12/2008 Via Vitae by WCCM

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

Via Vitae A Way of Life

The Benedictine Oblate Community of The World Community for Christian Meditation

Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict by Laurence Freeman OSB

Chapter 6: “On the Spirit of Silence” Silence here is considered not only as rules about when to speak but the reason, and meaning of the ‘spirit’ of silence. Benedict is a practical not an abstract theologian. ‘The one who prays is a theologian and a theologian is one who prays’, said Evagrius. Yet reading this chapter carefully helps us understand the mystical tradition better too – why, for example, Meister Eckhart says that ‘there is nothing so much like God as silence.’ This short chapter opens the mind of the Rule to us. As ever, it is saturated with Scripture, actually thinking in the words and with Biblical ideas especially those of the Psalms and Wisdom literature. ‘The Prophet says I have set a guard to my mouth”. Like the Letter of St James that he also quotes, mindful speaking is seen as part of the guarding of the heart – the watching at the door of the heart for the birth of negative thoughts or ‘demons’ like those of anger or greed. To have a watchful heart we need control of speech and there is no control without restraint. Benedict focuses on spoken words but in our media-driven world, with our compulsive and often impetuous use of cell phones and email we would be wise to extend this to all our technologies of communication. Knowing when to wait before clicking ‘send’ or phoning someone back needs discretion, the ‘mother of all virtues’. Especially when we are agitated or like to close a conversation we need this mindful restraint and patience. Seeds of any of the eight ‘principal faults’, the seven deadly sins can be latent in any speech act. St Augustine distinguished between the voice and the word that is carried on the voice (John the Baptist was the voice, Jesus the Word). And the medium can carry a virus (verbal or nonverbal) that distorts the communication of the message. So important does Benedict consider this that he says permission to speak should rarely be given even to good disciples. It is for the teacher to speak and the disciple to listen. In our culture of self-expression and self-exposure this is hard but necessary to grasp. It is about self-restraint, however, not repression due to fear. We are led again as often in the Rule to the connection of discipline (in love not fear) with liberty and maturity. As in our meditation and saying of the mantra, positive, conscious silence requires deep listening. Strong mutual obedience, which is the fruit of listening, then leads to harmony and union between individuals and in community, not to impersonal hierarchy and subordination. It means more than just doing what a superior officer tells you. In order to enhance the living conditions favourable to developing this Benedict comes out strongly against coarse jests, idle words and words that move to laughter. In any group of people humour can be abused. It can become a superficial avoidance of real communication. The laughter can ring hollow – ‘laughter at what ceases to amuse’ as T.S. Eliot chillingly put it. When the spirit of silence has been understood and respected, however, the laughter in life becomes joyful not cold, celebratory not cruel. Our daily meditation develops all that Benedict means by the spirit of silence. But we can always benefit, too, from examining the practical ways we live this by taking the opportunities for silence - in the car, in the kitchen, in our daily exercise, even in mindful emailing and cell-phone use. Benedict looks at the practice to test the theory.

Articles in this Issue Oblation at Monte Olivetto Judi Taylor

A Blessing Fr Alexandre

Stability Ron Dicks

Christian Meditation Retreat Centre London Pierre & Lukasz

Becoming an Oblate Irene Morris

The Triptych

Advent Rowan Williams

In Loving Memory

Benedictine Daily Prayer A Short Breviary Trish Panton

Oblate Life Janet Sorby

Doors Amie Ilva Tatem

World Youth Day Desert Retreat Ann Bergman

From the Editor

Book Corner

Photos

Contacts

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

OBLATION

MONTE OLIVETO

During the annual international retreat at Monte Oliveto this year Paul and I took our final vows as Benedictine oblates of The WCCM - our monastery without walls. I had long held an unexamined sense of this happening in this way, perhaps in part based on a photo I can no longer identify of some oblates taking their vows outside in a cave during the retreat some years earlier. I had been at some level quietly preparing, no great revelations or inner movements, more a gentle certainty and a sense of unfolding around it all. Trish as my mentor seemed also able to trust and move with this, and so Paul and I set off for this long anticipated place with our charts (and a skirt!) and gratitude for the chance to wonder about it all over the seven days of retreat before the ceremony itself. Early August was extremely hot and a number of retreat mornings I lay in front of an open window with the psalms of the small hours, delighting in their carrying so much of my life, a sense of love and joy in their being so ancient and contemporary both. It was a time of being bathed in them, of letting go, the monastery itself was part of it all, so old. Over the centuries so many people (men) who have lived out their lives here called by their love of God, the offering of themselves and the deep, serious commitment to their Benedictine vows. I found myself relaxing into the place, melting in the heat, giving myself to the walls. And grateful for the opportunity to ponder what had brought me to this point? And who was making the oblation? The beauty and peace of the place and the wonderful times of working with our bodies and reflecting on the conferences given, all expanding everything and my own reflection ranging over so many areas long receded, and delicious to recall. And in it all a profound sense of connection with the other oblates, Trish Pauline and Giovanni were close, as was Dom Laurence, all joined in affection and gratitude in our vows and our prayer and effort. During the week somewhere I asked Giovanni who had been coming to the Monte Oliveto retreat for many years, about the ‘cave-oblation’ I recalled, he was not aware of any such happening. That seemed the end of that until Saturday morning when Dom Laurence told us we would gather that evening at Blessed Bernardo Tolomei’s chapel along the white gravel path. To be in that beautiful chapel with all our new found friends and with Dom Laurence and Giovanni and Susan and with Catherine my great friend from Sydney, Paul and I felt like we were being married again. Dom Laurence’s invitation to sit on the (cool) marble steps in front of the altar that was in front of Blessed Bernardo’s cave, was very welcome and felt intimate, friendly, heart warming to remember now. Somewhat overcome by the occasion I struggled to find words to express what was happening for me. I remember speaking of a childhood taste of the bliss of union (my words now) and of a search over many years and different traditions, and of now a sense of being able to give out of something that is towards the whole of myself. I spoke too of my Dad’s caution to Paul around our intended marriage 36 years ago, “she’s a bit of a handful” and of now knowing the truth of those words for myself and of my need for the wise guidance of the Rule and the love and support of fellow pilgrims. As we left the chapel the bells in the main church rang out with great abandon, celebrating the union just blessed there. For us also we felt. The final surprising chapter of that day was a return to the restaurant after Compline to have dessert, amidst much joyous sharing, some outrageous stories and so much laughter, something of the quality of abandonment of the bells earlier. It was so good to be there, like a child I did not want it to end; whole hearted laughter that came from the belly, the release still felt the following morning. I have very little understanding of what this was about, all part of the mystery of the time. Since Monte Oliveto I have been surprised by the joy and love I experience in coming to my daily ‘prayer’, a commitment held lightly. And delighted in the clarity I have at times been given in discernment, a sense that the after-taste of this time is so essentially there, that a discordant note is soon seen. The whole time since becoming a novice 4 years ago is one of friendship, and gratitude to have such friends, of affection, connection and love of those also on the way. Judi Taylor, Sydney, Australia palmy@ozemail.com.au

