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Welcome to the Benedictine Cyber Toolbox

A Newsletter for Benedictine Living Today

 

May/June, 2011

 

In This Issue
An Upcoming Program
Welcome!
To Grumble or Not to Grumble
A Benedictine Tool
Update on the Lenten Phone Program
The Book Corner
The Rule According to Randy
Some Upcoming Events

Learn About Benedictine Hospitality

Hospitality Pic

Jane has recorded a talk on

 Benedictine Hospitality

 

You can listen to this

26 minute talk by clicking on the following link:

 

Listen to Jane's talk on Hospitality

Quick Links



 

Join Our Email LIst for The Benedictine Cyber Toolbox

 

Greetings!
 

St. Benedict's Toolbox from Morehouse

  

Welcome to the Benedictine Cyber Toolbox! In the words of the porter of the monastery who welcomed all as Christ, I welcome you as Christ and say heartily, "Your blessing, please!" RB 66.3

My prayer is that this newsletter brings you inspiration, learning and even a chuckle or two, trusting that Benedict understands the latter even though he said, "speak no foolish chatter, nothing just to provoke laughter." RB 4.53

I received emails of appreciation about Randy's first article. I wanted you to know that in service of his soul, I cautioned him against getting boastful or proud about these complements and not to think that he's become the most important of all our cats, or I would have to remove him from practicing his craft until he showed more humility. (RB 37 - The Artisans of the Monastery - Verses 2-3).

Have a wonderful, restful and rejuvenating summer! 

 

 

Jane

 

 


Hampstead Chimney
Grumbling .
 Featured Article

 
To Grumble or Not to Grumble -
That is the Question
 
Never lose hope in God's mercy.
             RB 4.74

Ever flail and flail against the wind? Most of us have encountered the relentlessness of a difficult or challenging situation that seems never to end. It could be a situation at home, at work, a relationship, a financial worry, an illness or even living with a person with an addiction or unpredictable mood swings. I wrote in my journal a few days ago, "I'm never going to make it. I feel powerless over this. Where are you, Lord?"

It had been a tough morning. I felt like a crazy woman. I was upset and confess that I did what dear Benedict cautions us against-I grumbled. Ranted would be a more apt description. I stomped around, stewing and murmuring more than I had for a long time. Lifting weights for an hour didn't help. I was definitely in "violence mode." Not doing any real physical violence, of course. Yet I was hurting myself and stabbing at my relationship with God whom I had branded as merciless because I could neither control a situation nor rid myself of the angry feelings around not being able to control it. The demons were cheering! "Atta girl, Jane. You deserve to be angry. Go for it!" Add to all this, ill feeling against myself for feeling the way that I did. 

 

At one point in this hellacious morning I got my breakfast and, as is my practice, sat down to read the daily portion of the Rule as organized by the Order of St. Benedict. Benedict has a whole chapter devoted to the practice of humility. The image that he gives is that of a ladder with twelve rungs, each rung representing a particular action of humility. It was June 2 and I had a start when I saw the reading of the day-it was on the fourth step of humility. 

 

 Click here to read on...

   

 A Benedictine Tool: Navigating the Challenges of Life

  
Purpose of the Tool:  To help you move towards freedom and peace of heart.
 

Background on the Tool:
 
In the fourth step of humility Benedict offers a way to meet and move through the difficult times in life. Instead of letting our negative thoughts control us and lead us into more destructive thinking, we can discover ways to persevere and endure.

The Tool:  Here are some questions for reflection.

Bring a difficult situation to mind. We all have them. What are your thoughts about the situation? How does it impact your life?

 

As you say, "I will persist, persevere, endure this" what thoughts surface for you? For me it can be, "Grrrr. I don't want to endure." Acknowledge and gently accept how you feel.

 

Identify some ways that you can care for yourself in the midst of this situation. What do you enjoy doing? How can you carve out some time for this? Is there something that you need to ask for that will help?


What might you be experiencing or learning that you can share with others to help them in their difficult situations?


