Holy Rule for March 23
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St. Mary's Monastery
Mar 22, 2025, 5:36:51 PMMar 22
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
March 23, July 23, November 22
Chapter 43: On Those Who Come Late to the Work of God or to Table (13-19)
Anyone who does not come to table before the verse, so that all together may say the verse and the oration and all sit down to table at the same time – anyone who through his own carelessness or bad habit does not come on time shall be corrected for this up to the second time. If then he does not amend, he shall not be allowed to share in the common table, but shall be separated from the company of all and made to eat alone, and his portion of wine shall be taken away from him, until he has made satisfaction and has amended. And let him suffer a like penalty who is not present at the verse said after the meal. But if anyone is offered something by the Superior and refuses to take it, then when the time comes that he desires what he formerly refused or something else, let him receive nothing whatever until he has made proper satisfaction.
REFLECTION
It is terribly important for families to eat together. St. Benedict knew this 1,500 years ago and things have not changed that much in human nature since his time. The links between members are restored at a shared meal. Small wonder that Jesus left us a Meal as His legacy to remember Him by and to unite us all.
I can hear the groans from Oblates in families that schedules conflict and how can this be possible. I assure you, I do not know, especially since I don't know all the ins and outs of anyone's personal situation. I do know, however, that a family meal is so important that it must be worked into one's life somehow. Every day might not be possible, but it ought to be the ideal.
Sometimes we need to get a firm grip on what is most important. That might mean we have to help our children get real, as well. Being children, they ought not to be expected to have a tool kit capable of enabling any and all decisions on their own. I know and love one family whose soccer and hockey schedules ruin much of the year. I worry about them, I truly do.
The parents make at least a better than average attempt to go to Church, but I am in no way certain that survives either sports season. Hey, I know kids get invested and I know it is hard to say no, but Sunday? Shot? For most of the year? God can wait, hockey can't? Not only is a terrible religious message being given here, but a very false message is given to each of the two athletes as well: the world revolves around you. Everything stops when you have a game. Well, not exactly, nor is that the best idea to turn a kid loose on the world with.
Reclaiming Sunday is not some hyped up Benedictine idea. It is Christian. Our faith itself demands that we get rest and some time together, hopefully for prayer! It would seem that, if one was to be firm anywhere, on any day of the week, Sunday might be the place to start. Frankly, if the child gripes that everyone else does it, this would offer a particularly apt time to convey the message that we are not like everyone else, nor are we supposed to be. That's part of being Christian.
Heavens, my Jewish friends grew up with a far better sense of who they were than many Christian (or post-Christian!) kids get today. And their Sabbath was SATURDAY. Now that cut into more than a few things. But there was a great, great lesson available there for those kids. Pity the ones who missed it.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
March 23, July 23, November 22
Chapter 43: On Those Who Come Late to the Work of God or to Table (13-19)
Anyone who does not come to table before the verse, so that all together may say the verse and the oration and all sit down to table at the same time – anyone who through his own carelessness or bad habit does not come on time shall be corrected for this up to the second time. If then he does not amend, he shall not be allowed to share in the common table, but shall be separated from the company of all and made to eat alone, and his portion of wine shall be taken away from him, until he has made satisfaction and has amended. And let him suffer a like penalty who is not present at the verse said after the meal. But if anyone is offered something by the Superior and refuses to take it, then when the time comes that he desires what he formerly refused or something else, let him receive nothing whatever until he has made proper satisfaction.
REFLECTION
It is terribly important for families to eat together. St. Benedict knew this 1,500 years ago and things have not changed that much in human nature since his time. The links between members are restored at a shared meal. Small wonder that Jesus left us a Meal as His legacy to remember Him by and to unite us all.
I can hear the groans from Oblates in families that schedules conflict and how can this be possible. I assure you, I do not know, especially since I don't know all the ins and outs of anyone's personal situation. I do know, however, that a family meal is so important that it must be worked into one's life somehow. Every day might not be possible, but it ought to be the ideal.
Sometimes we need to get a firm grip on what is most important. That might mean we have to help our children get real, as well. Being children, they ought not to be expected to have a tool kit capable of enabling any and all decisions on their own. I know and love one family whose soccer and hockey schedules ruin much of the year. I worry about them, I truly do.
The parents make at least a better than average attempt to go to Church, but I am in no way certain that survives either sports season. Hey, I know kids get invested and I know it is hard to say no, but Sunday? Shot? For most of the year? God can wait, hockey can't? Not only is a terrible religious message being given here, but a very false message is given to each of the two athletes as well: the world revolves around you. Everything stops when you have a game. Well, not exactly, nor is that the best idea to turn a kid loose on the world with.
Reclaiming Sunday is not some hyped up Benedictine idea. It is Christian. Our faith itself demands that we get rest and some time together, hopefully for prayer! It would seem that, if one was to be firm anywhere, on any day of the week, Sunday might be the place to start. Frankly, if the child gripes that everyone else does it, this would offer a particularly apt time to convey the message that we are not like everyone else, nor are we supposed to be. That's part of being Christian.
Heavens, my Jewish friends grew up with a far better sense of who they were than many Christian (or post-Christian!) kids get today. And their Sabbath was SATURDAY. Now that cut into more than a few things. But there was a great, great lesson available there for those kids. Pity the ones who missed it.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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