A dusting of snow surrounds a lake at Meinrad Archabbey. Practice the silence that you seek

So much chatter: within and without. We God. When my own noise is what drowns have those constant conversations with self that word out, the spiritual life becomes a inside our heads. Imagined conversations, sham.” and sometimes arguments, with a spouse, our children, perhaps our boss. Many of us struggle with quieting our minds and allowing complete silence to permeate The cacophony of the world: YouTube, the our being. As we look to the beginning of a television, the radio, traffic noise. How often new year, perhaps each of us can start anew in our daily lives do we truly create the to practice the silence we seek. Practice opportunity to enjoy silence? In Chapter 6 makes perfect, after all. Matthew Kelly, of the Rule , St. Benedict teaches us that founder of Dynamic Catholic, teaches about “there are times when good words are to be the classroom of silence. left unsaid out of esteem for silence.” A Dynamic Catholic post written by Not all silence is interrupted by words, but Dominic Albano states, “For a few minutes, words, especially those that keep popping up every day, we go to hear the voice of God in in our heads, our inner voice, certainly do a our lives. It is in the classroom of silence large amount of the interrupting. that we finally are able to listen to God and Benedictine Oblates are wired for silence. It life can finally start to make sense.” is something our hearts yearn to know and practice. What if we each began a new practice of 10 minutes a day in the classroom of silence? In A Spirituality for the 21st Century , Joan We yearn for God and, as such, “The Word Chittister writes, “Benedictine spirituality we seek is speaking in the silence within us.” forms us to listen always for the voice of (Chittister)

NEWSLETTER FOR BENEDICTINE OBLATES OF SAINT MEINRAD Winter 2019, Volume 25:1 A POINT TO PONDER FROM Silence can speak volumes

What is silence? reason should evil speech be curbed.” What does it mean? The Rule Silence is “quiet.” Benedict believes silence is so important “Speaking and listening But as is often the “that permission to speak should seldom case, this one word be granted even to mature disciples.” are the masters; can mean several Continue reading through the Rule and the is to be things. you’ll discover that silence is part of silent and listen.” humility. By remaining silent, by not Silence can mean presuming to speak, we remind ourselves Rule of St. Benedict, 6:6 Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB ignorance. I ask we are not teachers, but disciples. It’s no you a question. surprise that in this same Chapter 6, The same letters spell both s-i-l-e- You don’t know the answer, and so you Benedict quotes from the Book of n-t and l-i-s-t-e-n. The motive say nothing. You are silent because here Proverbs: “In a flood of words you will not that St. Benedict gives for silence you have nothing of value to say. avoid sin” (10:19). is to foster listening. Listening is, Sometimes, however, silence can “speak indeed, a fundamental value of volumes.” I tell you about a heated There is, of course, another side to the Benedictine spirituality. argument I had with a friend. As I finish restraint – and the gift – of speech. After I say, “Maybe I was too hard on her, and all, balance – moderation – is one of A listening attitude characterizes owe her an apology.” You say nothing, Benedict’s favorite words. And, although our lives as monks and oblates. but your silence does speak. In this he never refers to the Old Testament Book We must be silent to listen to the situation, it would seem that the old of Ecclesiastes, I think he would agree Lord in sacred Scripture, in the proverb, “Silence denotes consent,” fully with its balanced observation: “Blow people around us, in those in applies. on a spark and up it flares, spit on it and authority, in the daily experiences out it goes; both are the effects of your of life, in the inner quiet of our St. Benedict writes about silence several mouth” (28:12). hearts. times in his Rule and, in fact, all of his The Rule urges us to be silent so Chapter 6 is devoted to “Restraint of Silence is golden. So is knowing when – that we can listen to the voice of Speech.” There, referring to Psalm 39, and how – to speak. God in the midst of our work and he reminds us that since “there are times in the center of our families and when good words are to be left unsaid Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB homes. out of esteem for silence, for all the more Saint Meinrad Archabbey

