Oblates of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog about Benedictine values, prayer and life.
Posted in Uncategorized on Jan 31st, 2009
Today I met a new human being face-to-face for the first time, and of course he did not look like what I thought he would look like. He is quite large and I am quite small. He also does not walk at the rapid pace I and most of my companions walk. And in asking me [...]
Posted in Benedictine values, Rule of Benedict on Jan 17th, 2009
What do you think the Rule says about finding closure when a relationship (of any significant sort) changes or ends? What do you think the rules of closure are in general–its dynamics? I recall that the Rule speaks of the gradual steps to take towards excommunication–each time offering a chance to be restored to community. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jan 14th, 2009
Can a dog be a Benedictine? Probably not. But, as I observe my 9 ½ year old miniature schnauzer, Elway, I notice that he often displays behavior that reflects St. Benedict’s Rule.
Posted in Benedictine values on Jan 11th, 2009
Yesterday I came home from a local peace and justice meeting in which we decided to issue a press release urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza (following the UN’s own urging–with the US abstaining). Present at our meeting for the first time were two Palestinians. One spoke at length about his sense that the only [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jan 3rd, 2009
This week I’ve been writing a review of Flora Keshgegian’s God Reflected: Metaphors for Life. It’s an accessible survey of seven metaphors or images for God, from king to parent to divine energy. Each image is grounded in biblical examples, and its strengths and limitations are described (along with the kinds of prayer each image invites). Keshgegian is [...]