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X-WR-CALDESC:<i>The reason we have written this rule is that\, by observing
  it in monasteries\, we can show that we have some degree of virtue and th
 e beginnings of monastic life. But for anyone hastening on to the perfecti
 on of monastic life\, there are the teachings of the early church writers\
 , the observance of which will lead them to the very heights of perfection
 . What page\, what passage of the inspired books of the Old and New Testam
 ents is not the truest of guides for human life? What book of holy writers
  does not resoundingly summon us along the true way to reach the Creator? 
 Then\, besides the Conferences of the early church writers\, their Institu
 tes and their Lives\,there is also the rule of Basil. For observant and ob
 edient monastics\, all these are nothing less than tools for the cultivati
 on of virtues\; but as for us\, they make us blush for shame at being so s
 lothful\, so unobservant\, so negligent. Are you hastening toward your hea
 venly home? Then with Christ's help\, keep this little rule that we have w
 ritten for beginners. After that\, you can set out for the loftier summits
  of the teaching and virtues we mentioned above\, and under God's protecti
 on you will reach them. Amen.</i>\n\nChurch and their commentaries on scri
 pture\, and the classic contributions of other writers on the monastic lif
 e. But Benedict does not believe that the simple reading or study of spiri
 tual literature is sufficient. He tells us to keep this rule\, its values\
 , its concepts\, its insights. It is not what we read\, he implies\, it is
  what we become that counts. Every major religious tradition\, in fact\, h
 as called for a change of heart\, a change of life rather than for simply 
 an analysis of its literature. The Hasidim\, for instance\, tell the story
  of the disciple who said to the teacher\, 'Teacher\, I have gone complete
 ly through the Torah? What must I do now?'\n\nAnd the teacher said\, 'Oh\,
  my friend\, the question is not\, have you gone through the Torah. The qu
 estion is\, has the Torah gone through you?'\n\nEven at the end of his rul
 e\, Benedict does not promise that we will be perfect for having lived it.
  What Benedict does promise is that we will be disposed to the will of God
 \, attuned to the presence of God\, committed to the search for God and ju
 st beginning to understand the power of God in our lives. Why? Because Ben
 edictine simplicity gentles us into the arms of God. Benedictine community
  supports us on the way to God. Benedictine balance makes a wholesome jour
 ney possible. Monastic prayer\, rooted in scripture lights the way. It is 
 a way of life\, a spirituality that makes the humdrum holy and the daily t
 he stuff of high happiness. It is a way of life that lives life to the ful
 lest offering\, as this final chapter promises\, that even more of the mea
 ning of life is there for our taking if we will only follow this simple bu
 t profoundly life-altering way.
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DTSTART:20231105T020000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:4e664e91-29fe-4e67-aa79-d8a7104ce185
DTSTAMP:20260407T225028Z
DESCRIPTION:<i>The reason we have written this rule is that\, by observing 
 it in monasteries\, we can show that we have some degree of virtue and the
  beginnings of monastic life. But for anyone hastening on to the perfectio
 n of monastic life\, there are the teachings of the early church writers\,
  the observance of which will lead them to the very heights of perfection.
  What page\, what passage of the inspired books of the Old and New Testame
 nts is not the truest of guides for human life? What book of holy writers 
 does not resoundingly summon us along the true way to reach the Creator? T
 hen\, besides the Conferences of the early church writers\, their Institut
 es and their Lives\,there is also the rule of Basil. For observant and obe
 dient monastics\, all these are nothing less than tools for the cultivatio
 n of virtues\; but as for us\, they make us blush for shame at being so sl
 othful\, so unobservant\, so negligent. Are you hastening toward your heav
 enly home? Then with Christ's help\, keep this little rule that we have wr
 itten for beginners. After that\, you can set out for the loftier summits 
 of the teaching and virtues we mentioned above\, and under God's protectio
 n you will reach them. Amen.</i>\n\nChurch and their commentaries on scrip
 ture\, and the classic contributions of other writers on the monastic life
 . But Benedict does not believe that the simple reading or study of spirit
 ual literature is sufficient. He tells us to keep this rule\, its values\,
  its concepts\, its insights. It is not what we read\, he implies\, it is 
 what we become that counts. Every major religious tradition\, in fact\, ha
 s called for a change of heart\, a change of life rather than for simply a
 n analysis of its literature. The Hasidim\, for instance\, tell the story 
 of the disciple who said to the teacher\, 'Teacher\, I have gone completel
 y through the Torah? What must I do now?'\n\nAnd the teacher said\, 'Oh\, 
 my friend\, the question is not\, have you gone through the Torah. The que
 stion is\, has the Torah gone through you?'\n\nEven at the end of his rule
 \, Benedict does not promise that we will be perfect for having lived it. 
 What Benedict does promise is that we will be disposed to the will of God\
 , attuned to the presence of God\, committed to the search for God and jus
 t beginning to understand the power of God in our lives. Why? Because Bene
 dictine simplicity gentles us into the arms of God. Benedictine community 
 supports us on the way to God. Benedictine balance makes a wholesome journ
 ey possible. Monastic prayer\, rooted in scripture lights the way. It is a
  way of life\, a spirituality that makes the humdrum holy and the daily th
 e stuff of high happiness. It is a way of life that lives life to the full
 est offering\, as this final chapter promises\, that even more of the mean
 ing of life is there for our taking if we will only follow this simple but
  profoundly life-altering way.
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T235900
LOCATION:73
SUMMARY:This Rule Only a Beginning of Perfection
END:VEVENT
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