Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

The Month of March Devoted to Saint Joseph

Saints: Transitus of Saint Benedict (480-547); Saint Nicholas of Flue, Patron of Switzerland (1417-1487); Saint Enda (-530)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 42 Silence after Compline

Mass: Ezk 47:1-9, 12; Resp Ps 46; Jn 5:1-16

The astounding things He has wrought on earth.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

SAINT JOSEPH, MAN OF SILENCE,

PRAY FOR US.

Monks should diligently cultivate silence at all times, but especially at night.

(Rule of Saint Benedict 42:1)

As many in the Benedictine tradition celebrate the transitus of Saint Benedict today, we turn to our holy father Benedict and his holy twin Saint Scholastica and pray for their intercession. We also commemorate Saint Nicholas of Flue, the Patron Saint of Switzerland. However, the holy hermit is commemorated September 25 in Switzerland and Germany, so we will look to him then too. 

Practising the art of silence, Benedictines learn to maintain an awareness of the close presence of God, which should guide all thoughts and actions. This is especially true during the Summum Silentium, the silence after Compline, when ‘no one will be permitted to speak further.’ This is the silence which prepares one to create other silent spaces throughout the day and ‘see these places and times of silence as the very basis of a mature, adult spiritual life.’ The silence after Compline is not a time for visiting, watching television, or working on the computer. It is time to be more aware of the presence of the Lord and fill ourselves with His love and mercy. Filled with the Lord, Benedictines grow in charity, in service of God, and in service of one another.*

If anyone is found to transgress this rule of silence, he must be subjected to severe punishment, except on occasions when guests require attention or the abbot wishes to give someone a command, but even this is to be done with the utmost seriousness and proper restraint.

(Rule of Saint Benedict 42:10-11)

SAINT BENEDICT,

SAINT SCHOLASTICA,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF FLUE,

SAINT ENDA,

PRAY FOR US.

*See G. Feick, Cardinal Basil Hume: A Pilgrim's Search for God (Gracewing, 2019), p. 46.

Today's photo: From Laetare Sunday morning in Lenten glory. Behold the deeds of the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2023