We have to allow a Benedictine Man to speak to us today. Just call it a break from our Lenten Reflections on Benedictine women. Today is the feast of St. Benedict. How could I not write about him???
St. Benedict statue, Bristow, VA
What we can say about St. Benedict is that he lived with integrity what he perceived as the essence of Christian life. He wrote in chapter 72 of his Rule, "Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ."
As we continue to do Lectio Divina this Lent, pause for a long moment to let these words sink in, "preferring nothing whatever to Christ."
Benedict uses some rhetoric here to really emphasize what he wants to convey:
It was not enough for him to say, "Prefer Christ," which would have been a clear admonition. No, he has a three-fold emphasis here:
As we continue to do Lectio Divina this Lent, pause for a long moment to let these words sink in, "preferring nothing whatever to Christ."
Benedict uses some rhetoric here to really emphasize what he wants to convey:
It was not enough for him to say, "Prefer Christ," which would have been a clear admonition. No, he has a three-fold emphasis here:
Preferring
Nothing
Whatever
This Lent, try this admonition on! What would it be like to prefer nothing whatever to Christ? What would it be like to be so sure what place Christ has in your life?
How would your life need to change to live this out? What adjustments would you need to make?
If you are considering religious life, could you imagine to give Christ such a prominent space in your life?
How would your life need to change to live this out? What adjustments would you need to make?
If you are considering religious life, could you imagine to give Christ such a prominent space in your life?
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