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A Blessing My name is Alexandre de Souza and I am a Parish Priest at Our Lady Parish in Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brasil. I knew of the oblate community of The WCCM through a great friend, Helio Margalho, and I became interested in participating. My first intention was to strengthen my spiritual life through Christian meditation, and also discipline myself with ascese and dedication to the times of prayer, because for us priests, the pastoral life is very demanding and almost there is no time to sit and meditate. I confess that at the beginning it was difficult, but slowly I adapted myself to the oblate way of life, that now is for me a blessing. I try to make the meditation at my house, because now I am not participating in any meditation group. When I was a deacon I participated in a group. I am a great devotee of Saint Benedict and I study regularly his Rule and also his life. I have participated in talks with Fr. Laurence Freeman. I also study the books of Fr. John Main and, in the times of Seminary, I loved the books of Thomas Merton. I give thanks to God for the great privilege of knowing the oblate community. At the moment I have more contact with Helio Margalho and sometimes we talk about the oblate life. An embrace to all. Fr. Alexandre Fr. Alexandre may be contacted through the oblate Coordinator for Brasil – Carlos Siqueira at WCCM Meditação Cristã <info@wccm.com.br>

Stability Away from traffic sounds and noise, atop a hill where golden sun caressed the banks of snow, in silence most profound, with Benedict, you gently took us down to Subiaco. “Below the water’s edge” down very deep. We were immersed for precious hours into the substance of stabilitythe life of Christ within. You then reminded us that in community, or when we’re on our own, to keep our hand upon the plough and not look back at that which is not life. We are to persevere, no waffling with an ego that should die.

And then each day, under the One Who leads us into truth, provides surrounding strength, we’ll grow in rootedness, indeed, in love, becoming our true selves, becoming free, expanding like a mustard seed, with room for all; like yeast within the bread for hungry ones we meet along the way. Today and every day, by choice, we go the way that all the saints have gone, who in their time were formed by Him Who dwells in silence deep, yet knows us each by name, a name He only knows, as we in silence and in faithfulness, just say our word. Ron Dicks, Canada email: rdicks@rogers.com Poem written at a silent retreat given by Deacon Derek Smith

Christian Meditation Retreat Centre - London The retreat centre at Cockfosters is going from strength to strength. At present, Lukasz and I remain resident oblates, with Sr. Catherine steering our retreat days and Angela Greenwood as general overseer and aide. Though we have an efficient and stable core community we, as all communities should, remain open to growth. Indeed, I suppose, the Spirit is growth. These past six months have seen the presence of our community grow in the local parish of Cockfosters. On account of my time working with the Aborigines, during my placement in Mt. Isa, Australia, I have developed a ministry for working with children. As one would have it, the leader of the Cockfosters parish youth-scheme needed help in working with the children and teenagers of the parish. As of April this year, we help supervise the Friday night youth club. I am also a catechist during Sunday Masses and the children and I meditate together each week. On account of our beautiful garden and new labyrinth, the children, and adults, are becoming ever more familiar with our Centre, its surroundings and the message of meditation. Though always fruitful, since Dom Bernard became the monastery Superior, our relationship with the monks grows ever closer. He continually stresses his support for us and personally I have found him most helpful. Our centre and its services even get a mention during the notices at the end of each weekend Mass. We have also been allotted a space to advertise on the parish

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

bulletin. Yes, I have learned to find joy in even the small things! We still offer three daily meditation sessions to the public. Our afternoon meditations, in particular, have become most popular with the elders of our parish. It has become custom to invite those present for tea/ coffee every Monday and Friday and it is one of the few social functions that they have in their week. The elders have told Lukasz and I many times that our hospitality reminds them of that of Dom Placid’s time when he was alive and well. This makes us very happy and has been an unexpected, natural flowering to our life in the wider community of Cockfosters. Growth is a wonderful thing. I am very positive for the future. I see the parish and our centre growing ever closer. As you have just read, we have an important place in the lives of many parishioners. We are a community of lay monastics, whose Charism is Christian meditation; where the door is always open for those who call. We offer a place of Contemplative prayer to an ever growing number of people, far and wide. We strive each day to make the vision of John Main a ‘community of love’ a reality. As we come to the end of 2008, I must say thank you to those who have visited and/or kept us in your heart this past year. Pierre & Lukasz retreatcentre@wccm.org Editor’s note: Pierre and Lukasz are two of the young oblates who, as part of a recent initiative during the novitiate year worked for the community at the retreat centre and at other placements. Having made their Final Oblation they are continuing their ministry as their report reveals.

