Groups keyboard shortcuts have been updated
Dismiss
See shortcuts
Holy Rule for March 17
10 views
Skip to first unread message
St. Mary's Monastery
Mar 16, 2025, 5:03:37 PMMar 16
to holyrule
+PAX
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
March 17, July 17, November 16
Chapter 38: On the Weekly Reader
The meals of the sisters should not be without reading. Nor should the reader be anyone who happens to take up the book; but there should be a reader for the whole week, entering that office on Sunday. Let this incoming reader, after Mass and Communion, ask all to pray for her that God may keep her from the spirit of pride. And let her intone the following verse, which shall be said three times by all in the oratory: "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise". Then, having received a blessing, let her enter on the reading.
And let absolute silence be kept at table, so that no whispering may be heard nor any voice except the reader's. As to the things they need while they eat and drink, let the sisters pass them to one another so that no one need ask for anything. If anything is needed, however, let it be asked for by means of some audible sign rather than by speech. Nor shall anyone at table presume to ask questions about the reading or anything else, lest that give occasion for talking; except that the Superior may perhaps wish to say something briefly for the purpose of edification.
The sister who is reader for the week shall take a little ablution before she begins to read, on account of the Holy Communion and lest perhaps the fast be hard for her to bear. She shall take her meal afterwards with the kitchen and table servers of the week.
The sisters are not to read or chant in order, but only those who edify their hearers.
REFLECTION
It is a safe bet that Oblates who don't live alone don't eat in silence, so it would be easy to ask what on earth this chapter has for them, for all of us, in fact. Easy! It is another reminder to bless every action and service, no matter how small. It also shows us the kindhearted father Benedict: let the reader have a little something before reading, so the hunger doesn't overwhelm. (It is funny how quickly we become accustomed to eating at EXACTLY this or that time... Twenty minutes later can start some stomach rumblings!) A third and perhaps less obvious point is that, when it comes to the spiritual life and its nourishment, St. Benedict does not like to waste time. He makes judicious use of the time we feed our bodies to feed our hearts, minds and souls!
Let's start with that wasted time idea. Look at some of the other areas we waste time actively, or passively, because we have no choice. Grocery store lines come to mind, so do waiting for elevators or trains or buses, to say nothing of riding on same. An excellent opportunity for silent prayer! One could also carry a small book all the time, popping it out when the occasions arise. I used to study college texts in line at the store. I was working full-time and I needed every minute. But we all need every minute to grow spiritually, because we don't know how many of those minutes we have!
Driving, if one has a tape or CD deck in the car, can be a time to "make up" for some of that lectio divina we never seem to have enough hours in a day to finish. I speak as one formerly hopelessly addicted to rock 'n roll oldies - I was a radio DJ, after all - there are a lot of tapes I could have played that would have done far more for me than the Beach Boys or the Dave Clark 5! (Though I will always hold both dear!) No radio or tape in your car? Make sure you have a Rosary. There's plenty of time for one and you will find that traffic jams, while still aggravating, can be less so when something worthwhile to do is close at hand.
Oblates who live alone surely can play a CD of reading while they eat, but I strongly feel that even families, if the children are old enough to understand, can glean something here. What about a brief, very brief reading at the beginning of each meal, right after grace, maybe with discussion.
You might, also, try a different kind of "silence" at meals. What about a "fast" from all talk that doesn't praise or compliment, an occasional meal when you agree to do nothing but tell each other the good things you appreciate about each member? Not shabby! Or maybe a meal when we never mention ourselves, only others at table? There are all kinds of tricks to turn conversation into something saving rather than harming, and total silence is only one approach!
And don't forget that little gem about blessing every action. If grace before meals (maybe even after, too!) is not already a custom, make it so. This is not turning your family into monastics, it is a basic Christian practice that we should never have lost.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
March 17, July 17, November 16
Chapter 38: On the Weekly Reader
The meals of the sisters should not be without reading. Nor should the reader be anyone who happens to take up the book; but there should be a reader for the whole week, entering that office on Sunday. Let this incoming reader, after Mass and Communion, ask all to pray for her that God may keep her from the spirit of pride. And let her intone the following verse, which shall be said three times by all in the oratory: "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise". Then, having received a blessing, let her enter on the reading.
And let absolute silence be kept at table, so that no whispering may be heard nor any voice except the reader's. As to the things they need while they eat and drink, let the sisters pass them to one another so that no one need ask for anything. If anything is needed, however, let it be asked for by means of some audible sign rather than by speech. Nor shall anyone at table presume to ask questions about the reading or anything else, lest that give occasion for talking; except that the Superior may perhaps wish to say something briefly for the purpose of edification.
The sister who is reader for the week shall take a little ablution before she begins to read, on account of the Holy Communion and lest perhaps the fast be hard for her to bear. She shall take her meal afterwards with the kitchen and table servers of the week.
The sisters are not to read or chant in order, but only those who edify their hearers.
REFLECTION
It is a safe bet that Oblates who don't live alone don't eat in silence, so it would be easy to ask what on earth this chapter has for them, for all of us, in fact. Easy! It is another reminder to bless every action and service, no matter how small. It also shows us the kindhearted father Benedict: let the reader have a little something before reading, so the hunger doesn't overwhelm. (It is funny how quickly we become accustomed to eating at EXACTLY this or that time... Twenty minutes later can start some stomach rumblings!) A third and perhaps less obvious point is that, when it comes to the spiritual life and its nourishment, St. Benedict does not like to waste time. He makes judicious use of the time we feed our bodies to feed our hearts, minds and souls!
Let's start with that wasted time idea. Look at some of the other areas we waste time actively, or passively, because we have no choice. Grocery store lines come to mind, so do waiting for elevators or trains or buses, to say nothing of riding on same. An excellent opportunity for silent prayer! One could also carry a small book all the time, popping it out when the occasions arise. I used to study college texts in line at the store. I was working full-time and I needed every minute. But we all need every minute to grow spiritually, because we don't know how many of those minutes we have!
Driving, if one has a tape or CD deck in the car, can be a time to "make up" for some of that lectio divina we never seem to have enough hours in a day to finish. I speak as one formerly hopelessly addicted to rock 'n roll oldies - I was a radio DJ, after all - there are a lot of tapes I could have played that would have done far more for me than the Beach Boys or the Dave Clark 5! (Though I will always hold both dear!) No radio or tape in your car? Make sure you have a Rosary. There's plenty of time for one and you will find that traffic jams, while still aggravating, can be less so when something worthwhile to do is close at hand.
Oblates who live alone surely can play a CD of reading while they eat, but I strongly feel that even families, if the children are old enough to understand, can glean something here. What about a brief, very brief reading at the beginning of each meal, right after grace, maybe with discussion.
You might, also, try a different kind of "silence" at meals. What about a "fast" from all talk that doesn't praise or compliment, an occasional meal when you agree to do nothing but tell each other the good things you appreciate about each member? Not shabby! Or maybe a meal when we never mention ourselves, only others at table? There are all kinds of tricks to turn conversation into something saving rather than harming, and total silence is only one approach!
And don't forget that little gem about blessing every action. If grace before meals (maybe even after, too!) is not already a custom, make it so. This is not turning your family into monastics, it is a basic Christian practice that we should never have lost.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages