St. Benedict's Day

[wiseheart]

That would be today. The congregation of which I used to be a member for a short time had been founded by a Trappist - also following the spiritual teachings of Father Benedict. What I always liked in Benedict's Rules most was his tendency for "discretion", which didn't mean what we today understand under that word. Discretion, for St. Benedict, meant avoiding exaggeration in everything. For example, he wasn't in favour of overdone ascetics and had much understanding for human weakness.

He was also a great defender of equal standing among his brethren. A classic instruction of the Rules says that they "should not complain if they have to help with bringing in the fruits of the earth", aka that everyone should help during harvest, not just the lay brothers. *g*

In that spirit I helped our cleaning lady a lot today. But I always do that, so it probably doesn't count. ;))

Comments

[meathiel]

I'm not sure the Benedictine orders in later years really stuck to the rules ... *lol*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It is like with every other human community under the Sun: some do, some don't. Many cadet branches have grown out of the Rules because the Order didn't follow their spirit along the centuries.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Happy St Benedict's Day. :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[beauty-forashes.livejournal.com]

I often wish I had someone to help me clean, and it'd be a lot more fun too. So I'm sure your cleaning lady appreciated it. :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

What I can do I do. But there are things — especially those that involve the climbing of ladders — that I cannot.

[beauty-forashes.livejournal.com]

I have Chris do those jobs too; I'm totally acrophobic.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, it's just me and Mum in our family, and she really isn't suited to climb ladders anymore.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

St Benedict sounds like a genuinely good person who was well aware of the temptations other orders were subject to :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

As Brother Cadfael put it once: "The Rule doesn't approve of extremes."

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

Benedict certainly sounds like an OK guy.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Lots of common sense — not something you often find in legends. *g*

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

I was at the Abbey of Monte Cassino when I was a teenager, and was very upset, when they told me it had been erected in place of the old Apollon temple. Then again, I always had a soft spot for the ancient world and its gods. Nevertheless St. Benedict must have been a good person!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

A very sensible one, I'd say. :)

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

Another good day it seems. Always nice to have help with the cleaning. In your case, it goes both ways :0)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That is the best way, I'd say.