Thursday, July 11, 2024

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Hosea 11:1-4.8e-9; Matthew 10: 7-15)

St. Benedict serves as much as a symbol of Europe as a model and intercessor for Christians.  Benedict in a sense founded Europe by establishing monasteries in Italy which gave rise to others throughout the continent.  The monasteries gave unity to the different lands.  Keeping record of the classical period in antiquity through copying its books for their libraries and establishing schools, they also preserved for Europe its cultural legacy.  For good reason, then, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed one of the copatrons of Europe.

As Christian culture is being threatened by secularism and even paganism, there has been a call to rekindle the Benedictine movement.  Named the “Benedict option,” young men and women are retreating to the country to form communities of like-minded people where they may raise their families with Christian values.  The movement is not meant to be massive.  But it is hoped that it might nudge youth everywhere to reconsider the fundamental principles of their lives.

We may not be young enough to seriously consider taking the “Benedict option.” But we can incorporate Benedictine values into our lives.  As Benedictines value the divine office, we might consider making part of it our daily prayer.  As they value hospitality, we might more regularly invite people into our homes.  By adopting these practices, we will probably find our lives more satisfying and peaceful.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Genesis 32:23-33; Matthew 9: 32-38)

A new television series, “Mrs. Davis,” is bringing public attention to the possibility of artificial intelligence controlling human behavior.  Artificial intelligence can use algorithms, complex sets of reactions to human actions, to manipulate people.  Its potential for success is immense given the extensive fascination with the Internet.  The protagonist of “Mrs. Davis” tries to evade the reach of the powerful algorithm but becomes enmeshed in it.  She will have to fight it to ward off its control of her.

We might see in “Mrs. Davis” what today’s feast and this mass’ first reading convey.  St. Benedict evaded the evil influences of city life by retreating to the country.  There he lived a sane, wholesome life with like-minded men.  An alternative to the monastery is to battle night and day with urban evil – something like Jacob in his struggle against his intruder.

All of us should be aware that artificial intelligence can deeply influence our lives in undesirable ways.  We need to maintain some distance from computers and telephones to prevent that from happening.  We should also come closer to the Lord whom we meet in prayer, Scripture, and the sacraments.  He will lead us to the happiness that we seek in life.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Hosea 10:1-3.7-8.12; Matthew 10:1-7)

St. Benedict founded monasteries.  He also was responsible for the “Rule of St. Benedict,” a description of the ideal monastic life.  It might seem, then, that St. Benedict would be honored as a man who promoted retreat.  His name, however, is associated with the evangelization of Europe.  His legacy is similar to that of the apostles whom Jesus sends out to preach in today’s gospel. 

Evangelization is a multi-faceted project.  It is more than telling people about Jesus.  Evangelization includes shaping a culture responsive to the gospel.  For this to be done evangelizers must build churches and found schools.  They have to influence government to allow the people to practice their faith.  And they need to inculcate a sense of Christ being part of the people’s lives all day, every day.  Benedictine monks have been carrying out these practices for fifteen centuries.

Many wonder if Christian evangelization has not come to an end.  In this time of globalization societies are becoming more and more pluralistic.  Moreover, young people in many western countries are abandoning their Christian heritage.  Christian customs and traditions have lost a central place in much of Europe and North America.   Yet Christian culture cannot be lost.  It has Christ himself as its cornerstone.  Furthermore, its supreme value of self-sacrificing love is the deepest desire of the human heart.  We need other Benedicts to retrace the way.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Genesis 32:23-33; Matthew 9:32-38)

In his encyclical Veritatis Splendor St. John Paul II calls conscience “the voice of God.”  There God speaks telling a person whether an action is right or wrong.  Sometimes, however, the person questions what she hears.  The initial judgment seems facile with more consideration of the circumstances being needed.  Now the person is struggling with her conscience.  In this way Jacob can be said as wrestling with God in today’s first reading.

Jacob to this point is no paragon of virtue.  Most egregiously, he colluded with his mother to rob Esau of his inheritance.  He has also married two wives and has fathered children with two other women.  Now he struggles with his conscience.  That neither Jacob nor the stranger with whom he wrestled throughout the night wins the fight indicates a mixed judgment.  He has done evil, but he is not a bad man.  He will need to change some ways, but Jacob proves himself capable of advancing God’s project of building a great nation.

