Holy Rule for May 19
15 views
Skip to first unread message
St. Mary's Monastery
May 18, 2026, 5:12:50 PM (12 days ago) May 18
to holyrule
+PAX
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 18, May 19, September 18
Chapter 4: What Are the Instruments of Good Works (1-21)
In the first place, to love the Lord God with the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole strength. Then, one's neighbor as oneself. Then not to murder. Not to commit adultery. Not to steal. Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honor all (1 Peter 2:17). And not to do to another what one would not have done to oneself. To deny oneself in order to follow Christ. To chastise the body. Not to become attached to pleasures. To love fasting. To relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick. To bury the dead. To help in trouble. To console the sorrowing. To become a stranger to the world's ways. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
REFLECTION
The Commandments are here, but so are some of the works of mercy, both spiritual and corporal: clothing the naked, relieving the poor, visiting the sick, burying the dead, helping in trouble and consoling the sorrowing. It is no accident that the apostolates undertaken by monasteries were most often those involving spiritual or corporal works of mercy.
Jesus told St. Faustina that the Divine Mercy is God's greatest attribute. Its links with love make it an attribute we can easily follow in our dealings with others, conforming ourselves more and more to the image of Christ. When the Father looks at us, He delights to see the image of His Son brought to life in us. Nothing can bring that image into sharper focus than works of mercy and love done every day, continually throughout our lives.
Many works of mercy can be given freely, but never forget that some do works of mercy for a living. I used to think nursing didn't count because I got paid for it. Then one day, it dawned on me that there were plenty of people you couldn't PAY to nurse someone! No, the teacher, the gravedigger, the nurse and anyone else who does such works of mercy as an occupation are still graced!
The works of mercy can be words, deeds, or prayers. They seek to alleviate pain or prevent it. Remember those spiritual works of mercy, like counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant and praying for the living and dead? You don't have to run an almonry or work in one to do works of mercy.
The chances are everywhere and often no more dramatic than offering to get a swamped co-worker a cup of coffee. They are often just such little things, but they are little things of love and therein lies their greatness and their Christ-like splendor! Courtesy, simple courtesy is extraordinary in our world today because it is so often neglected. The chances there for a word of mercy or a kind gesture are abundant.
For people who drive, the field of harvest for mercy is rich and ripe. So few are selfless these days in traffic, so few are willing to put another first. Try doing the opposite, giving way to someone needing to change lanes or calmly overlooking their honest mistakes. The road can be such a heartless place. Even if it is only smiling when someone commits a gaff that others would have yelled, honked or obscenely gestured at, it will make the world a gentler, more Christ-like place.
Never let a day go by without doing works of mercy. Never. If you are already in bed and examining your conscience when you realize you have missed a day, there is still time to pray for the dying, to pray for the living and dead. We have no excuse for missing a day and there is so much good at stake, good placed near our own hands. Don't miss that wonderful chance! And don't be surprised to find that works of mercy change YOU as much as they do others. Little by little we become more like Christ!
If we want mercy, than we must show mercy to others. God's Heart warms and glows with the love and mercy He sees us showing to others. It is very much like that solemn equation Jesus gave us: "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 18, May 19, September 18
Chapter 4: What Are the Instruments of Good Works (1-21)
In the first place, to love the Lord God with the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole strength. Then, one's neighbor as oneself. Then not to murder. Not to commit adultery. Not to steal. Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honor all (1 Peter 2:17). And not to do to another what one would not have done to oneself. To deny oneself in order to follow Christ. To chastise the body. Not to become attached to pleasures. To love fasting. To relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick. To bury the dead. To help in trouble. To console the sorrowing. To become a stranger to the world's ways. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
REFLECTION
The Commandments are here, but so are some of the works of mercy, both spiritual and corporal: clothing the naked, relieving the poor, visiting the sick, burying the dead, helping in trouble and consoling the sorrowing. It is no accident that the apostolates undertaken by monasteries were most often those involving spiritual or corporal works of mercy.
Jesus told St. Faustina that the Divine Mercy is God's greatest attribute. Its links with love make it an attribute we can easily follow in our dealings with others, conforming ourselves more and more to the image of Christ. When the Father looks at us, He delights to see the image of His Son brought to life in us. Nothing can bring that image into sharper focus than works of mercy and love done every day, continually throughout our lives.
Many works of mercy can be given freely, but never forget that some do works of mercy for a living. I used to think nursing didn't count because I got paid for it. Then one day, it dawned on me that there were plenty of people you couldn't PAY to nurse someone! No, the teacher, the gravedigger, the nurse and anyone else who does such works of mercy as an occupation are still graced!
The works of mercy can be words, deeds, or prayers. They seek to alleviate pain or prevent it. Remember those spiritual works of mercy, like counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant and praying for the living and dead? You don't have to run an almonry or work in one to do works of mercy.
The chances are everywhere and often no more dramatic than offering to get a swamped co-worker a cup of coffee. They are often just such little things, but they are little things of love and therein lies their greatness and their Christ-like splendor! Courtesy, simple courtesy is extraordinary in our world today because it is so often neglected. The chances there for a word of mercy or a kind gesture are abundant.
For people who drive, the field of harvest for mercy is rich and ripe. So few are selfless these days in traffic, so few are willing to put another first. Try doing the opposite, giving way to someone needing to change lanes or calmly overlooking their honest mistakes. The road can be such a heartless place. Even if it is only smiling when someone commits a gaff that others would have yelled, honked or obscenely gestured at, it will make the world a gentler, more Christ-like place.
Never let a day go by without doing works of mercy. Never. If you are already in bed and examining your conscience when you realize you have missed a day, there is still time to pray for the dying, to pray for the living and dead. We have no excuse for missing a day and there is so much good at stake, good placed near our own hands. Don't miss that wonderful chance! And don't be surprised to find that works of mercy change YOU as much as they do others. Little by little we become more like Christ!
If we want mercy, than we must show mercy to others. God's Heart warms and glows with the love and mercy He sees us showing to others. It is very much like that solemn equation Jesus gave us: "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages