Bright Lights

In this weeks Coracle; Jane Coll on travel, Chris Doig writes about the ministry of Deacon and we have a look at St Ignatius of Loyola whose Feast day is today. Welcome!

As the Highlands looks on in concern while what seems like the rest of the world descends on our beaches and hills, I was reminded that The Rule of St Benedict has several comments on the dangers of life outside the monastery walls. In chapter 1, we are told that there are four kinds of monks and the worst of these are the Gyrovagues who are always on the move from one monastery to another: ‘Of the miserable conduct of all such men it is better to be silent than to speak’. Even those monks who live in the monastery must be careful should they have to travel. Chapters 50 and 51 say that those monks on long journeys must adhere as best they can to the times for saying the Office. If they expect to return to the monastery that day, they must not accept any offers of hospitality unless the abbot has given prior permission. Chapter 66 says that the monastery should be set out in such a way that all the necessities of life are within the walls. Lastly, chapter 67 says that a monk must ask for the abbot’s blessing before going outside the walls. On his return, he must ask for the prayers of the community for any sins that he may have committed while outside. On no account may he tell the other monks about his journey as ‘this causes very great harm’. It seems clear that St Benedict would not have approved of millions of people travelling around the World even to pray together at a pilgrimage site or for a religious congress – they could do that more profitably at home. Yet Pope Francis has preached on the importance of Catholics going out and proclaiming their faith by word and deed – we are not to hide our light under a bushel but to engage with the rest of society in order to spread the Good News.

Do we have to choose between the teachings of St Benedict and of Pope Francis? Fortunately for those of us who, as oblates, have a commitment to following the Rule, the two sets of teachings are not as contradictory as they may at first appear. Benedictine monks have a very specific vocation – to form a community of prayer where the work of greatest importance is reciting the daily Office. However one reason for this Work of God is to support all those guests who knock at the door. Monasteries are never short of guests and the Rule is very clear that they have to be welcomed as a source of blessings. The monastery acts as a bed-and-breakfast for pilgrims, a refuge for the spiritually weary and a source of advice and guidance for the confused. In return, guests support the monastery by their prayers and practical help. So St Benedict did not condemn all travellers as sinful vagabonds. He recognised that people had legitimate reasons for travelling. Indeed, some guests in the monastery may have been sent by God to point out a fault within the community. St Benedict wrote his Rule for those whose vocation is to life of prayer. Pope Francis preached to those whose vocation is to live out the Gospel in the wider community of family, friends and neighbours. Both groups must be examples of Christian charity in their own ways and must follow the instruction of Matthew 5:14 – 16  ‘You are light for the world … your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven’

How bright is your light?

St Ignatius of Loyola: Fr James Martin SJ talks about who the founder of the Jesuits was in this 9 minute video.

The Ministry of Deacon: Reverend Chris Doig writes about what a Deacon is and does, in the follow up to last weeks article on his own ordination.

Jesuits in the Highlands: A fascinating summary from Alisdair Roberts of the University of Aberdeen on Jesuit history in the Highlands during the reformation period. This is an abstract from an academic paper.

St Ignatius and the Bible: In this article in Thinking Faith UK, we are invited to read the Bible with St Ignatius.

Doubts about God: As believers we can all go through periods of doubt. This podcast/youtube video from Pints with Aquinas may be of help.

Sanctifying Our Work: This article from Opus Dei UK talks about how we can sanctify our work and ourselves through it.

St Francis Xavier

Would to God these men who labour so much in gaining knowledge would give as much thought to the account they must one day give to God of the use they made of their learning and of the talents entrusted to them…

Have a great week - Gods Blessing.