Becoming an Oblate During a week in October 1987 there was the unexpected storm in the night which left havoc in its wake. I received a phone call from the Christian Meditation Centre at Campden Hill House, would I come as Fr. Laurence would be there and I could be received as an oblate novice. Though living in Dorset, thankfully nothing prevented me from getting there. Housed in the pleasant area of Kensington and originally built as a family home, I imagine, it had a quiet dignity and atmosphere of welcome as one stepped into the hall. The dining room was in the basement (once the domestic area) and the large ground floor was where we met for Meditation.

I continued to stay on other occasions until, for health reasons, I had to give up the travelling. It was always a tremendous joy to meet with others staying there. I have many happy memories of being with other members of The WCCM oblate community, and sharing in various activities. Although many are now hazy (especially names) they still remain an important part of my life. A profound Thank you to ALL I met who may remember me. Irene Morris. This story was provided by a very special UK oblate. It is quite some time since Irene has been able to attend any WCCM activities but from her ‘trip down memory lane’ we can detect how important they were to her when she was able to fully participate. Irene feels very much a part of the oblate community via our exchanges of letters and cards and would love to hear from other oblates. To make it easier for her, as she now lives in a nursing home, please address any mail to the address below and it will be forwarded on to her. Thank you in advance for your care for Irene: Irene Morris C/o The WCCM Meditation Retreat Centre 6B Priory Close London, N14 4AS UK Eileen – UK Oblate Coordinator

“In its social role and significance, monasticism is essentially classless and timeless, symbolized by the customs of the monastic life which are passed on down the centuries. But it is also utterly contemporary. …. When it is truly timeless it is most prophetically contemporary. The reason is that the dimension of time in the monastic life is measured against its times of prayer What can look like a mechanical and boring routine, from the outside, is known from the inside as an expansion of consciousness beyond the normal limitations of time and space. Continuously returning to those times of prayer creates the grammar of each day, the structure of a lifetime. In every prayer period, time and eternity intersect. In our ordinary, fallible, mortal consciousness we are opened to the consciousness of Jesus dwelling within us. The intersection of our consciousness with his, sparks the moment of love, and it becomes increasingly evident that this occurs not just at the times of prayer but is incarnate in us at all times.” Light Within: The Inner Path of Meditation. Laurence Freeman OSB, p.113

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

The Artist: Thomas Tesselaar, an electrician and son of volunteers Nick (one of the master craftsmen who built the stone front fence and Museum) and Marcene, on hearing the above story was inspired to paint this TRIPTYCH in 2003. Note: The photo of the Triptych, and accompanying story, was taken during a recent visit by Judi and Paul Taylor to the Kalumburu Mission, Diocese of Broome, Western Australia. where they met Father Anscar Macphee OSB from the Abbey of New Norcia. The Benedictines have been a presence in the area for 100 years.

Advent He will come like last leaf’s fall. One night when the November wind has flayed the trees to bone, and earth wakes choking on the mould, the soft shroud’s folding.

The Triptych The strange story of the Baptism of bushman, BENEDICT BALBEN, in 1921

One day, two stalwart warriors arrived at Pago settlement asking in the Pe’la language for someone to “pour the water” for an old man, Balben, dying in his yurra (humpy) “away, away, far away”. Father Cubero left Pago with the two warriors acting as his guides. At the Drysdale River they made a float to get Father across the racing waters. On and on they travelled, kilometer upon kilometer, till Father got the biggest shock to see bushmen rushing towards him. However, they were throwing their spears to the side as a sign of welcome. Father baptised the old man calling him Benedict, wondering how he knew about baptism to have asked for it. (Left panel) Some days after Father had returned to the Pago Mission site, Benedict Balben arrived strong and well and healed by his baptism. He wanted to stay and help the missionaries which he did for the rest of his life. He urged many and old-timer to ask also “for the water”. The mystery of his own baptism became clear when one day, in the parlor of the Pago monastery he saw a picture of St. Benedict. He ran outside in great excitement and brought “big Mobs” of his people, all smiling and talking at once. (Right panel) This was the very man (Centre panel) who had come to Balben in a vision or dream and told him to ask “for the water”.

He will come like frost. One morning when the shrinking earth opens on mist, to find itself arrested in the net of alien, sword-set beauty. He will come like dark. One evening when the bursting red December sun draws up the sheet and penny-masks its eye to yield the star-snowed fields of sky. He will come, will come, will come like crying in the night, like blood, like breaking, as the earth writhes to toss him free. He will come like child. The Poems of Rowan Williams, by Rowan Williams, foreword by Phoebe Pettingell, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Cambridge, (March 2004) ‘Advent Calendar’ p. 31.

"There is nothing less shining in our hearts than the glory of Christ. That glory is not triumphalist but it does triumph over hearts hardened by the wounds of life. Poverty, purity, simplicity, are strange weapons to minds strained on images and values of violence. But our survival, spiritually and even physically, depends on our recovering an awareness of the redeeming power of these qualities of humanity. This is the way of the mantra." Word Made Flesh, John Main OSB

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

IN LOVING MEMORY On 30th December we remember and give thanks for the life and legacy of Fr. John on this 26th Anniversary of his transitus.

illness expressed in her words - "...in the end what we are accepting in our lives is love....Why am I ill? It is a gift. It has enabled me to savor what is important, my family .... and I am grateful for the depth of prayer, the community and the love that is The WCCM. Trish Panton “There is nothing that our modern world needs more urgently than men and women who are rooted in themselves, confident of their own being, and confident of their own capacity for goodness. Strong in their capacity for loving and for being loved. For such genuine confidence we need to be wholly at one with ourselves.” Door to Silence – An anthology for Christian meditation John Main, Edited by Laurence Freeman, osb

