Monday, February 7, 2011

February Super Post

I can't compete with the Super Bowl, but I thought that this posting was worthy of being called a SUPER POST.  Basically it has to cover everything from December - February.

So to recap:
We have been going chapter by chapter through the Rule of Saint Benedict.  It has been a good exercise for us all.  For me it has been an opportunity to discuss how the monks live out these chapters from the Rule and how we apply the teachings of St. Benedict to our situation.  For the Oblates it has been a chance to ask new questions about the monastery and to find new ways to apply the Rule to their state in life.

Back at our December meeting we covered Chapter 2 - The Qualities of the Abbot.  There were a number of good questions and points that came up during our discussion.  There was a rather lengthy discussion of how discipline works in the monastery and what role the Abbot plays in the discipline of the house.  There was also much discussion of how this chapter applies to someone who is not in the monastery and is not directly under the authority of the Abbot.

We discussed how Saint Benedict's discussion of the Abbot, also applies to the entire community.  In other words, everything we say about the character of the Abbot we can also say about the character of the monk.  And while the monk does not have the role of Father to the community, each does have the job of exercising appropriately the authority delegated to them in their area of work or responsibility.

So this also applies to the Oblate.  What is said about the character of the Abbot applies to us in our daily life.  In areas where we are given responsibility we must use that responsibility to build up the Body of Christ.  The prime example we discussed was within the Family.  This connection helped us to see the monastery as a Family in Christ.

In January we looked at Chapter 3: Summoning the Brothers for Counsel.  Here too we continued our discussion of the Benedictine community as a family in Christ.  We related the consultation with the brethren and family decision making.  We discussed the benefits of consultation with those who have a vested interest in the final decision and determined that by giving all a part in the decision (even if the ultimate decision rests with the superior) the community would be more ready/willing to accept the final decision.  The key was real discussion and not merely a token consultation before doing something pre-planned.

It was also noted that this consultation is actually an aid to the formation of new members of a family/community.  By being part of the process they learn how decisions are made and can better integrate themselves into the family.  New members learn that it is not a dictatorship but rather a collaboration and therefore a reflection of the divine reality of the Trinity - communion in action.

And now we are up-to-date with February.  This Sunday's meeting was on Chapter 4: The Tools for Good Works.

In our discussion there was a general consensus that this chapter was particularly helpful to us in living the Christian life and specifically the life of a Benedictine Oblate.  There was much discussion about how the Rule provides here a nice summary of the challenge of the Christian Vocation.  A life lived in imitation of Christ.

We certainly acknowledged the challenge of living up to this calling.  Which is why Saint Benedict follows this chapter with a very specific plan of action.  We also recognized that the Gospel and consequently Saint Benedict's Rule are a call to live in right (genuine) relationship with God and with one another - not to mention our inner selves.

The March meeting will be at 4:00PM as usual in the Monastic Chapter Room and we will be looking at Chapter 5 - On Obedience.  Please remember to bring at least one question and one insight for the meeting to aide discussion.


Also the March meeting with coincide with the Priestly Ordination of our Deacon Br. Jacob Amos.  Br. Jacob has been completing his studies at Saint Vincent Archabbey Seminary in Latrobe, PA.  Please join us for this celebration if you are able.  The ordination will be on Saturday (March 5th) at 11:00 AM and his Mass of Thanksgiving will be on Sunday (March 6th) at 11:30 AM in the Abbey Church.

This blog is going to take some discipline and practice.  Thank you for your encouragement.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Homily: Fifth Sunday of the Year

homily given at Saint Cecelia Parish in Jasper, AL

Matthew 5:13- 16 "You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world."

I do realize that Christmas has now officially ended.  The feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which the Church celebrated this past Wednesday, was the last effort to nudge us in the ribs and remind us that the Birth we just finished celebrating has cosmic effects.  Something small and simple has changed the course of history.  In a smaller way, so too do a speech, a march, a personality … have the power to change our world.  Even a lumpy piece of clay.