Today the Church celebrates St. Benedict, a holy man who established the cenobite or communal monastic tradition in Western Europe.  As Jacob is accredited with a major role in building the nation of Israel, Benedict is recognized for his contribution to Western Civilization.  Benedictine monks preserved the legacies from Greece and Rome and added to them the wisdom of Christianity.  In celebrating Benedict we give thanks for both the humanistic and religious patrimonies that have been handed down to us through the ages.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Hosea 14:2-10; Matthew 10:16-23)

When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took the name Pope Benedict XVI, he had more in mind than eliciting the spiritual support of a favorite saint.  Knowing that St. Benedict was instrumental in forming European civilization, the new pope wanted to signal the current leaders of the continent not to abandon Christianity with which their civilization was founded.

St. Benedict was born in Italy in 480.  He studied in Rome but, repulsed by urban life, fled to the country as a hermit.  He was sought out by different bands of monks and eventually founded monasteries and, more importantly, a monastic rule based on prayer, hospitality, and a vibrant blend of study and work.  The monks, called Benedictines, spread the rule throughout Europe and, indeed, the world.  For preserving and developing the learning of antiquity, Benedictine monasticism has been regarded as playing a crucial role in the story of Western Civilization.

Today academic and social forces are rejecting Christianity and the Judeo-Christian ethic. They believe that their societies will obtain greater satisfaction by allowing each person to pursue individual desires.  It is a scary proposition because there are forces ready to dominate a weakened social fabric.  St. Benedict today serves as a symbol of the cultural heritage that the new Europe imprudently wants to leave behind.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Genesis 44:18-21.23b-29.45:1-5; Matthew 10:7-15)

St. Benedict started monasteries in different parts of Italy and is considered as the Father of Western Monasticism.  But his influence has gone far beyond religious life fostering the roots of European civilization.  The rule that he wrote for his monks incorporates virtues like hospitality which gives the guest an honored place in the host’s household.  His monks were to treat strangers as “another Christ.”  In today’s gospel Jesus also comments on hospitality.

Jesus tells his apostles that they can expect lodging when they go to preach.  “The laborer,” he says, “is worth his keep.”  But those laborers have to bless the households that receive them with peace.  This is not a trifling gesture but a word of dynamic force because it is uttered by divinely commissioned apostles.  Hospitality then invokes a blessing upon the one who receives it and the one who gives it.

“My house is your house,” Latin-American people are fond of saying.  The phrase indicates that they have assimilated the key Christian value.  When we respond, “Peace be with you,” we also manifest the Christian way of life. 

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Hosea 10:1-3.7-8.12; Matthew 10:7-15)

St. Benedict left such a wonderful legacy that he was named patron of Europe. Our present pope chose Benedict as his particular patron because Benedict’s followers were largely responsible for the civilization of the continent. Still today Benedictine monks and their various offshoots contribute significantly to Church affairs and secular knowledge. Although Benedict was rather original in his expression, he but echoed the radical concern for people of Jesus Christ.

In today’s gospel Jesus sends his inner circle of disciples to preach the Kingdom of God. They are to go among “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” These are people who have lost the sense of God’s care for them. The disciples are to proclaim the “Kingdom of heaven is at hand,” which is to say that God is not a distant landlord but a benevolent ruler who looks after their needs.

Today many people are disillusioned with religion because of the violence perpetrated in its name. They prefer to give allegiance to the wonders of technology. It is difficult to find this latter affiliation leading to a more human civilization. The world needs new Benedicts to show how true peace is a product of charity. It looks for a creative genius who will form communities of self-sacrifice that will inspire a truly uplifting civilization.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

St. Scholastica, virgin

(I Kings 10:1-10; Mark 7:14-23)

There is a charming story about St. Scholastica which illustrates the assertion of Jesus about over-concern with the law in the gospel today. Scholastica used to meet with her twin brother, the venerable St. Benedict, once a year in a little house outside the famous Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino. On one of these occasions when both were very old, they were having such a wonderful conversation that Scholastica wanted to stay there talking through the night. Benedict resisted, however, because of his own monastic rule. Then the heavens opened with a tremendous rainstorm forcing Benedict to concede to his sister’s wish. The downpour seemed to manifest God’s will that the siblings have this extra time together before they died.

Like Scholastica’s intuition that it would be all right for her brother to spend long hours in conversation with her, Jesus in the gospel judges it possible to eat non-kosher foods. Doing so, he invites non-Jews as well as Jews into his Father’s Kingdom. We can add that it is permissible, perhaps even necessary, to suspend laws and regulations at times to realize a greater good. A simple example is absenting oneself from Sunday mass because of sickness. Of course, good judgment in these cases requires prudence. Without such virtue selfishness, and not desire to realize a clearly greater good, may direct our action.