I was concerned that Amma Jane wasn't going to write another newsletter because she still felt bad about losing Randy. Randy had a column in the newsletter for several years and became quite popular with the readers for his understanding of the Rule and his lively wit. He had to be "put to sleep," as humans say, last June (2013) because he had a really bad cancer. I miss him, too. He was very wise about the Rule and astute in his observations of Amma, Prior John and us cats too, about how we did (or didn't) apply the Rule in our lives.

If you would like to read any of his tomes, please visit Randy's Corner on Jane's website.

To cheer Amma up and give her encouragement, I decided to write a few words so she doesn't feel so alone. She consented. I'm not up to Randy's level of scholarship on the Rule but, if you bear with me, I will do my best. My first article is down further in the newsletter.

Your new feline friend,

Ricky

If you want to go to my article right now, click here, but promise me you'll read the rest of the newsletter!

P.S. Please visit Jane's website at www.stbenedictstoolbox.org.

Take a look!

A Moment for Scripture...

Benedict emphasizes holy reading several times in the Rule, in Chapter 4 - The Tools for Good Works, for example. And for good reason! I came upon this scripture verse when I was doing

lectio divina (Holy Reading) one day recently. My spirits were lifted and my prayer is that these words would do the same for you.

Mary listening at the feet of Jesus

Calvary Church
Summit, NJ

The divine power of Christ

has given us

everything needed

for life.

2 Peter 1:3

(You can change "us" to "me." That really makes the message of Christ come home! Memorize these wonderful words and return to them throughout the day.)

Benedictine Practices for Drawing Closer to God

Are you looking to draw closer to God? Over the next issues we'll be looking at ideas and practices from the Rule that will help us open to God within us and around us. I promise to provide an intentional way to bring Benedict's instructions to life. As I saw once at the entrance to a monastery,

"Know that the God you are seeking is already seeking you."

Jane's Article

Reading the Rule as Your Personal Guide

to Preferring Nothing Whatever
to Christ

"Always let mercy triumph over judgment, ."

RB 64.9

Have you ever imagined that the Rule of St. Benedict was penned for you; that the Rule is your personal guide to life in Christ and for Christ?

When I encounter the word "brother or sister" in the Rule of St. Benedict I like to mentally substitute a person's name or a group of people that is closer to home for me. I'll use "family," "parishioners," "friends," "co-workers" or even a specific person's name. I use my own name or "I". Somehow this personalizing makes it easier to bring Benedict's wisdom into my own life, to make his wisdom my own. Here's an example about the cellarer of the monastery altered to illustrate this practice. My changes are in brackets.

[I] should not annoy [my family, my friends, my co-workers, Robert]. If [my spouse/friend/co-worker/community member/Robert] happens to make an unreasonable demand
of me, I should not reject [him or her] with disdain and cause [the person distress], but reasonably and humbly deny the improper request...

A Tool for Reading the Rule in a Personalized Way

In my article "Preferring Nothing Whatever to Christ" I addressed how reading the Rule in a personalized manner can strengthen its message, meaning and relevance for us so that we can bring Benedict's teachings more easily into our everyday lives.

To learn about this Tool, please click here.

Ricky pondering RB 4.1-2

Mewsings on the Rule from Little Ricky

Hello. My name is Ricky. I'm one of the cloister cats, the youngest in truth, only about ballpark 4 or 5 years old. I'm here to share some of my thoughts and the wisdom of learned Benedictine felines with you so we can do all those good things Benedict asks us to do.

I came to the cloister as a kitten when there were seven other sisters and brothers. Amma caught me in a Have-A-Heart trap and took me to the vet to "get fixed." That was scarey. I'd never been near people before - I'm what they call a "feral cat." Not knowing what this term meant, one day I decided to check 'feral" in a dictionary. I was horrified by what I read!

Click here to learn why Ricky was horrified.

Glorify the Lord

Mt. Desert Island, Maine

Let the earth glorify the Lord,

praise him and highly exalt him forever.

Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills,

and all that grows upon the earth,

praise him and highly exalt him forever.

From Canticle 12 "A Song of Creation" found

in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

St Benedict Rulez! - The Game

Question: What has four categories of questions, a beautifully illuminated board, and challenges followers of St. Benedict to 'wise up'?

Answer: "St. Benedict Rulez!" A board game based on the Rule of St. Benedict and an opportunity to test your knowledge of "all things Benedict".

All About the Game:

How does the game work? The game is designed for 2 to 8 players , ages 16 to adult. It features over 100 questions about St. Benedict and his Rule.

Jane's Benedictine group had a lot of fun with the game. Our memories of the content of the Rule were tested and refreshed. We had quite a few laughs, contrary to Benedict's mandates! In true Benedictine form, the rulez of the game de-emphasize competition and are absolutely benign! )

Click here to order the game, click here . For more about the game, how it's played, it's creation along with sample questions, click here.

Two Kinds of Cooked Food

Benedictine Recipes for Today

"It is enough, we believe, to provide all tables with two kinds of cooked food because of individual weaknesses."

RB 39.1

Benedictine Vegetarian Tacos for Kitchen Servers All

Mexican food is a favorite in our household, with the exception of Ricky, Charlotte and Target who prefer Friskie's Mixed Grill. My recipe for Mexican Vegetarian Tacos can be made with just vegetables or by using a cool meal substitute called Quorn. Quorn comes in many forms. For the tacos I use Quorn Meatless and Soy-Free Grounds. Like meat ground beef, these meatless grounds take on the flavor of whatever you use in the dish but with far less fat content, easy to digest yet high in protein. Since it is vegetarian I would venture a guess the Benedict would approve.

For information about Quorn, click here.

Curious about the recipe or ready to cook? check it out by clicking here.,

The Book Corner

A Recommended Read

My Monastery is a Minivan:
Where the Daily is Divine and the Routine Becomes Prayer

By Denise Roy

While some may initially discount this book as not being serious or valuable to a Benedictine reader because of the catchy title, please don't fall into this judgment. In this readable book, you will find gracious wisdom in the accounts of the author's experiences of finding God in the present moment and in the ordinariness off daily life, two important Benedictine practices.

Please continue reading about this wonderful book...

A Word from Jane...

Hi. Thank you for opening and reading my newsletter. I almost didn't write this but Ricky encouraged me.

If you like the newsletter and are keen to look at back issues, please visit my website. Give a click here!

May God bless you in your journey with Christ and with St. Benedict.

Jane

P.S. Please visit my website at www.stbenedictstoolbox.org.

Bring Jane to Your Church, Monastery or Organization!

Oblates at St. Benedict's in St. Joseph, Minnesota pondering ways to declutter

Plan 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.

Getting unfrazzled with Benedict in Atlanta

Contact Jane at 908-233-0134,

cell-908-463-3252

or via email at

janetomaine@stbenedictstoolbox.org

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 2014 Retreats and Programs is in the process of being updated on the website.).

Thank you for reading The Benedictine Cyber Toolbox

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Contact Information

Jane Tomaine

908-463-3252

janetomaine@stbenedictstoolbox.org

Please email Jane with comments and suggestions about the newsletter!

Thank you!