This week’s feast and its connection with Christmas reminded me of a young boy sitting at a folding table messing with a lump of clay.  We were asked to make something for our parents.  As a class we made home-made Play-doh … it was kind of gross which made it fun.  Then we were put, four to a table, and asked to make something.  I am not an artist and already at age six I was certain that creativity was not my strength.  No, I was much better at deconstruction, chaos.  But, never the less, we were to create something to bring home to mom and dad.  An ornament of some sort.  Even my attempt at Frosty – a lumpy white snowman was an utter disaster – though I did enjoy the fact that his head kept falling off and hitting the floor.  After being told that a headless snowman was not going to pass for Christmas.  I took my little fist and smashed the head on the table.  Brilliant!!!  I smashed the whole thing flat like a pancake and pushed it together.  I rolled some straws and smashed those.  I made some candy-cane shaped things and smashed those.  Now I had Santa … -the Flat man-Claus.  It was not pretty, his arms and legs tended to drop off initially but the teacher ruined that with a little Elmer’s Glue once it was dry.  Then I took my “creation” home.  To my utter bewilderment it was a success.  My mother loved it.  Dad was too much like me to maintain the illusion of art so he just feigned silent interest.  And for the past 25 years I have worked to keep that embarrassment off of our tree.  I have packed it at the bottom of the box, I have stashed it in odd places, but in the end my mother continues to rescue it and put it on the front of the tree.  She has clearly been toying with senility for years.

Yes, ordinary things can have extraordinary and unexpected effects.

Two weeks ago now my high school students returned from our trip to Washington, DC.  They were there for the March for Life.  There were a lot of firsts for them.  First time in DC.  First time to march alongside half-a-million people all with the same purpose.  First time at a celebration of the Eucharist with too many priests to count, cardinals, bishops, a Papal Nucio, and message from the Holy Father.  First time in a stadium filled from top to bottom by fellow Catholics.  It made an impression.  I was concerned the purpose of the trip would get lost in the big city, travel time, and goofing off with friends.  I was completely wrong.  Sure they did have fun.  But what I heard and saw was more than I could have hoped for.  Surrounded by thousands people, there on a mission, these high school students and even some middle-school students, became passionate.  And unlike most things in High School the passion has yet to fade.  It’s hard enough to get students to retain information beyond the quizzes, I certainly didn’t expect them to still be planning new things for next year: “Father, can we make some tall banners.  Father can we bring more people.  Father, can more of us serve the Bishop’s Mass next year?”  And even more impressive, is that they are finding new ways to Choose Life – my seniors started coming up arguments for the personhood of the unborn based on this year’s philosophy and theology classes.  My sophomores have been highlighting the need for human dignity in every area of life.  My freshmen have been pointing out the message of life we find in Sacred Scripture.  And so I have simply let them search and teach me all the “new” things they have discovered.

Yes, ordinary things can have extraordinary and unexpected effects.

And what could be more ordinary than common salt and light?  Salt is in the kitchen, it’s on the table, it’s in the sea, it’s found underground, it even collects on our eyebrows and drips into our eyes during hard work.  Salt is everywhere and our bodies need salt in moderation.  Our food becomes more rich with it.  Our lives would be bland without it.  And Jesus compares us to this salt.  “You are the salt of the earth.”  Somehow we are called to become that ordinary thing which gives new life to the world around us.  We are called to disappear in the mix of the world and somehow bring flavor to a world that is depressed, empty, or lifeless.  We are called to be Christ in the world.  But we already knew that.  We knew that when we heard the Beatitudes last Sunday.  We knew that Christ was calling us to rise above the bare minimum and strive to reflect the image of God in the world.  We knew that from the Book of Leviticus – Be holy for the Lord your God is Holy!  We knew that from St. Paul – “Brothers and sisters, consider your own calling.”  But perhaps what we have forgotten is how.  How do we come salt to the earth?