“The last months of John Main’s life form a model of his whole life. Throughout these months he continued to serve, teach and inspire with all the energy of his generous self-giving. Even when it was difficult for him to talk he taught by silence and by the spiritual power of his presence, a power that was always deepening….. Being with him in his own last days was to lose one’s fear of death and to gain a sense of awe and reverence in its presence. To read his words printed here inspires in the same way. John Main was the most lively and lifeloving of human beings. He never lost his sense of humour or sense of wonder at the mystery of life through all his final sufferings. But even in the best of health he was always clearly conscious of the mortality of time and he was as ready to die the next day as in ten years. This optimism and realism were rooted in the joy of the reality of God that he discovered in meditation. Generous in everything, he devoted his life to teaching and sharing the Christian tradition out of the authority of his own experience. He taught with his life and so also by his dying. Therefore his teaching lives.” Community of Love, John Main. ‘Death – The Inner Journey. Preface by Laurence Freeman, pp.175-177

Desley Deike 1942 – 2008 The oblate community will remember Desley for her love, care and generous spirit expressed in the two articles written by Stefan Reynolds in collaboration with Desley during her illness – “Beginning Again: Benedictine Wisdom for Living with Illness” Issue No. 6 and “Living with Wholeness” No. 8. Desley shared what it meant to be a Benedictine oblate as well as her great love and energy for the meditation community. Many oblates were touched by Desley's acceptance of her

“Desley was an extraordinary person – passionate, outspoken and feisty like many other Australian women but she combined this with a deep contemplative spirit which touched the lives of many. I remember first meeting Desley at the UK centre and because of the Australian connection there was an immediate rapport. We met in London on my visits to Guiding Board meetings or Seminars but once you met Desley and connected with her you knew you had a friend for life. I remember her phone calls between my visits sharing our family and community news and solving the problems of the world but she would brush aside any sympathy for her illness. I remember her commitment and vision for developing the UK Community when she became Coordinator. I remember being carried along with her enthusiasm for the retreat centre and its potential as a spiritual home for the community and it became a lasting memorial to her vision. I remember when she came to Australia she was in much pain and we shared our thoughts about life and death. Her “girls’’ and Edna her mother were uppermost

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

in her mind but she looked to the future with her usual determination and courage and her unwavering hope and trust in God. I remember visiting Desley with Fr. Laurence for a birthday celebration and despite being in pain she radiated happiness and joy surrounded by her daughters and future son in law - and was very much in charge of the evening. I remember her stories about Mt Isa and when we flew there for a visit Fr. Laurence phoned her from the tarmac and she gave us detailed instructions of all the places we were to visit-including seeing where she’d lived and gone to school—and we did and sent her the photos to prove it. I remember her visits each year to our Guiding Board mass and dinner at the Centre and at her joy at being with us and her laugh would fill the room. Desley left a great legacy of love – love of her daughters and mother and extended family, her friends, Fr Laurence and the monastic community at Cockfosters, her “From Addiction to Grace” Groups, our wider World Community of meditators, the Oblate Community, her great support for the young oblates and above all her love of her God. The sweetness and legacy of her life will linger in our hearts”. Pauline Peters - Australia

Re – membering In sensing how deeply the UK oblate community will miss Desley's physical presence at our gathering in December - our first large meeting since she was taken from us into eternal life with God - I would like to offer the following three quotes, by way of reflection.. Of course, our thoughts and prayers at this time don't rest only with Desley, but with all dearly departed oblate family members, our loved ones, families and friends, also. Through our remembering they are re-membered!

The Infinite Universe of the Resurrection “When someone we love dies and when we experience their dying we return to our own living with a clearer and purer perception of the true perspective of life simply because we have participated in the death of one we love - in a death of part of ourselves. And death itself, especially the death of someone we have loved teaches us what love teaches us. It reveals to us that the more deeply we love and enter in communion, so the more radically we must become detached and nonpossessive. To continue to fall in love we must continue to fall away from the ego. It is the final and most demanding of the lessons life teaches us. It is the meaning of the absolute finality of the Cross, the singlepointedness of the Cross that yet opens up into the infinite universe of the Resurrection.” Death the Inner-Journey: John Main

Death is Only an Horizon O God, who holdest all souls in life and callest them unto thee as seemeth best: we give them back, dear God, to thee who gavest them to us. But as thou didst not lose them in the giving, so we do not lose them by their return. For not as the world giveth, givest thou, O Lord of souls: that which thou givest thou takest away: for life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only the horizon, and the horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Rossiter W Raymond (1840-1918)

Creative Prayer "An encounter does not become deep and full until the two parties to it are capable of being silent together with one another. As long as we need words and actions, tangible proof, this means we have not reached the depth and fullness we seek. We have not experienced the silence which enfolds two people in common intimacy. It goes deep down, deeper than we knew we were, an inner silence where we encounter God and in God our neighbour. In this state of silence we do not need words to feel close to our companion, to communicate with him in our deepest being, beyond ourselves to something which unites us. And when the silence is deep enough, we can begin to speak from its depths, but carefully and cautiously so as not to break it by the noisy disorder of words. Then our thought is contemplative.

Creative Prayer: Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh Eileen Dutt – Oblate Coordinator, U K. eileendutt@yahoo.co.uk

The Westminster Cathedral meditation group has arranged for a Memorial Mass for Desley Deike on Saturday 17 January 2009 at 10.30am. Desley started the Cathedral group 6 years ago. The mass will be a sung Latin Mass and it is one that Desley used to attend as a young mother after dropping her girls off for their music lessons. She loved the choir at the Cathedral and she used to attend the sung mass every Monday evening before our meditation meeting. Fr. Robin Burgess, who took over the Cathedral group after Desley became ill, will preside at the Mass and it is hoped that Fr. Laurence will be free to concelebrate and give the homily. All are welcome.

