On Monday about 18 of us will converge at Conception Abbey
in northwestern Missouri. We will spend
a week immersed in Benedictine spirituality as we learn the rhythms of prayer
and community at this monastery. It is
the season of light: Christmastide moves inexorably toward Epiphany, and we
will engage the great texts telling the story of the young Jesus. Besides, the beautiful decorations are still
up!
There will
be fewer credit students and more life-long learners this year, which will
allow a measured pace of the liturgy of the hours, classroom discussion, and
time to interact with monks and the new Abbot.
Among the class members are area pastors, Central board members, and
other friends of the seminary. The goal
of the class is to explore sustaining spiritual practices that arise out of
this venerable tradition, and garner new insight for what can be transposed to
non-cloistered living.
Although
over 1500 years old, Benedictine spirituality is rife with perspective sorely
needed in our time. As Joan Chittister
writes in The Rule of St. Benedict:
Insights for the Ages, this spirituality deals with the issues facing us
now: “stewardship, relationships, authority, community, balance, work,
simplicity, prayer, and spiritual and psychological development.” It is a call to maturing in Christ, and this
trellis (the Rule) supports growth in
humility, stability, and continuous conversion of life.
Many credit
the Benedictines with preserving culture, especially Scripture and other texts,
during the Dark Ages, and their conservation of a way of life in community
through the “bright weapons of obedience,” as the Rule puts it, remains constructive. It challenges individualism, sloth, pride,
careless speech, and measuring oneself by acquisition of goods. Listening to it regularly promotes wisdom.
Over the
many years of experiencing this time with fellow learners, I have observed how
life-changing this time can be. The
hospitality offered; the generous expenditure of time by the monks; and the
regular marinating in the Psalter and other texts calls to the deep longing we
all share. This is pilgrimage
spirituality; it is only finished in death, and one must keep this daily before
one’s eyes.
The
relationship between Conception Abbey and Central is strong, yet rather unusual
given our disparate ecclesial traditions.
We understand the sacraments of the Church quite differently, and surely
our views on women as pastoral leaders diverge.
Yet, spiritual friendship and trust have grown as we honor the charisms
of our respective expression of Christian faith. This is a fruitful pathway for the whole
people of God to follow.
Molly T.
Marshall
Central prepares leaders through seeking God, shaping
church, and serving the world.
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