In contrast to the hidden savory salt, Jesus calls us the light of the world.  Now instead of simple hidden acts, we are called to bring some things into the open.  We are called to stand up and reveal something to a world in shadows.  Jesus is the Light from Light.  He is the dawn from on high.  What then are we if Christ calls us the light of the world too?  We are what we eat.  We eat all kinds of things, but there is one thing that we eat that changes us from the inside out.  We receive the Body and Blood of Christ.  We become what we consume.  That was why Christ gave us his flesh and blood.  That is why he offered himself for us on the Cross.  That we might have life and have it to the full.  So what’s wrong with us?  Why aren’t we lit up like Christmas trees?  Like candles burning brightly?  Like great cathedral cities on high mountain tops?  What’s gone wrong?  Have we hidden Christ within us?  Have we closed off a part of ourselves so that no one else sees it?  Have we become ashamed of who we are trying to become and so spend most of our day wearing a mask of ordinariness, of everydayness, of I don’t want to impose my beliefs?  What have we done to ourselves to cover up the light of Christ which ought to be radiating from our actions and even from our faces?  What have you done with your light????

What is hidden and what is seen, salt and light, we are called to be Christian head to toe, from the inside … out.  What is hidden is our attitude, our perspective on the world.  Do we spend most of our day grumbling about the world?  Assuming the worst of people?  Do we assume that what they were doing is meant to anger us or cause us pain?  What would happen if we put on the lenses of Christ?  If we would see the world through the eyes of Christ?  Wouldn’t we see the hearts of people?  A people who wants to be happy and good and kind and generous but somehow has forgotten their way?  When Christ saw these things he didn’t despair but he chose to show them the way to happiness.  He knew better than we do the weakness of the world, the bad choices, the ignorance, the stubbornness, the harshness and yet he never took the easy path of despair – he chose the path of hopefulness, of generosity, of peacefulness, of authentic love.  And this hidden attitude of Christ led from what was unseen to what was seen.

What is seen is our goodness? Do we see only what can’t be done, how far things have fallen, or how things aren’t like the used to be?  Do we see these things and become depressed, shrug our shoulders and shake our heads, and go about our own business?  Is that what Christ does in our world? The Christ who sees the very same things we see?  Isn’t Christ the one who brought hope to those who felt hopeless?  Isn’t Christ the one who wept with those who were weeping?  Isn’t Christ the one who was passionate about living well and helping others to do the same?  It’s like Isaiah said: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.”  We don’t have to fix the world, God will take care of that, all we have to do is a small act of kindness that maybe only one person sees – the person we give hope to.  Hold the door, encourage, challenge, pick it up, clean it up, leave the criticism to someone else.  These are works of light.

A lump of clay is nothing unless it has been touched by someone special.
-          Ours have been touched by Christ.
A road trip is just another drive until it inspires hope.
-          Our path is the walk with Christ.

Monday, October 18, 2010

October Oblate Meeting

Sorry it has taken so long for me to get the October posting up.
The remained of this month finds me in the Holy Land so I wanted to get something online before I fly out today.
At the past meeting we discussed the Prologue to the Rule; the discussion went well. Many of the oblates brought some wonderful insights and questions. Some of the main discussions involved: obedience, fear of the Lord, and the role of Saint Benedict as father.

The November meeting will be at 4:00PM as usual in the Monastic Chapter Room and we will be looking at chapter 1 - the kinds of monks.  Please remember to bring at least one question and one insight for the meeting to aide discussion.  Also consider how each of the "kinds of monks" listed might be applied to life outside of the monastery and how they might even be applied to the individual at different stages of their spiritual life.

I have some updating to do here on the blog, but as I said I wanted to at least get the plan for our next meeting up here and let you know what happened at the beginning of October.

Items of note: Fr. Marcus and myself head for Holy Land & Turkey October 18-Nov 2; Br. Jacob was home this past weekend working with Br. Benedict for the "Come and See" weekend for prospective candidates - two very promising candidates this weekend; SBP celebrated parents weekend with parent conferences, poetry outloud, and dinner and a show in the Gym.