Is there a verse of scripture or other writing that could remind you of God's presence?


What might you need to let go of to be at peace within this situation?


Always remember what Benedict says-"Place your hope in God alone." RB 4.41
  
 
 

Lenten Phone Program Update - Forming a Rule of Life

 

Old Telephone with Lenten  

During Lent 2011 thirteen people from Texas, Minnesota and Arkansas, up the East Coast and into Pennsylvania, joined one another each Tuesday evening for a dial-in conference call on the topic of Forming a Rule of Life. Jane led this community through a process to begin to form a Rule of Life covering such topics as the Benedictine vows and the Benedictine views of work, prayer, study, hospitality, and rest and recreation. The geographic circle formed community through talking together, praying together and sharing experiences.

 

Feedback from participants has been most positive with comments like "insightful and inspiring" and "a wonderful experience."

 

This was a pilot program sponsored by the Community of Reconciliation at Washington Cathedral.  Watch for more programs in the future. 

 

As a part of this pilot program, Jane recorded a 26 minute talk on Benedictine hospitality.  You may listen to this talk by clicking here.

 

 

 

Finding Happiness CoverThe Book Corner 

A Recommended Read

Finding Happiness:
Monastic Steps for a Fulfilling Life
by Abbot Christopher Jamison, OSB

 

I would not have gravitated to a title like Finding Happiness, but a good friend had recommended noting that the author, Christopher Jamison, Abbot of  Worth Abbey in Sussex, England, had drawn extensively on the writings of John Cassian, one of my favorite monastic writers. Cassian, 360-435, wrote the Conferences and the Institutes cited by Benedict as important reading in Chapter 73 of the Rule. Abbot Jamison blends Cassian's wisdom with monastic tradition, his own observations and a keen understanding of the challenges of life today.
 

After an introduction covering the Greek roots of monastic tradition and thought and a brief history of the early desert fathers and mothers, the abbot explores the meaning of happiness, providing an alternative way in which to view this elusive goal. He then focuses on the "Eight Thoughts" which "have the potential to damage our well-being...throw us off balance and lead us away from happiness" (p. 45). The desert mothers and fathers called these thoughts "demons." The Abbot devotes a chapter to each, beginning first with acedia, or "spiritual carelessness," a pervasive contemporary thought that causes "distain for the familiar and a desire to give up." (p. 65)  The remaining thoughts are gluttony, lust, greed, anger, sadness, vanity and pride. For each he presents insights on how the monks handled these demons, addresses contemporary thought on each and makes suggestions for dealing with the thought in a healthy way.

 

As did the desert fathers and mothers, Cassian and the monastic tradition, Jamison stresses the importance of self-awareness in this search for wholeness and happiness. The Eight Thoughts were "never intended as a guide to harmful actions," he explains, "but as a guide to the roots of harmful actions," a stance that can call us to "greater honesty about our innermost thoughts." (p. 56) [Italics my emphasis.]


Abbot Jamison's presentation of these eight demons is accessible and relevant to those desiring a deeper journey with God. By developing an awareness of these demons within us and thoughtfully turning from them, we can open space within and find the freedom to train our thoughts and avoid actions that draw us from happiness and from each other.

 

Finding Happiness: Monastic Steps for a Fulfilling Life by Abbot Christopher Janison, OSB

    Collegville, MN: The Liturgical Press, . ISBN: 0-8146-1878-2.

 

To learn more about or to order this book through Amazon.com click here.

To learn more about Worth Abbey click here.

To hear Abbott Jamison discuss this book click here.

 

 

Some pictures of Worth Abbey.  Jane visited the Abbey in 2008.

 

 

Worth View 4 Church
The Abbey Church
Worth View 5 Interior
The Church Interior.

 

 

Worth View 3 Bovines
Benedictine Bovines 

      

Worth View 5 Surrounds
Countryside at Worth Abbey - Gorgeous! 

