Oblates of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog about Benedictine values, prayer and life.
Posted in Benedictine values on Sep 29th, 2009
For some reason, I became a hot tea drinker my freshman year in college. My Southern family’s mealtime beverage preference was always for iced tea, but no one I knew drank hot tea. I had a Hot Pot for my dorm room and it was easy to keep tea bags in my room for a [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 27th, 2009
October 2-11, 250 Benedictine Oblates from all over the world will gather in Rome for the second quadrennial Benedictine Oblates’ World Congress. I will be privileged to be among them, as our own Madeline Callahan was in 2005. The theme for this congress will be “The Religious Challenges of Today—the Benedictine Answer.”
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 14th, 2009
My first blog posting. I would like to begin with something profound, something moving that all who read it will take it to heart and remember it forever. But, I’m falling short of deep today. I do confess to contentment and peace, which is a bigger deal to me than it sounds.
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 13th, 2009
I am on sabbatical this year. One of my goals is to finish a book (and the proposal for it should be in the mail to a publisher within a week). Another goal is more elusive and ecclesial. It involves making space and time to be present to the abiding questions I have about how [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 6th, 2009
Abbott Jerome Kodell sent these descriptions of his upcoming talks: Benedict’s Strategy for Freedom: Freedom is a word with many meanings. Because it is often associated with the absence of restrictions, represented by words like independence or license, it is the source of much confusion on the spiritual path.
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 2nd, 2009
Lately the Psalms I’ve been reading all begin with a dramatic declaration of praise for YHWH. I’ve been letting my attention trace praise and adoration throughout the psalms, instead of moving towards places I might otherwise highlight. Both an observation and a question came to me.