Look forward to seeing all of you in November.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Last night following study-hall, the SBP students processed up to the Shrine of Our Lady on the old seminary grounds. There they offered prayers and lit candles in honor of the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Throughout the day, I took each of my classes on a short pilgrimate to the same spot to drop off candles representing our prayer intentions.  We prayed the psalms along the way and offer prayers asking for the intercession of Mary at the shrine. Here are some photos from our trip last night ...










Monday, September 27, 2010

Oblate Retreat - Benediction

The following homily was given during Benediction on Saturday:


Matthew 9:35-38 -- Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.  At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."



Sometimes I think we all get a little bit jealous of those first century Jews and Christians. Faith would be so much more simple if we could have just touched him, seen him, watched him as he did ordinary, even boring things. What did his voice sound like, was it a smooth baritone, a resounding bass, or a crisp clear tenor? Were his hands calloused from hard work or were they miraculously smooth from treating his body as a precious gift? Did those around him realize how blessed they were to simply sit at his feet and watch the play of light across his features? They couldn’t have known as much as we know now, so couldn’t we appreciate all the more the real presence of the Lord?

Just a glance, to know the glance, the gaze of Jesus. Did it cause a person to tremble or to rejoice – “He sees me! He knows me!”; was it in fact a mixture of both? To hear his words and experience the recognition of truth, of True knowledge and perfect reason. A man who knows about the world and its ways, but could pass through the midst of falsehood and still proclaim the Truth.

At times we almost groan and stomp our feet in frustration over having to believe without seeing, to have faith and to trust and to hope. Is it really be too much to ask for a glimpse for just a moment of the glory of the Word made flesh?

The real presence, the experience of the word, the joy of intimacy with Jesus, to share his thoughts and his experiences.

This is the joy of Lectio. This is the joy we search for, the place of our rest and our strength. And it leads us to Christ. To an encounter with his Body and Blood in the Eucharist. We enter into the mystery of Christ’s life through the Word of Sacred Scripture and through the encounter with the grace of God made visible, the sacraments. Lectio, the slow, deliberate, and passionate embrace of Christ’s own life and his revelation from the very Beginning. And then to touch him as he comes offers himself for us to be consumed and to be united with him. It is natural for us to thirst for more, to see him as he is in Glory. But that is for the end, for now … we will simply have to wait and listen as he teaches us at length.

Approximately 35 minutes of silent adoration followed ....

Oblate Retreat Weekend

Nearly 40 oblates and friends were here this past weekend for the Oblate Retreat!  Our retreat director Br. Matthew Mattingly, OSB of Saint Meinrad Archabbey discussed the topic of Lectio Divina.  He discussed the technique, the challenges, and some wonderful everyday examples to help us in our practice.  Lectio is certainly something that we can always learn more about.  I will post more about the retreat talks as I am able to compile the notes.

Following Saturday's conference we received three new oblate candidates: Mr. Anthony Dean, Mr. William Ellis Jr., and Mr. Charles Alsobrook III; and the current oblates renewed their promisses.

Strive to join yourselves more deeply to the Gospel of Christ ....

Receive these medals with the cross of our Holy Father Benedict ...

"May all who use these medals devoutly, be blessed with health of soul and body ...."

Accept the Rule of Our Father Benedict as your rule and guide ....

Charles, Anthony, Bill, & Fr. Bede

Switching things up a bit we took our group photo outside as a reminder of the new life and expression of renewed interest in the oblates, new inquiries arriving almost weekly.  The original plan was to have our photo near the statue of Saint Benedict in the courtyard, but the sun came out and we were trying to avoid "sun smiles".  Maybe a morning photo next year. - Thecla, the dog, decided to join us at the last second.