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Monte Oliveto SILENT RETREAT - MONTE OLIVETO SIENA, ITALY 1 - 8 AUGUST, 2009 Led by: Laurence Freeman, Giovanni Felicioni, Robert Kiely Theme: The Shape of a Wave: Life, Meaning and Meditation

John Main said that meditation gives meaning, shape and purpose to our lives. Starting to meditate could be compared with dropping a stone into a pool of water and following the ever-expanding waves it creates. How do we perceive the new shapes of meaning in our lives especially in these troubled times as we move into a new social order? How do we see the eternal values of love and truth in the ordinary forms of our daily experience? For more information and registration visit www.wccm.org or contact the International Centre, London (mail@wccm.org) Tel: +44 20 7278 20970; fax +44 20 7713 6346 Mail to: WCCM Monte Oliveto, St. Mark’s Myddleton Square, London EC1R 1XX. U K.

Benedictine Daily Prayer: A Short Breviary Benedictine Daily Prayer: A Short Breviary was featured in Via Vitae No. 6 - Christmas 2006. In the years since I have been asked about the spiritual practices that support us and in particular about praying the Divine Office. To help with understanding and to encourage the use of this Breviary I trust that this article is both helpful and useful. I quote from the Introduction. p.vi: ".......As a book of prayer with the word Benedictine in its title this volume is, obviously not an edition of the Roman Liturgy of the Hours anyway but is an office or prayer book intended for those with some form of association with or attraction to Benedictine monasticism. As such, it is intended in a special way for Benedictine oblates (emphasis mine) and countless others who wish to pray a form of the Liturgy of the Hours with objectively solid and traditional prayer patterns which have roots specifically in the fifteen-hundred-plus years of liturgical prayer within the Benedictine monastic tradition of preferring nothing to the Opus Dei, the Divine Office (Rule of St. Benedict, 43)." The Introduction also includes “An Aid to Praying Benedictine Daily Prayer p. xvii This form of Divine Office is for use by all Christian faith traditions.

We do need to make and take time to get used to praying with this Breviary. We can and do put much time and effort into learning to use the many new modern ‘tools' – appliances, computers, phones, etc why wouldn't we, as Benedictine oblates, give our time, effort and love, into learning to become familiar with a 'tool' that leads us to life - our Breviary? A few words from Fr. John: "Now for St. Benedict this life of prayer was absolutely essential for the achieving of the vision................That is why we urge you as sincerely as we can to root your lives in prayer too. To have your morning prayer, the prayer that you will find in the Breviary, psalms and readings and then your morning meditation where you can be silently aware of the power of Christ in your own hearts. And then to return to it again in the evening and to offer that evening prayer, psalms and readings from the New Testament, and then your evening meditation; this is to live again out of the same power, the power that is Christ." Community of Love, pp.50,51. There are particular Spiritual Practices that support us as we daily seek to live out our commitment to the oblate path: The twice daily practice of meditation in the tradition handed on by John Main OSB The Divine Office as morning and evening prayer Daily reading and reflection on a short section of The Rule of St. Benedict Frequent reading of Scripture – Lectio Divina There will be many reading this article who, over time, have been drawn by love and generosity to ‘the more’. It has been remarked regarding meditation and praying the Divine Office that “twice a day is a minimum”. The experience of ‘the more’ is something to look forward to on our spiritual journey and slowly emerges out of a reciprocal expression of love, not rigid observances. The Psalms and readings are a rich source of Lectio Divina. The readings in the "Proper of the Saints" also offer much to reflect upon. Regarding the cost, AU$80 - this is a consideration for some I know and I suggest that they ask for the Breviary as a combined gift from family members for birthdays, Christmas etc. For others it is less than a pair of shoes, clothing, or the many other items we purchase.

Benedictine Daily Prayer: A Short Breviary Compiled and Edited by Maxwell E. Johnson, Oblate of Saint John’s Abbey and the Monks of Saint John’s Abbey. Collegeville, Minnesota. Liturgical Press, 2005. Available from Medio Media and its outlets in different countries. Trish Panton Benedictine Oblate Coordinator of The WCCM pantonamdg@ozemail.com.au

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

Oblate Life This is an extract from a talk I gave at my church St John the Evangelist Balmain to mark the Feast of St Benedict on St Henry's memorial day. I also used the Gospel of the day – the parable of the sower as context for my spiritual practices. I have recently participated in the Benedictine Oblate retreat and pilgrimage in Italy. This was the first time the oblate community had met internationally and there were 53 of us from 10 different countries. We had a 4 day retreat at Monte Oliveto in the Sienese province in Tuscany led by Dom Laurence Freeman, osb on the topic of Lectio Divina and the value of repetition as a learning experience. After we left Monte Oliveto our pilgrimage took us to Norcia where St. Benedict was born and Subiaco where he retreated from the world into a cave for thee years. We also visited other Benedictine churches and monasteries. I made my Final Oblation with several others at Sacro Speco – the church built over the holy cave in Subiaco where St. Benedict began his monastic life in solitude before being persuaded to establish monastic communities for which he later wrote his Rule. I had made my novice oblation three years earlier at a retreat here in Sydney. Our Oblations were incorporated into the Mass and reflected our baptismal vows: We were asked to confirm our belief in God, Son and Spirit and to renew our baptismal promises as disciples of Christ, to renounce illusion and sin: to dedicate ourselves to the way of truth and to the building up of the human family in peace and love. We then each read out our statement of commitment and were accepted and presented with a cross of Benedict. It was a memorable occasion which consolidated and encouraged my experience of God through prayer of the heart. This step was the last in a number of Yeses, in my response to God over the last decade that have meant commitment to the discipline of spiritual and devotional practices. The first Yes was made when I turned away from my individual response to Christ which was really a way of living according to my will, not God's; and felt drawn back into the Body of Christ, the church – undertaking a commitment to communal worship – public worship. Following the psalmist's declaration of 'proclaiming my vows to the Lord in the presence of his people'. Until this time in my life my reception of God's Word was that sometimes it did not take root at all, sometimes it took root in a shallow way and did not last and

