Lent; External RelationsGROUP 7

DAVID, Danielle AnneMACALALAD, Stephen

RIVAMONTE, Mark Jorenz SABILE, Shikhayna

VICTORIA, Louisie Hannah

The Observance of Lent

• Lenten program is has two principal elements:– Prayer (communion with God)– Abstinence (restraining self from food and other forms of “worldly

desires”)

• The new legislation invites each brother to “Pray with tears” [heartfelt prayer], as he thinks fit and likewise make “Private Prayers” when it seems a good idea.

The Observance of Lent

• ABSTINENCES of food and drink– Left to the discretion of each, taking account of the regular

observance– For the Master, these things were more closely supervised

• Beyond FOOD and DRINK restrictions:– Reduce speech and amusements– Regular corporal mortifications– Proper reading (searching) of the heart– Penance themselves ought to be offered to God with the joy of

the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:6) carried out to Easter

The Observance of Lent

• All of what has been said should be carried out through Easter with “The Joy of a Spiritual Desire”

• Benedictine spirituality in the most precise sense:– RB 4, 46: “To desire eternal life with all one’s

spiritual passion”

Prayer and Meals Outside Monastic Framework

• Benedict reserves to the abbot’s authority the permission for a monk to be exempted from the common office for reason of work (RB 50).

Prayer and Meals Outside Monastic Framework

According to The Rule of the Master:50 paces – required distance to dispense a worker from coming to the office.

Failure to comply on this precision, the BenedictineRule leaves the matter entirely to the Abbot’s decision

*Note: 50 paces = 125 ft. or about 38m. (modern measurement)

The Oratory of the Monastery

• Oratory – a place of prayer (RB 52)

• The monks are bound to pray “not with a shrill voice, but with tears and diligence of the heart.” (RB 52).Therefore, praying in SILENCE.

The Reception of Guest

"Let everyone that comes be received as Christ"

The Reception of Guest

1. The guest must not disturb the community life –only the abbot sits down to eat with them.

2. Apart from those responsible for hospitality, no one is authorized to speak with the guests.

3.

CLOTHING, RENUNCIATION OF PROPERTY, DISTRIBUTION OF

NECESSITIES

CLOTHING• materials and colors depends on the region one happens to live in.• must be content with what is locally the less expensive.• right size for the wearer. RENUNCIATION OF PROPERTY• each time someone receives something new, he has to turn in the

old thing.• frequent inspection of the beds where they could be hiding

unauthorized items. 

CLOTHING, RENUNCIATION OF PROPERTY, DISTRIBUTION OF

NECESSITIES

DISTRIBUTION OF NECESSITIES• "To give to everyone according to his need" - Acts 4:35 • each monk is to have a knife, pen, needle, towel, and

writing tablets.

The Abbot’s Table

• Two question.• Monks with their relationship outside

people

Artisans of the Monastery

“Let God be glorified in all things”