe the good and the evil (Prov.15:3) and the Lord is always looking down from heaven on the children of earth "to see if there be anyone who understands and seeks God" (Ps. 13:2), and since our deeds are daily, day and night, reported to the Lord by the Angels assigned to us, we must constantly beware, brethren, as the Prophet says in the Psalm, lest at any time God see us falling into evil ways and becoming unprofitable (Ps. 13:3); and lest, having spared us for the present because in His kindness He awaits our reformation, He say to us in the future, "These things you did, and I held My peace" (Ps. 49:21).
REFLECTION
The theme of God seeking His laborers first expressed in the Prologue comes back here, like background hints of melody woven through an overture. God SEES us, yes, but He also SEEKS us, seeks those who seek Him. If we forget that, God's loving, watchful care over us (He assigns angels to us!) is reduced to the lackluster charm of a security camera, an "Eye in the sky."
Ever lose somebody in airport? It's a funny sort of panic, because both of you know that ultimately, somehow you will connect. Until that happens, however, a lot of anxious hunting takes place. Do you know the joy when two such people finally find each other? It is not slight! While one says "Thank heavens I found you!" the other is saying, "But I was looking for you, too, EVERYWHERE!" There is a great common blessing in such moments, one which far transcends the anxiety of the search which preceded it.
That's how it is with God. While we are seeking Him, even BEFORE we are seeking Him, He is seeking us. There is so much love in that searching, on both parts. The novice is to be examined to see if she truly seeks God. But the question is not just for novices. "Quaeremus inventum," said St. Augustine: "Let us seek Him Whom we have found." And so it goes. A monastic life done right has seeking and finding writ large on every page, from beginning to end.
Angels got a bad press in the Roman Catholic world in the 1960's and 70's. It became fashionable to be rather scornful of such belief and some skeptics viewed guardian angels as only a slight step beyond the fairy godmothers of children's tales. Well, folks, it was one time they weren't on the crest of a wave. The signs of the times told them that emphatically when a ground swell of popularity arose with angels as its focus.
Angels are more than human, but less than divine. They share our status of being creatures, but they have powers beyond our ken. No wonder popular culture embraced them: they are a very good entry level awareness of something beyond, something spiritual. Whatever else they may be, they are real. Why waste 'em? Let them help us all they can and let us ask for more besides!
There may be reservations among some of our readers about praying to saints, but Scripture abounds with examples of conversations with angels, a comforting assurance for our Protestant readers. Go for it!
A couple of years ago, a confessor recommended that I pray to my Guardian Angel about a problem. No one had said that to me in years! I took his advice, however, and loved the results.
By the way, the Guardian Angels are the patrons of the American Cassinese Congregation. I know some guys who probably would have loved to change that during the "bad press" years. Thankfully, no one did! Holy Guardian Angels, pray for us!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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