Celebrating Benedict

St. Benedict.

I don’t know about you but one of the things I excel at is complicating stuff. Its one of the reasons I both appreciate and enjoy the Benedictine Order. The simplicity of it helps keep me away from spiritual complications. Simplicity, and balance, are, I think, keys to Benedictine spirituality. So, with simplicity and balance in mind, I’ve been thinking (dangerous in itself) how might I celebrate Benedict? July 11 is our good Saint Benedict‘s feast day. What to do, what to do?

The Benedictine Order, our Rule, the life and example of our spiritual father, Saint Benedict, have been a light in the world, reflecting the Light of Christ to the world, for centuries now. Keeping things simple I’ve decided to do one simple thing. While attempting to live my day in a balanced way I’m going to light a candle, one simple candle, offering it up to Jesus in thanksgiving for our Order. And before, during, and after doing that I’m going to try my best, in living my day as a Roman Catholic, to make Saint Benedict proud that I’m an Oblate.

Keep it balanced, keep it simple, and celebrate Benedict.

Queens and Saints and Mothers … Wednesday, July 10

The Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven.

A Rosary Meditation … The Third Glorious Mystery, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Rev. 12:1)

“[The Queen] is always vigilant to intercede with the king whom she bore.” (Pope Sixtus IV)

“Be enthroned, Lady, for it is fitting that you should sit in an exalted place since you are a Queen and glorious above all kings.” (St. Germanus)

“Because the virgin Mary was raised to such a lofty dignity as to be the mother of the King of kings, it is deservedly and by every right that the Church has honored her with the title of ‘Queen’.” (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)

“Certainly she who performed the role of the Creator’s handmaid and Mother is truly and in perfect reality God’s Mother, and Lady and Queen over all creation.” (St. John Damascene, Doctor of the Church, c. 8th century A.D.)

“Mary in Hebrew signifies lady or sovereign: and truly the authority of her Son, who is the Lord of the world, constituted her Queen, both in fact and in name, from her very birth.” (St. Peter Chrysologus, Doctor of the Church)

Pray for us, oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Today …

St. Amalberga

St. Amalberga. Mother of saints, also called Amelia. A relative of Blessed Pepin of Landen, the Duke of Brabant, she was married to Witgar and was mother of Sts. Emembertus, Gudila, and Reinalda, and perhaps others as well. When Witgar agreed, Amalberga and he separated, becoming religious.As a mother of saints you can be sure she was and is close to Mary, the Mother of all saints. St. Amalberga might be a good prayer partner to help you in drawing nearer your own Mother Mary, and so become a saint yourself.

Think, Believe, Take to Heart … “No one has access to the Almighty as His mother has; none has merit such as hers. Her Son will deny her nothing that she asks; and herein lies her power. While she defends the Church, neither height nor depth, neither men nor evil spirits, neither great monarchs, nor craft of man, nor popular violence, can avail to harm us; for human life is short, but Mary reigns above, a Queen forever.” ~Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman~