2020 Mar The Current

Chilenos to Return Home. Our winter crew from the Manquehue Apostolic Movement will be returning home this week, after another active season working in our community. The group has continued to develop our lectio program, working with students and our new parents group. Led by returning members Raimundo Zunino and Matias Echeverria, the crew celebrated recently the conclusion of their work with a “Lectio Party.” Together with Pedro Vega, Ramon Gimeno, and Renato van de Wyngard, these Chilenos have been a source of light and warmth in our winter term. Posted on the door of the guesthouse where they have been residing has been the sign, “Today is Easter,” a message derived from a story from Gregory the Great of Saint Benedict and the monk Romanus, who offers assistance to Benedict during his time at Subiaco, both strengthened by their fellowship. Though their departure is indeed a piece of Lent for us, we thank them for their Easter presence throughout this winter. A group of nine student leaders is making a trip to Chile this week, traveling to Santiago to see firsthand how the Manquehue community lives its faith. Included in this journey will be a trip down to the San José center in Patagonia, a remote and pristine location utilized by the movement for many of its retreats. We pray for their safe journey and spiritual inspiration in these efforts!

Brother Sixtus Roslevich writes: “Our conference at the Abbey for Sunday, March 15, will focus on ‘A World View of Imitating Christ in the Context of the Way of the Cross.’ To this day Christian communities around the globe re-enact the devotional practice of the Stations of the Cross on the Fridays of Lent, in particular on Good Friday. It is believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary and the early Christians retraced the actual steps of Jesus in the years following his crucifixion… In more recent times the Church has granted indulgences to those who imitate Christ and ‘make’ the stations in Jerusalem and elsewhere.” The Stations in the church (Station 11 pictured), designed by the Swiss goldsmith Meinrad Burch, will serve as a point of focus for the oblates. Burch, an active twentieth-century artist and eventually director of a group of artisans in his workshop in Zurich, also designed the crucifix above the main altar as well as some of the monastery's chalices. Oblates are encouraged to consider adding this day to their Lenten plans. Please see the oblates page for more.

The Holy Father released his "Message for Lent" this past week, highlighting several lessons. The paschal mystery, he affirms, serves as the basis of conversion, directing the faithful to, "keep your eyes fixed on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified, let yourself be saved over and over again." Secondly, he stresses the "urgency of conversion," grateful for this blessed season and the impetus it provides to rededicate ourselves to this call. Thirdly, in addressing, "God’s passionate will to dialogue with his children," Francis refers to Lent as a gift offered by God, "to awaken in us a sense of gratitude and stir us from our sloth." Finally, he says that in this Lenten devotion we find "a richness to be shared, not kept for oneself." Here he mentions in particular the "structure of our economic lives,"  and the meeting he is to convene in Assisi at the end of March to more concretely explore political and economic life, "with the aim of shaping a more just and inclusive economy." In our "Church" section for the month, we look at other teachings from Pope Francis on Lent, including a condensed list created by FOCUS.

It cannot be said that Saint Benedict “thought of everything,” but it cannot be denied that he addresses many of the fundamental structural aspects of human life, and in a manner that maintains its wisdom and effectiveness. The gathering of the community to share a meal certainly occupied his mind, and he did not fail to find in it an opportunity for spiritual growth. This included the preparation and the consumption of the meal, as well as the nature of the fellowship to be shared. The shared labor of the kitchen, the proper amounts and types of food (and drink) to be made available, the times to take meals, these are all addressed in the Rule. Opponent of both idle hands and idle talk, Benedict sets up the meal as a silent affair – “no whispering, no speaking” – with the exception of the clearly audible reading of a well-trained lector. Chapter 38 of the Rule provides the outlines for the practice of reading, and we look at this practice here at Portsmouth in our “ Archives” this week.

Due to concerns over the growing global health issues, the School has cancelled a March trip to Chile. The School was to have sent a group of faculty and students to Chile for the first time in several years, to encounter firsthand the Benedictine life of the Manquehue Apostolic Movement (MAM). The nine student leaders, together with four faculty, were to visit MAM schools in Santiago, and continue on to the pristine Patagonian retreat center at San José for a more intensive retreat experience. Our winter Chilean group would have met the crew at the Atlanta airport to continue with them to Santiago. Alvaro Gazmuri would have greeted the group in Santiago, assisting them in their tour. Our Chilean friends have not only a devotion to the Divine Office and lectio divina, but exhibit a warm Benedictine and Chilean hospitality. This an opportunity in the not-too-distant future will enable a School group to experience Manquehue firsthand. The coronavirus as of this date is not yet present in Chile, though it has appeared in Brazil, and the global situation is rapidly changing.
 

The following, while excerpted from a November homily of Fr. Gregory Havill, carries themes valuable for Lent.  

