Thoughts on Stability, Part IV

In the end I am brought back, of course, to Christ himself and to his example, the willingness to endure faithfully and with patience, patientia, to remind me that this means both waiting and suffering.  What makes this possible?  The faithfulness of God.  God is faithful to the covenant, and I know I can rely on him...  My stability is possible in the end because of the certain, guaranteed, steadfastness of God.

Esther de Wall

A Life-Giving Way

in Essential Monastic Wisdom

Thoughts on Stability, Part III

[To people outside of a monastic community, the three Benedictine vows of stability, obedience, and conversion of life appear to be] three promises that together form one whole process.  They ask me to enter into a dynamic commitment that simultaneously holds me still (stability) and moves me forward (continual conversion) with all the time God, and not my own self, as the point of reference (obedience, listening intently).

Esther de Waal

A Life-Giving Way

in Essential Monastic Wisdom

Thoughts on Stability, Part II

When you are feeling strong, do not be complacent, but call to God with the prophet and say:  "When my strength fails me, do not abandom me" (Ps. 70:9).  And in time of temptation be consoled and say with the bride:  "Draw me after you, and we shall run in the odor of your ointments" (Ps. 33:2).  Thus you will not lose hope in bad times, nor will foresight disert you in good times, and amid both the prosperity and adversity of changing times you will retian  a certain image of eternity -- that is, this inviolable and unshakable constancy of a stable soul -- blessing the Lord at every moment.  In this way you claim for yourself, even amid the doubtful events and inevitable deficiencies of ths changing world, a certain status of lasting unchangeability while you being to renew and reform yourself according to the ancient pattern of likeness to the eternal God, "in whom there is neither alteration nor the shadow of change" (Jas 1:17).

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

On the Song of Songs

in Essential Monastic Wisdom

Thoughts on Stability, Part I

By digging deeply they alertly examne their consciences so that nothing sordid may lie hidden within them.  They carefully probe all the depths of their hearts for the hiding places of empty thoughts and draw them out with the hand of conscientious discretion so that they can prepare a firm and restful throne within themselves for that strong rock, who is Christ.  And through his presence they persevere amid the fearful adversities of this world amid the allurements as well.

St. Bede

Homiles on the Gosepls

in Essential Monastic Wisdom

The Ascension of the Lord



In the first book, Theophilus,
I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
until the day he was taken up,
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen.
He presented himself alive to them
by many proofs after he had suffered,
appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While meeting with them,
he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for "the promise of the Father
about which you have heard me speak;
for John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

When they had gathered together they asked him,
"Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth."
When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, "Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

(Acts 1:1-11)

Jesus is All...

If you are nothing,

do not forget that Jesus is all.

Hence, lose your nothingness

in His infinite all

and thank only of that all,

who alone is loveable.

~St. Therese of Lisieux

Chant Nunning

O God, come to my assistance.  With these words we begin our times of prayer during The Liturgy of the Hours.  While our liturgy is in English, we have maintained the format of antiphons, psalms, hymns, and melodies found in the Antiphonale Monasticum, simplifying some of the complex melodies of the antiphons and updating the challenging chant modes to the simplified eight modes by Dom Gregory Murray, OSB (of Downside Abbey). 

These antiphons and hymns, proper to each season enrich our prayer, transport us through the liturgical year both forming and transforming us as we seek an ever deeper union with God.