 

 

Randy

The Rule According to Randy

 

  

Hello!  I'm Randy, one of Jane's cats. Last month was my first article on the Rule of St. Benedict, highlighting my observations about how Jane does or doesn't keep the Rule. For all of you who enjoyed that article, here I am again with more enlightening observations and Benedictine wisdom from the feline perspective!

  

In Chapter 66 - The Porter of the Monastery, Benedict points out that the monastery is to be constructed so that everything needed is within the walls of the enclosure, explaining that for the monastics to roam outside is "not at all good for their souls." He fears that they might see something to cause them distress or a backwards step in their journey to God.

 

I can offer a great example why no one should leave the enclosure. A month ago Jane's husband John took Rudy out for surgery on his teeth. When they returned I heard John tell Jane that he saw a picture of an obese cat at the Vet's and that I looked just like that cat!  John should have prostrated himself in front of me and the others. I found it in the Rule.  On the day that monastics come back to the enclosure...

 
1. after every prayer service that day, they are to lie face down on the floor of the chapel , and
2. ask for prayers in case they saw something evil , and
3. not tell anyone what they saw or heard while they were outside, or
4. be "subjected to the punishment of the rule" if they tell what they saw.  (RB 67.3-6)

 

 Was John subjected to the punishment of the Rule? No. What happened instead? Since several of us in this enclosure are on the "fluffy" side, our normal evening Friskies treats now come with painful irregularity. Jane says it's to "cut their calories." Grrrrr! This is a clear violation of the Rule. With kindness and consideration Benedict notes that all tables should be provided with two kinds of cooked food so that anyone who can't eat one kind will be able to eat the other kind. (RB 39.1-2) Now, a number of us really don't like the wet food but eat it just to keep from starving. The dry Friskies treats dispensed in the evening sustain us. Now most days we have only one kind of cooked food.  It's not Benedictine!

 

The problem is that sometimes people can decide for others what they think is best and maybe it isn't. Do you ever do this, think that you know what's best for everyone else? If you do, take care. You might be wrong.  And when you leave your enclosure, be on guard, as Benedict says. You may see something that will cause harm to you or to someone else just like what happened here.

When John or Jane turn out the lights at night I mew loudly about the missing Friskies, quoting Benedict's words in RB 39.1-2 about the two kinds of cooked food requirement, but to no avail. I thought the abbess was to create conditions where grumbling wasn't necessary? And, to add insult to injury, while Benedict says that there's to be no eating in between meals (RB 43.18), I have it from a good source that Jane nibbles while she's cooking dinner! 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                         Your feline friend,

 

                                                                                                            Randy's Signature        

 

Some Upcoming Events

 

Meeting in the Heart of Jesus -                    

Community Across the MilesRailroad Tracks for Upcoming

 

Date: Fri., Aug. 26 - Sun., Aug 28


Place:  The Mercy Center Retreat and

              Conference Center in

                 Burlingame, CA

             

This event is the annual retreat for the Daughters of the King of Province VIII.

 

 

Benedictine Spirituality: Living Intentionally in a Distracted World
 

Date: Sat., September 10

 

Place: St. David's Episcopal Church in Roswell, Georgia

 

This event sponsored by the Diocese of Atlanta Institute for Ministry and Theological Education and the Ecumenical Lay Associates of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit is open to all. For additional information click here.

 


      Bring Jane to Your Church, Monastery or Organization!

                       
Pecos Small GroupPlan a Retreat or Program
 

Jane is available to do retreats and programs in the Benedictine Tradition and Spirituality.  Content is personalized.  Programs will bring the ideas to life in a practical and down-to-earth way. 

 

Retreats are modeled by Benedictine balance-time alone and time together, and time for rest, study and prayer.  NST Fall 2008

 

 

Contact Jane at 908-233-0134,

cell-908-463-3252

or via email at

       [email protected]

 


 

For ideas and possibilities you may wish to view a list of retreat programs and participating groups  on the web site by clicking here.
 

Jane's Scheduled Retreats and Programs for 2011 are frequently updated and published here.
 


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Contact Information
Jane Tomaine

908-463-3252

[email protected]

 

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