sometimes it was choked out of my consciousness by distractions. I lacked perseverance or stability in my relationship with God. The second Yes was my response to the practice of Christian meditation as a spiritual discipline about six years ago when I started to follow the Benedictine monk John Main's teaching which was based on the pure prayer of the Desert Fathers of the third century. At this point I was looking for the stability of a spiritual discipline and was and am prepared to persevere in the practice. I found in the constant repetition of the mantra the idea that had always intrigued me; St Paul's instruction to the early Christians to “Pray without Ceasing”. In the constant practice and repetition the mantra becomes the prayer of the heart – the spirit praying within us in sighs too deep for words – and filling empty spaces of the day particularly times of waiting. The third Yes became the commitment to live my life according to the monastic balance of prayer and work solitude and community– as set out in St Benedict's Rule. At my Oblation I made a commitment to the service of God and humanity. I accepted the Rule of St Benedict as my guide and promised to live in the spirit of Stability, Conversion and Obedience and to share always in the life and work of our meditation community. These three principles from Benedictine spirituality, Obedience, Stability and Conversion, interweave in my life and inform my understanding of things that happen around me. In particular they help my understanding of the liturgy and the Word. I now am mostly as receptive as the good soil – but not always! I have realised that my reception to the seed of God's word and love can vary in a single day through the whole gamut of the examples given in the parable. In the daily practices of meditation morning and evening, praying the psalms in morning and evening prayer, spending time in Lectio Divina, and reading and seeking to apply with understanding the Rule of Benedict – sometimes the experience is deeply moving and sometimes it is not. So I have come to realise that it is not only groups of people whose reactions are described by Jesus in the parable of the sower, so much as different stages of my own experience from deeply receptive to deeply distracted which can occur in a single day. My commitment to live according to Benedictine spirituality has grown stronger over the last three years. The spiritual practices, especially meditation and praying the psalms of the daily Office continue to be life

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

enhancing and energising in many ways – an awareness of the joy and peace in believing that is the result of another of St Benedict's recommendations – to prefer nothing whatever to Christ. I believe that following Jesus' teaching through the wisdom of the Rule and the prayerfulness engendered by the deeper connection with Scripture and the Liturgy through meditation will help me to join in Thomas Merton's prayer: “Good Shepherd, You have a wild and crazy sheep in love with thorns and brambles. But please don't get tired of looking for me! I know you won’t. For You have found me. All I have to do is stay found.” Janet Sorby – Australia jsorby@tpg.com.au

DOORS The word that I use for my spiritual journey is: doors. It has been said that when one door closes, another one opens. I visualize this phenomenon as an everdeepening path into my spirituality and road to God - if I am open to it. Finding doors is not a task to concern myself with, because once I make the initial choice, that of choosing God -- God then rescues me and leads me through these doors -- that God has chosen for me! And my own slowness of mental pace, in catching on to this monumental truth, does not, in any way, dim the glow of God's love for me. The way in which The World Community for Christian Meditation, entered my journey, was a blend of slowness and blindness -- on my part. But, oh, the patience of God! Two years ago, I discovered The Tablet, while visiting Canterbury, on what was my first visit to England. In leafing through The Tablet, I happened to notice a really eye-opening essay, by a Laurence Freeman (there was no title before his name), of May 13, 2006. The essay was about a man who discovered the love of God and how it changed his rather lonely life -- forever. I asked permission, at the library, to photocopy this essay and brought it home with me to the States. But before I left England, I sent an email message to The Tablet commending their wonderful writer, Laurence Freeman. Many times, over the next two years, I re-read the essay. I shared it with friends. How the words inspired and uplifted! What a powerful message it transmitted. I never tire of this powerful message of a man's

experience of the love of God. One day, last Spring of 2008, while reading this essay, I noticed, at the bottom of the page, the words: "Laurence Freeman is director of The World Community for Christian Meditation (www.wccm.org)". Were these words there all along? Going to the website, the world simply opened up to me! Suddenly, God pushed me through this new door, by means of new vision. The timing could not have been more perfect. I had been through several disappointing experiences, in attempting to join Oblate groups. But the fit was not right, for many reasons. I had mentally thrown up my hands in dismay and despair -- and given up. For two years, I had not "seen" the words at the bottom of the page (having eyes and not seeing). Then-- just like that--I saw clearly. I thought of St. Paul. Maybe I had to "grow through" the previous negative experiences first, then have the scales fall from my eyes ...all the more to be able to really see and appreciate what was presented to me now. When one becomes aware of this overwhelming love of God, as the man in Fr. Laurence's essay experienced, as well as St. Paul (and countless others throughout the ages), the light can, indeed, be blinding -- in an indescribably magnificent way. Now that I've made it through this door, I am like a child in a toy store -- I want it all! Yes, to the meditation groups! Yes, to the annual retreat! Yes, to the beautiful words, on tape, of Fathers Bede Griffiths, John Main and Laurence Freeman. Yes, to becoming an Oblate in a global group! I am reminded of a story about St. Therese of Lisieux, who, when told to choose a ribbon, from a room full of ribbons, said: "I choose them all!" The words of my favorite Psalm come to mind: "He rescued me because He loves me." (Psa.18:20) And I am not a bit surprised when more doors open, like the one that opened recently, when Fr. Laurence Freeman OSB, meditated and spoke, in New York City at St. Luke-in-the-Fields Church, and I, meeting him for the first time, asked him to autograph a book of his that I had just bought. Fr. Laurence inscribed in my book: "Welcome to the beginning of your Oblate journey today 24 Sept. '08." Deo Gratias. Amie Ilva Tatem – USA Email: aijtatem@aol.com

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

World Youth Day Desert Retreat For the month of July, ten people with a long-standing interest in Australian desert spirituality formed a temporary Benedictine Community in Central Australia at Hamilton Downs Youth Camp, 75 km N-W of Alice Springs in the Western MacDonnell Ranges. With the consent of the Regional Bishop and with the support of members of the Benedictine, Meditation and Oblate communities, we were able to offer short retreats to young people around the time of World Youth Day. During the month we were joined by a diverse group of about 50 retreatants and helpers wishing to experience a daily rhythm of liturgical prayer, meditation, sacrament and teaching within a Benedictine spirituality. Of great importance was engagement with the land and its people.

