Written by an Episcopal priest,
this wonderful book gives insights into St. Benedict's Rule and how we can use these techniques in every day living.
Mt. Zion is using St. Benedict's theories for short lessons during Morning Prayer Sundays.
Back in the early church, monks were men apart. When they felt
called by God they got the church's blessing and went out to the wilderness, lived as hermits, and communicated only with
God. Common folk could search out these monks and seek their wisdom.
Fifteen centuries ago, a young man felt the urgings of God and left
his studies. He lived in a cave for three years. His name was Benedict of Nursia. What Benedict gleaned
from God was that people did not live in isolation but in the world, in community. Benedict left his cave and formed
the very first monastery.
Benedict established a different way of achieving holiness and connection
to God. Find God by being in relationship with one another. Achieve holiness by being normally in community, being
blessed by God's unchanging love through one another. Benedict proclaimed: put Christ at the center of life, remain
connected with people, approach life rooted in relationships to God, to others, and to oneself.
The ideas was to BE in community.
Benedict soon realized that community living required some ground rules,
some give and take. He created a check book sized document that he termed "a little rule." The word "rule"
comes from the Greek term "canon" which originally meant trellis. What an image! A trellis helps a grapevine become
more productive. Benedict's Rule is not a dictatorial step 1, step 2, but more a statement of values--as Tomaine remarks,
"a handrail to hold onto as you climb the stairs."
Community is all around us--family, workplace, school, church, etc.
St. Benedict's Tool Box helps one move in "the rule" through prayer and understanding one's community. A fine read
and an invaluable support to today's stressed life style.
