+PAX

Prayers for John and Jean, driving to South Dakota this weekend, for a safe
trip.

Prayers for Shirley, special intention.

Lord, help us all as You know and will. God's will is best. All is mercy and
grace. God is never absent, praise Him! Thanks so much. JL

March 9, July 9, November 8
Chapter 31: What Kind of Man the Cellarer of the Monastery Should Be

Above all things let him have humility; and if he has nothing else to
give let him give a good word in answer for it is written, "A good word
is above the best gift" (Eccles. 18:17).


Let him have under his care all that the Abbot has assigned to him,
but not presume to deal with what he has forbidden him.


Let him give the brethren their appointed allowance of food without any
arrogance or delay, that they may not be scandalized,
mindful of the Word of God as to what he deserves "who shall scandalize
one of the little ones" (Matt 18:6).


If the community is a large one, let helpers be given him,
that by their assistance he may fulfill with a quiet mind the office
committed to him. The proper times should be observed in giving the
things that have to be given and asking for the things that have to be
asked for, that no one may be troubled or vexed in the house of God.

REFLECTION

Many would shrug at a chapter like this saying: "I'm not cellarer.
What has that to do with me?" Everything, everything. This chapter, like
those on the Abbot, is a masterful view of Benedictine authority and
stewardship in any capacity. We should never presume to usurp roles that
are not our own, but in covering those roles, the Holy Rule again and
again gives models to ALL.

I was guestmaster, not cellarer, but this chapter reminds me that no job
is an empire, a turf, a personal fiefdom that one administers
temperamentally and without love. Jobs, for Benedictines in world or
monastery, are stewardships, not power trips. (At least that ought to be
true. God save us, it is sometimes otherwise...) If people have to become so
careful of a given official, wearing kid gloves at every possible turn,
something is very, very wrong. Now the community is reduced to serving
the official, when it is supposed to be the other way around!

Of course, the needs of those who come to us at work or at home can be
overwhelming, even oppressive at times, but we are told not to react to
those buttons pushed, but to react with love and humility. Whatever your
job is, the reality is that if there were none with needs, you would
likely be unemployed. Always remember that. We serve, we do not rule.
Our call is to forget ourselves in service, not to present our
intransigent selves to be served.

Our motto is Peace, because St. Benedict knew how completely
essential to a fruitful monastic life inner peace was and is. That's
why he gives this really rather astounding principle: "...no one may
be troubled or vexed in the house of God." It's God's house, not
ours. Wake up, folks, if the maid is giving orders tyrannically,
something's wrong at the manor! It's not her house. It's His.

A certain amount of vexation is inevitable, and part of the monastic
struggle and very useful. A chronic, ulcerating source of repeated
vexation is not. If that comes through an official, something must be
done. If one is unwilling to remove the official, then that's what the
penal code chapters are all about.

Cancers, real, malignant tumors on our peace ought to be removed. If they are
retained by an authority figure's blindness, the one in charge can become
almost as harmful as the growth itself. But God can use even that, so we must
bear patiently.

We may have to endure that, circumstances being what they may,
but it is helpful to at least know its dysfunctionality. Even that
dysfunction can be used by God to bring good. God and God alone can
bring good out of ANYTHING, even you and me! We are not in the hands of
bad situations, we are in the hands of God, loving hands that never
fail, if only we trust Him!

Love and prayers,
Jerome, OSB
jeromeleo@...
http://www.stmarysmonastery.org
Petersham, MA



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]