We trust that the young Americans who visited us from California with their teachers will keep a spark of the ‘God in the Desert’ alive in their hearts and remember fondly the great sky at night, scrambling up ancient rock faces, joining in liturgies with a distinctly Aussie flavour …… toasting marshmallows and being encouraged to reflect on it all in stillness and silence. We treasure the gifts of song and prayer shared by the young East Timorese interpreter who has so valiantly kept his group of meditators together in Dili.

On arrival in Alice Springs, each group was ‘welcomed to country’ by traditional owners and shared lunch at the retreat Centre “Campfire in the Heart” run by meditators Sue and David Woods. Accommodation was in bunkhouses, tents and (for the brave), swags by a campfire in the dry creek bed. Our indigenous cooks provided splendid food including ‘bush tucker’ treats such as quandong pie with wattleseed-flavoured cream, barramundi with lemon myrtle, kangaroo steaks – and good old staples like Irish stew. As is often the case, the kitchen became a true centre of community – the place where food was lovingly prepared and served in an atmosphere of goodhumoured hospitality. Our young American retreatants were introduced to Cocky’s Joy (damper and golden syrup) – hearty fare given the often bitterly cold weather. Each day began at 7.00a.m. with thirty minutes of meditation. Morning Prayer followed at 7.30a.m., Evening Prayer at 4.30p.m., Eucharist at 5.30p.m. and we concluded each day with meditation. During the retreats there were teaching sessions on Christian meditation, talks on ‘Growing the Spirituality of Indigenous Young Men’ and on the ecology of Central Australia. The Benedictine Religious and Oblates spoke on the meaning of Benedictine spirituality in their lives. Two Artists in Residence gave workshops on woodworking and sketching within a desert context. There were also environmental walks. We climbed the ranges, admired the sunsets and stars and when the freezing winds blew and the dust storms covered everything – we withdrew to the fireplace and read. Eucharist became a joyful and reflective focus each day with the Celebrants sharing their special gifts of meaningfully weaving scripture into our experiences of the land and people. We are so very grateful to them for their thoughtful preparation of these simple and moving Celebrations.

We will remember with admiration the young woman of the Arrente people, whose initial shyness at welcoming us to her land gradually gave way to a growing selfassurance as we visited over the weeks. Her aunty, with her dedication to empowering the young people of her tribe, will also be likewise remembered. There was the young man from Papua New Guinea, in formation as a Christian Brother who embraced the desert experience with great enthusiasm, despite the cold. And of course there were the young meditators from Sydney and Canberra who took time off from work to bring their special gifts of silence and listening to us. Each retreatant shared a unique place with the Community and contributed in often unexpected and delightful ways. Asked to choose a hymn for Morning Prayer, one suggested instead she teach us one she had written. We also prayed the words of a hymn written by the Arrente elder who received us around the campfire in Alice Springs. For two of us from the meditation community there was the special joy of being able to share the experience with our daughters both of whom perhaps now understand a little more of what mysterious and wonderful things move their mothers to lead the life of a Benedictine Oblate. For me, a treasured moment was that of the sun breaking in upon our dark and chilly morning meditation – just in time for Morning Prayer ………

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

then porridge! Perhaps we were learning to let go of timepieces and, like the traditional owners of the land, allowing the rhythm of the day to guide us ….. in God’s time. Ann Bergman – Australia anniebergman@hotmail.com

From the Editor In this issue Dom Laurence has given us his first contribution in writing a commentary on The Rule of Saint Benedict as it applies to us as meditators. Ch. 6 “Restraint of Speech” comes with the heading “On the Spirit of Silence”. This speaks in fresh and thoughtful ways to our culture and invites a more considered response as suggested in the commentary. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to Sr. Margaret Collier who so willingly assisted the oblate community in Ireland for many years as their Coordinator. Margaret has recently retired and in expressing our gratitude we also wish her well in “retirement” !! Rowena O’Sullivan is now easing into the role of coordinator and we express our thanks to Rowena and wish her many blessings in her ministry to the Irish community. Thank you to all who have contributed to this issue of Via Vitae. Half the articles are from the Australian community. News, articles and photos from other countries would not only maintain our internationality but be of great interest to all. Please consider sending a contribution for the next issue. When ever possible I meet with oblates in other areas for a Cell day. On reflecting on these experiences recently I deeply appreciated the good will, love and positive influence this has on all of us. There are oblates in isolated areas who are not able to physically attend a cell but we need to remember that even one oblate alone, forms a cell. For those who have indicated an interest, I email in advance the outline for the Cell day, the readings before and after meditation, the section of The Rule we study and pre-reading from “Community of Love”. According to their time zone, they set aside time for whatever is possible for them to be with us in spirit. This is not the same as face to face, but does offer a form of community for our global Monastery without Walls. One of the most frequent comments is that as they sit down to meditate, whatever the time, they feel a strong connection with us. This process is simple. All it needs is one oblate in each country to take on this ministry for their community.

