Annunciation of the Theotokos

Today on March 25th we celebrate the Archangel Gabriel visiting the Theotokos and telling her she was going to give birth to the Messiah. This was six months after Elizabeth found out she was pregnant with John the Forerunner, and in 9 months Jesus would be born

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 30

This is the last chapter that talks about correction. This is slightly different in that it speaks of reproving boys.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 29

I want to say that I am sorry for the late posting today; things were a bit hectic this morning. 

Yesterday, we finished dealing with excommunication, which we saw was not an ultimate punishment but is a tool to help bring about repentance. Today we will read about readmitting monks who have left the monastery.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 28

We have reached the end of dealing with the excommunicated. This chapter covers what to do if a monk has been excommunicated and yet still refuses to change his ways.

Sunday of Orthodoxy

Today we celebrate 1) the first Sunday of Great Lent, and 2) the Sunday of Orthodoxy - when the Church celebrates the triumph of the use of icons.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 27

The last few chapters we have read about diverse things dealing with excommunication. One thing I keep repeating is how the excommunication is a tool for repentance, it is used to help bring people back into the fold; excommunication is almost similar to having a child sit in the corner on a spiritual level. During this whole period, the abbot is making sure to take care of the excommunicated much in the same way a loving father would care for his wayward child.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 26

After this chapter we only have one more that technically deals with excommunication. This chapter covers the unauthorized association with those who have been excommunicated.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 25

We are still looking over excommunication in the monastery, though this time it is for serious faults.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 24

Last post we talked about excommunication and penance. In this post we cover more of the same.

Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephrem

The Prayer of Righteous Ephrem (Greek: Εὐχἠ τοῦ Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ, Euchē tou Hosiou Ephraim), is a prayer attributed to Saint Ephrem the Syrian and used during the Great Lent by the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches that use the Byzantine rite. In the Byzantine tradition, this prayer is considered to be the most succinct summation of the spirit of Great Lent and is hence the Lenten prayer par excellence, prayed during all Lenten weekday services, such as the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and many more times in private. Wikipedia

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 23

Now we see what is to be done with monks when they are disobedient. Keep in mind everything is for correction and the monks salvation.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 22

Yesterday we read that deans were to be chosen to better help the abbot, and to govern the monastery more efficiently. Today we will read about how the monks are to sleep. Why have a rule set out for sleeping? Because everything is ordered to help maintain peace.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 21

We have finished with the rules for praying, and we go into the governance of the monks at a monastery. Just like at a business, or even the military, the brother monks have some placed over them to help govern the monastery and ensure things run smoothly.

Benedict of Nursia

This Saint, whose name means "blessed," was born in 480 in Nursia, a small town about seventy miles northeast of Rome. He struggled in asceticism from his youth in deserted regions, where his example drew many who desired to emulate him. Hence, he ascended Mount Cassino in Campania and built a monastery there. The Rule that he gave his monks, which was inspired by the writings of Saint John Cassian, Saint Basil the Great, and other Fathers, became a pattern for monasticism in the West; because of this, he is often called the first teacher of monks in the West. He reposed in 547.