"By your perseverance you will secure your lives..."  Remember, Jesus said: "…I myself shall give you wisdom…"  We are all familiar with the saying, "Actions speak louder than words." We know that we all communicate far more plainly by our actions than by anything we might say. May I propose something you might not have thought of? Perhaps the testimony Jesus expects of us is more in our actions than in our words. The point of Jesus' words for us here and now is this: during a time of great intensity like exam week, even the smallest acts of kindness, gestures of thoughtfulness, stand out in particularly bold relief. They have far greater effect. Our behavior becomes something we might call creative conduct. When we act this way we enhance the goodness both in ourselves and before God. The divine goodness latent in Him becomes an active power, a creative force. This is what the Lord means when he speaks of us as "salt" that has not lost its flavor. Divine goodness expresses itself through us when we are open to God's direction. It radiates from us. We are the "lamp" set on a stand which lights everything around. Our acts of unselfishness and encouragement become a dynamic force that moves those around us. People are reminded of their own capabilities for good. Our efforts have an effect far beyond what we imagine because they are carried forward by the Holy Spirit. …One thing only will last: our life with God, a life that begins here and now in this life, and which is nourished through the sacraments, prayer and especially at times like this, in good works. See other reflections here.

The Oblates' Day of Recollection scheduled for Sunday, March 15 has been canceled, The conference and focus of the day was to have been The Way of the Cross, with a guiding reflection offered by Brother Sixtus Roslevich, OSB. Two other retreats that were to have happened on campus over the School spring break have also been canceled, one with high school principals and the other involving the Office of  Men and Women Religious of the Diocese of Providence. A new date has not yet been determined for the oblates, and scheduling  of the next day will be affected by the developing health pandemic, as well as by its impact on the School. Most colleges and universities have moved to online classes or are otherwise adapting their plans for the remainder of the spring. Secondary schools have also been looking into further modification of spring plans. Following in the "online learning" modality," we hope you will look at Brother Sixtus' reflections and incorporate them into a private time of prayer and meditation. Additional information and updates on the oblates can be found on the oblates page.

Saturday of this week marks a central feast for Benedictines: The Transitus of Saint Benedict. To mark this occasion, we present the remarks of Pope Benedict XVI on the “Patron of my Pontificate,” as given in a General  Audience in 2008. The pope cites St Gregory the Great in beginning his audience: “The man of God who shone on this earth among so many miracles was just as brilliant in the eloquent exposition of his teaching” (Dialogues II, 36). The great Pope wrote these words in 592 A.D... It is not a biography in the classical sense…. Gregory's aim was to demonstrate that God is not a distant hypothesis placed at the origin of the world but is present in the life of man, of every man.”

See our Saints page for more on this feast.

This month's "Works" column returns to Blessed Columba Marmion for a reflection on the role of works in monastic life, particularly in light of the monastic dictum: "Ora et labora." Thematic remarks are given below; to read the extended selection. go to our Works page.

Important as is the Divine Office, it is not, as we have seen, and it cannot be the end and aim of the monastic life: that aim must necessarily be sought for higher; neither is it the exclusive work nor the chief characteristic of our vocation; we are not Canons and we have not been gathered together directly for office in choir. In fact, neither the Rule, which wishes the monk to give himself in a very notable measure to reading and work, nor tradition authorizes us to admit that the work of God constitutes a special prerogative of our Order. To liturgical and mental prayer, work must necessarily be joined: Ora et labora. The whole of monastic tradition shows us that when these two means, prayer and work, have been most held in honor, the most abundant fruits of monastic holiness have been brought forth. It is clear a priori that work is necessary to the monk in order to attain the holiness of his vocation. We must not forget indeed that work is an essential part of the homage that the reasonable creature owes to God. Fashioned in the divine image, man ought to imitate his Creator. Now, God is the great Worker: “My Father,” said Jesus, “worketh until now; and I work…” Although God finds all happiness in Himself, He has willed to rejoice in the works of His hands; He saw that creation was “very good,” that it perfectly responded to His eternal thoughts: “The Lord shall rejoice in His works.” God also delights in the harmonious play of the activity of His creatures which glorify Him by acting in conformity to the laws of their nature.   Work is one of the laws of human nature, as we see in the book of Genesis…

(See Works for more.)

The community has also found rays of light in the pandemic’s darkness. Brother Benedict, who is doing yeoman’s work getting the liturgies online, notes how the community, “has risen to the occasion, to help and serve… making modifications in their everyday Holy Mass procedure,” to adapt to those making “spiritual communion” through website access. Those viewing online will notice the reversed direction of the celebrant at the altar, and the variations made to enable the service to be better presented for viewing. Benedict also has experienced support from the extended community, “helping wholeheartedly to support the monks in quarantine by providing their needs. This is a beautiful thing to witness in this time of crisis.” Brother Joseph comments that there is a distinct “strangeness” to the situation, and it is difficult “to have no one in the church with us at prayers and Mass.” But he has been able to use some of the time to reach out, “to make more calls than I usually do to friends and family that are stuck at home and need some camaraderie.” He adds: “I pray for everyone.” Brother Sixtus notes a renewed appreciation for “the beauty and the gift of the cloister. It has allowed me unhurried time to think, to pray, to be thankful, and to connect on a more profound level with family, friends, former colleagues and students and neighbors, and my beloved monastic brothers all over the world.”