Listening to Tradition, Bernard

“He who labours as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.” Bernard of Clairvaux

Listening to Tradition, The Desert Fathers

When a man walks in the fear of God he knows no fear, even if he were to be surrounded by wicked men. He has the fear of God within him and wears the invincible armor of faith. This makes him strong and able to take on anything, even things which seem difficult or impossible to most people. Such a man is like a giant surrounded by monkeys, or a roaring lion among dogs and foxes. He goes forward trusting in the Lord and the constancy of his will to strike and paralyze his foes. He wields the blazing club of the Word in wisdom.

St. Symeon the New Theologian, The Practical and Theological Chapters

A Brighter Day

The snow finally cleared, the sun rose, and this was the view today from my office window. I look at these views and can't help but see God's hand.

A Snow Day

Just a couple of shots of the view from my office this morning.  We're having more of a snow storm than was predicted, I think.  The church is St. Mary's Cathedral in downtown Colorado Springs.  There's a park (where many homeless congregate) behind and to the left of the Cathedral.  St. Mary's soup kitchen is directly behind it.  The Carneige Library is the beautiful building in front of the church.  On a really beautiful day, it can be hard to concentrate and keep from just looking out the window.  Today, not so much.

It All Matters

We come to a distinct monastery and congregation, to the Rule, to be taught, not to teach them. We come to be directed, not to direct, to be formed, not to form. If we allow all those things to happen to us in humility we quite likely WILL be elements of change for the better in the community's history, but that change will be one planned by God, not ourselves.  Br. Jerome Leo

This quote from Br. Jerome's daily meditations on the Rule (today's edition), reminded me that, when talking about a vocation, every element of that vocation matters.  Typical of Beneditine spirituality, everything is a gift of God, no matter how trivial it seems, and we can be grateful for all of it.

Missing in Action

We should zealously cultivate watchfulness, my brethren; and when, our mind purified in Christ Jesus, we are exalted by the vision it confers, we should review our sins and our former life, so that
shattered and humbled at the thought of them we may never lose the help of Jesus Christ our God in the invisible battle.

St. Hesychius the Presbyter

I haven't posted here in the last two weeks, although it seems like just a day or so ago.  Around the 7th of January, my wife came down with a bad cold that lead to bronchitis, then pneumonia.  A week later, I got it, although I didn't contract the pneumonia piece.  I still haven't nearly recovered from it -- bad stuff.  Hope to have things back to normal in the next few days.

Snow Shoeing, Redux

Another couple of shots from from the snow shoe expedition over last weekend.  The sky on a cold, clear Colorado day always just blows me away.  It makes me appreciate the beauty God has given us.