What, dear brothers and sisters is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us? See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life. Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see him ‘who has

called us to his kingdom’. (I Thess 2:12). R.B. Prologue 19-21. Wishing each of you, your family and friends Christmas blessings of Love, Peace and Joy Trish “To live our lives fully there is only one thing we have to do. When we have done it everything else falls into place. What we have to do is to dwell in love. The mantra roots us in love. Dwelling in love brings us to purity of heart and clarity of vision. Life is then transformed. Ultimately this process takes us beyond ourselves into the mystery of God and deep into the Trinitarian mystery.” Door to Silence

BOOK CORNER THE HUNGER for DEPTH and MEANING

Learning to meditate with John Main Edited by Peter Ng Published 2007 in Singapore by Medio Media

This book corresponds with John Main’s original spoken word on a set of ten CDs under the same title. His very contemporary Christian contemplative teaching addresses the spiritual anguish of people in all walks of life struggling to make sense of their lives. The talks are arranged thematically to give a clear and comprehensive overview of Fr. John’s teaching on prayer. I am amazed still, as I write, at the power and clarity of what he taught. How extraordinarily simple and luminous. How painfully and joyfully direct. How unchanged by the passage of a generation is the freshness and urgency of his message. Laurence Freeman OSB

NEW SEEDS OF CONTEMPLATION

Thomas Merton Introduction by Sue Monk Kidd

A New Directions Book

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the death of Thomas Merton (1915-1968), the Cistercian monk, prolific writer and mystic of the modern era. New Seeds of Contemplation remains a challenging and evocative work, that reveals the breadth and depth of a life of searching solitude and silence.

COMMUNITY of LOVE John Main OSB

The book is currently being reprinted, however there are copies available from Medio Media, International Centre, London - mail@wccm.org

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

WHOLENESS Cutting the bonds that control us

Laurence Freeman OSB

3 Audio CDs of the Silent Retreat at Monte Oliveto, Italy September 2006. Available from Medio Media.

“God gave the Growth” 1 Cor. 3:6

In these talks there is reference to how The Rule of St. Benedict speaks to ‘wholeness’: “Keeping his focus clearly on the sacramental meaning of the community in which we grow into wholeness, the Rule of St. Benedict is not as extreme as many of the other monastic rules of his time……. The Rule of St. Benedict moderates some of the extremism and fanaticism that were present in other monastic rules and therefore emphasises the personal dimension of the journey to wholeness.” Fr. Laurence explains the human hunger for wholeness as something even deeper and broader than our personal healing. Relating it to the Genesis story, he says we have a collective sense of losing a primal wholeness and innocence as we awake to the sense of individual identity. With this comes a sense of shame and guilt, and a search for restoration. These talks show how meditation is a spiritual path that helps us achieve this re -integration. In the simple ‘saying of the word’, we evolve beyond the ego with its complexity and possessiveness to the universality of the spirit where everything is inter-related, whole, and where all is one.

Monica Dowdell and George Bryan made their commitment to Postulancy at our oblate retreat weekend on 7th December, held at the Benedictine Monastery, Arcadia on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia. Christian Meditation Renewal days have been held at this monastery every three months for the last almost 28 years

THE ELEVENTH STEP: Meditation on the path to recovery from Addiction

Laurence Freeman OSB Talks at Geneva Switzerland. Available from Medio Media

November 2006.

Each person has addictions of some kind or other. This CD speaks to all. “We all have basic human needs. When a basic human need is not met we experience a wound and pain follows when that wound is not healed. We then try to take the pain away by imagination or fantasy and soon we are indulging in distractions conjured up in our minds. These may temporarily take the pain away but the deeper unmet need that caused the pain stays unfulfilled. This, Fr. Laurence suggests, is a way to understand the origin of addiction. We compulsively repeat what once brought us temporary relief from pain. Over time this becomes an addiction, and with addiction comes loss of freedom. This talk no only explores this process but relates it to the wisdom of the Twelve Steps. In particular Fr. Laurence shows how the simple practice of meditation offers a way to break this vicious cycle of addictive desire and regain wholeness.”

Diane Craig, Iris Hallinan, Alexandra Irini and Evelyn Reinehr - two of the faces will be familiar. Taken at the Cell day in Melbourne in November. An inspiring day of being community that revealed a deep commitment and love for our way of life

Benedictine Oblate Newsletter - No. 9 - December 2008

OBLATE COORDINATORS U.S.A.: Greg Ryan Email: gjryan@optonline.net U.K.: Eileen Dutt Email: eileendutt@yahoo.co.uk NEW ZEALAND: Ross Miller Email: ross.miller@paradise.net.nz ITALY: Devis Maccarelli Email: macdev@tiscali.it IRELAND: Cork: Rowena O'Sullivan Email: rowenaos@gmail.com Dublin: Eilish Tennent Email: eilishtennent@yahoo.co.uk

December 2008 EDITOR: Trish Panton P.O. Box 555 Pennant Hills, NSW Australia 1715 Tel +61 2 9489 1780 Mobile: 0409 941 605 Email: pantonamdg@ozemail.com.au

AUSTRALIAN DESIGN: Leon Milroy PO Box 246 Uralla NSW 2358 Email: leon@urallamulti-media.com.au Visit the Community’s Website at: http://www.wccm.org

CANADA: Don Myrick Email: tdmyrick@magma.ca

Be sure to visit the Oblate pages recently updated by Greg Ryan.

BRAZIL: Carlos Siqueira Email : wccm@uol.com.br

Australia’s Website is on http://www.christianmeditationaustralia.org

AUSTRALIA and INTERNATIONAL: Trish Panton Email: pantonamdg@ozemail.com.au Please notify the 0blate Coordinator in your country if you have changed your address.

The vision that Jesus proposes is a practical way of living day to day so that the human and the divine are brought into a wholly harmonious union. Jesus himself is the living witness of this harmony. Door to Silence

Many meditators and oblates know Marie O’Leary for her ‘email ministry’. This is one way that Marie, who is very limited in her activities due to chronic pain, can ‘visit’ others in our community. It would seem that the WA Gliding Club Members have taken Marie to their hearts. This photo was taken shortly before Andrew climbed into the glider, the Canopy was lowered and Marie soared above in the heavens.