Around 540 A.D. Saint Benedict wrote his Rule for monks. Apart from Biblical texts, it was the most copied manuscript of the Middle Ages and Pope Benedict has described it as the foundation not only of European civilization but also of the tradition of democracy. One of the chapters of the Rule deals with the observance of Lent, and it begins with these words: “The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent. Since few, however, have the strength for this, we urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times”.

Looking back on my years in the monastery I realize that many people would consider it quite penitential all year round, but to us it was normal and so we made an extra effort in Lent. This is what the Church asks us all to do during this time: to live up to the demands of our Christian calling and to use the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in a serious way. So Saint Benedict makes some suggestions about keeping a good Lent: “This we can do in a fitting manner by refusing to indulge evil habits and by devoting ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial. During these days, therefore, we will add to the usual measure of our service something by way of private prayer and abstinence from food or drink, so that each of us will have something above the assigned measure to offer God of his own will with the joy of the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 1:6). In other words, let each one deny himself some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing”.

By now you should have received a supplement to the bulletin which has the whole program of Lenten activities, together with the schedule for Holy Week. Friday is the great day for fasting, as we remember Jesus on the cross, and I encourage you to join us for soup supper at 6 p.m. and then for the Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. Opportunities for almsgiving are not lacking as we continue the annual campaign for Our Catholic Appeal through the first weeks of Lent; and you know that gifts of food or money for the support of Brothers Keeper are always appreciated. If we are going to make up for our negligences in private prayer, we can make a good start by attending the session of Taizé Prayer at 7 p.m. this Monday (February 22nd). I’ve never managed to visit the ecumenical monastic community at Taizé, in the Burgundy area of France, but I was introduced to their distinctive style of prayer over thirty years ago and their repetitive chanting of words from scripture, accompanied by gentle music, always helps to calm my mind and bring me closer to God. Let us ask for God’s grace from the very beginning of Lent so that we can offer Him more than we usually do and “look forward to holy Easter with joy”.