(in no particular order) Bill Ellis, Laura Bownes., Pat Hildabrant, Tony Dean, Susan Grimm, Kay Barmettler, Gloria Mull, Jean Henderson, Bobby Jackson, Curtis Henderson, Danielle O'Donnell, Thomas O'Donnell, Martha Ann Warnke, Ava Inbau, Vanda Antaillia, Kevin McBride, Daniel Sharkey, Bob Killelea, Christine Webb, Mary Calligaris, Judy Regau, Maureen McEneany, Charles Alsobrook, Katie Alsobrook, Charles Alsobrook III, Jim Barmettler, Kay, Barmettler, Mary Jo Carlysle, Vicki Dorsey, Patti McFadder, Flo Piotrowski, Sr. Therese
More to come later -- Fr. Bede, OSB

Friday, September 10, 2010

Oblate Retreat Registration

By now our Oblates should have received their retreat information via US Post.

Wait! What's that? You didn't receive your Oblate Retreat info by mail!  No Problem.
Send me a quick email and I will gladly send it as a PDF via email.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ

St. Bernard Prep, Wednesday Homily - Nativity of the Virgin Mary

Nativity of BVM
Whew! That is a lot of names. And if you were in my scripture class I’m guessing that you could tell us quite a bit about many of those people in the list. And it is quite a list. You have Patriarchs, and prophets, prostitutes and kings, you have heroes and villains, you have saints and sinners. It’s quite a collection.

But isn’t this just a bit scandalous? Shouldn’t we be a little bit ashamed to talk about Jesus being descended from some of these people? And heck wouldn’t it be much better to just remove the “PEOPLE” all together … Jesus is the Son of God and let’s just leave it at that?

Sure it might be easier. It might make us a little more comfortable. It might make us look a little better. But we would loose something. Something really important. Something that this feast of the birth of Mary brings to the forefront … front and center.

In the beginning humanity, man and woman, together. They messed up. They didn’t just mess things up this was an EPIC FAIL if there ever was one. They broke their good relationship with God, by disobedience, lying, blaming, stealing, covering up, and in so many other ways. They lowered themselves. They sinned.

But God wasn’t about to leave them there. On the ground. Covered in leaves and dirt and all alone. In fact as many of you already know … that’s the whole point of the Bible. The Bible is the story of God’s love for us … for all of us. It is the story of all of the things that God did to bring us back to where we were meant to be from the beginning.

And in a single list of names … we have just covered the span of centuries. In Luke’s Gospel we begin with Adam and Eve in the Garden. But here in Matthew, it’s enough to start with Abraham and the creation of a covenant, a promise, between God and us. The promise – YOU ARE MINE, all mine and I’m never going to let anyone take you away from me! And David the king …this is how it’s going to happen. I will raise up one like you, like all of you, a human being from lowest to the greatest. One like you who has had a good history and a bad history. One just like you in every way except one. Except one. This one will be God and human, He will be sinless. This one will be perfect and have the power to do what you could not do on your own. This one can fix it all. But he will be like you – so that where you and your first parents messed up … He will fix it. He will not mess up.

And Mary … I will make her special too. She will be born, and set apart. She will have the freedom to choose. To choose to be part of this great plan to save us all. She will be the mother and she will be like the Church … She will provide for the Christ, Jesus, and he will set us free.

So these names are really really important. They are our names. Our history. Our people. And they remind us of the good times and the bad times. And they lead us to Christ. They show us that no matter how bad it can get … we can CHOOSE to return to Christ. To seek forgiveness for our sins. To become a person that other people want to be around and for all the right reasons.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Oblates of Saint Bernard Abbey

Today we had our monthly meeting of the Oblates of Saint Benedict.  There were about ten or so who were able to make it for the 4:00PM Conference.  One of the things I was asked to do is see if I could keep in more regular contact with the Oblates through this blog and maybe even a Facebook page.  Since this is already up and running ... I'll start here.

Firstly we welcomed a prospective candidate for the oblates, Mrs. Zelda Bigot, who lives just down the road here in Cullman.

