Thoughts for the Day

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we celebrate the life and work of Saint Benedict of Nursia, born c480 CE in Italy. Known as the Father of Western Monasticism, his influence on the spiritual, cultural, and educational fabric of Western Europe was profound and lasting. Born into a noble Roman family in Nursia, Italy, as a young man he was sent to Rome to pursue a classical education. However, the corruption he witnessed deeply troubled him. Seeking a life of greater spiritual purity, he sought solitude in the hills of Subiaco, living as a hermit for three years in a cave, and dedicating himself to prayer. His reputation for holiness and wisdom spread, attracting disciples who sought his guidance. The community that formed around him marked the beginnings of Benedictine monasticism.

Around 529 CE, Benedict moved to Monte Cassino, where he established a monastery that became the centre of the monastic movement. The "Rule of St. Benedict," was to serve as a guide for monks living in community under the authority of an abbot. It prescribed a balanced schedule of prayer, manual labour, and study, and fostered a disciplined yet humane approach to monastic life. The Rule's practicality and spiritual depth led to its widespread adoption, throughout the west.

The core values of the Rule were: Peace, which promoted harmony within the community; and Prayer and Work, which encouraged a balance between spiritual and physical labour. The Rule covered such subjects as Community Living, Obedience, and Hospitality, and laid the groundwork for the Benedictine Order which influenced many other Christian communities. Today the Rule still offers insights for those of us seeking a balanced and meaningful life.

Collect

Eternal God,
who made Benedict a wise master
in the school of your service
and a guide to many called into community
to follow the rule of Christ:
grant that we may put your love before all else
and seek with joy the way of your commandments
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.