We recapped last month's discussion on the role of the Abbot and how this applies to the Oblates of Saint Benedict who are not living in the monastic enclosure.  Our first conclusion concerned the role of a father or mother of the family.  The spiritual guidance of the family usually comes from the parents or even the grandparents.  This a wonderful opportunity to put what is said about the Abbot into practice.  The father or mother, must always remember what they are and what they are called, aware that more will be expected of one to whom more has been entrusted.  They must realize what a difficult and demanding burden they have undertaken: directing souls and serving a variety of temperaments, coaxing, reproving, and encouraging the4m as appropriate. (RB 2:30ff)  Yes, the words of Saint Benedict certainly apply to any head of the house.  Which lead us to our second conclusion.  Throughout the Rule of Saint Benedict, whenever there is mention of a superior (Abbot, Prior, Dean, Cellarer, etc.) the words of admonishment or the descriptions given for these individuals is nothing more than what is expected of any member of the monastic family.  Because of their position of authority they are simply reminded more emphatically to live up to the common standards of the house, recognizing that they have been set apart as an example.  Pride lurks in the wings, an ever present temptation and so Saint Benedict doesn't call them to something higher, rather he calls them to the common observance all the more diligently.

Following our discussion of last week's reflection, we moved on to new business.  We discussed ideas for the coming year.  The decision was made to do some common reading of the Rule.  "We are called to live by it, so maybe we should discuss it more closely this year."  After some discussion of how best to do this in the time provided we realized that there is no way to cover the whole Rule in a single year.  So in true Benedictine fashion we accepted that and will set out to do it anyway, taking as long as is necessary.  RB 1980 here we come!


The assignment for the next meeting (October 3, 2010) is this:
1. Read the Prologue of the Rule of Saint Benedict (in whichever translation you have).

2. For the next meeting, bring at least one question AND one insight*.

Insight = in your reading there will usually be something that peeks your interest, resonates with your life, or maybe brings an epiphany. That's the thing. For those who were at the meeting today .... it your version of the priest's "homilometer" ... your "lecti-ometer".


An finally a very brief synopsis of my reflection during the Holy Hour for Vocations:
Reading from RB Chapter 3 - Summoning the Brothers for Council.
Think Trinity ... in the beginning God created us in His image and likeness.  And in Genesis 2 He says, "It is not good for man to be alone."  God's inner life is a relationship of communion among the three persons.  When we are cooperating with Grace, we reflect that same divine communion in our families, our Church, our monastic community.  Is it any surprise that Saint Benedict would then call us to live in such a way that communion is at our core?  Seek the council of others, because when we try to act alone we get into trouble. Seek communion, even if there is disagreement, the work must be done together, in council, that the Holy Spirit might work in us.

Ok ... so now the challenge for the year.  Make sure I remember to keep updating this.  Even if it is just a short link to something great.  Thank you all for your prayers and patience.

Your servant in Christ, Fr. Bede, OSB

Post Script --- Br. Matthew Mattingly will be our retreat director (Sept 24-26).  Join us for this wonderful opportunity to rest and be renewed.  And don't forget Benefactor's Day on the 27th of September!


Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Things That Last

The title of this site comes from a poem by William Watson (d.1935)
As we wax older on this earth,
Till many a toy that charmed us seems
Emptied of beauty, stripped of wroth,
And mean as dust and dead as dreams, --
For gauds that perished, shows that passed,
Some recompense the Fates have sent:
Thrice lovelier shine the things that last,
The things that are more excellent.
While it is certainly not the "fates" who are responsible for what is and has been and is to come, Watson reminds us that there is a deeper reality that remains when all passing things have perished. And that is the theme of this site. The things which endure (which makes me think of the similar emphasis of Tolkien).

This is also a place where I can post my homilies, reflections, poetry and other items. Students, parishioners and friends have been asking me to do this for a while and so we shall see if this too endures.

Ut in omnibus glorificatur Deus - that in all things God may be glorified