From Benedictine Oblate , Winter 1996 issue From the Desk of the Director Silence: Necessary for a deeper spiritual life Ben edictine Oblate is published four times a year by Saint Meinrad Archabbey. What do I have to communication, and updates from Editor: Mary Jeanne Schumacher say about silence? weather to the latest post of a “friend” on Designer: Tammy Schuetter Hopefully not Facebook. Oblate Director: Janis Dopp much – except that Oblate Chaplain: Fr. Cox, OSB I have come to Words have made their way into most of Editorial Staff: Cathey Byers, Brenda Black and Becky Boyle recognize that it is my day, with the exception of prayer and a fundamental sleep, and even those refreshing oases can Send changes of address and comments to necessity in my be interrupted and disrupted by the The Editor, Development Office, spiritual life. trivialities that threaten to take precedence Janis Dopp Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Without it, I find over thoughtful reflection. 200 Hill Dr., St. Meinrad, IN 47577, that I am drowning in a sea of noise and (812) 357-6817, fax (812) 357-6325 words, my life jerked into attention by I have to fight for times of quiet. It has or email [email protected] www.saintmeinrad.org the slightest ping of my telephone or had to become a point of discipline that is ©2019, Saint Meinrad Archabbey computer with news of more news, both inviting and exasperating. There is 2 always so much that seems to need to be both the one hearing what was being said OBLATES accomplished in too few hours each day. and the one speaking. Perhaps we can say In their own words How does one give up valuable time to that it is the necessary element in true doing nothing? humility: becoming nothing for a brief span of time so that we can become In Chapter 6 of the Rule , Benedict tells completely available to God on his terms us, “…so important is silence that rather than our own. permission to speak should seldom be granted even to mature disciples, no The winter months provide many matter how good or holy or constructive opportunities for staying put and being their talk.” quiet. I hope to cultivate these attitudes in a more intentional way, developing the Why? Silence was deemed to be a virtue charity of heart and mind that are the by St. Benedict. It was not a penance for fruit of not being too quick to judge or to having said the wrong thing. It was the have the last word. space where one could cultivate the kind Janis Dopp of speech that would be a blessing for Oblate Director Oblate William (Bill) Wilson Huntington, WV Musings from the Chaplain “The real blessing of being an oblate has been my quieting After a snow, it Christians, and really all people who are and my staying grounded and seems as if the serious about developing a closer outdoors is a little relationship with the Lord through a focused, more than I ever have quieter. Sounds are deeper prayer life. in my life. And as I often say muffled, and the it’s about my heart health, world is calmer. Consequently, there are circumstances in Perhaps snow is which we can choose noise or silence. literally and figuratively. God’s way of Choosing silence is an act of the will. If The doctors at the Cleveland telling us to quiet we want quiet, then we will seek it out. Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB Clinic said to me, ‘Medication, down. We can start by finding a specific time and place for it. If we have not done so other things we’re doing, Quiet and silence are important for us. already, we can begin to nurture times of cardiac rehab, and this prayer We need some occasional stillness so that quiet in our homes and other places. God thing you do, that’s just as we can have mental and emotional rest waits for us to allow more space for Him in order to stay healthy. We also need to enter our lives. important.’ And it has quiet so that we can listen to God and been important.” let Him in. Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB Oblate Chaplain We need it for prayer. St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “The first requirement for prayer is silence. People of prayer are people of silence.” In his Rule , St. Benedict sets forth silence as an obligation and practice for which monks are eager to engage in at all times.

Numerous references to silence are found in the Rule . It leaves no doubt that the monk is to listen with the “ear of the has been set for heart” at all times and in all places. Most importantly, the noise generated by human speech must be greatly curtailed. March 9, 2019. This is for monastics, oblates, all alumni.saintmeinrad.edu/DOS Notes for Novices Deliberate silence is part of our prayer

Silence is a basic carry Christ’s love into the world as deliberate about our prayer enables us component of quickly as possible. to listen to our Lord, who regularly our liturgical life beckons us to Him. as Benedictines. In monastic liturgy, though, stability anchors us to the monastery, so our Remember to be deliberate about Guests pray with prayer is meant to be deliberate. We listening to God in the silence of your us and, without wait several seconds before praying the prayer. realizing it, often next psalm or responding to the Br. Stanley Rother speed up their celebrant. We allow God to speak to Br. Stanley Rother Wagner, OSB Wagner, OSB prayer, thus us through the silence. Oblate Novice Mentor throwing us monks off a tad. Prayer may be fast- Silence is a basic component of our paced in parishes since people want to liturgical life as Benedictines. Being Listening to God requires a search for silence

After graduating me, would await my arrival. They became a reality to me. What was college, I were excited to have someone to talk happening? remember going to and tell of their day. I, on the other camping to get hand, wanted to crawl into the Saint Meinrad had begun to permeate away from all recesses of my closet and shut out the my breathing. I slowed down. I the noise of whole world. I craved a time for being needed sleep. The weariness of my growing up and without any talk. I needed quiet time. frenetic living overcame me and a real living in sabbath day emerged. Rested, the next Chicago. The We live in a world that is bellowing at step was to listen. The words of the Kathleen Polansky contemplatives us 24/7. I would read of Jesus going prayers and readings became whispers and ascetics of all ages and religions to a deserted place and I desperately within. Listening turned to hearing. sought God in the silence and solitude longed to be there. I wondered what God had some plans. All I needed to of the desert, forest and mountains. it was like to live without electricity do was to trust and agree. So, in an attempt to model these and media, traffic congestion and ancestors, I would pitch my tent and hyperactivity, chatter and mind- St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “In the settle in to listen to nothing but the numbing meetings and deadlines. I silence of the heart God speaks. If you sounds of nature. was drained. I was exhausted. I was face God in prayer and silence, God not capable of hearing the Word of will speak to you. Then you will I craved the quiet. I needed the quiet. God. I could read it, but its impact know that you are nothing. It is only By evening, the area would become was lost in all the complications of when you realize your nothingness, crowded with other campers who set living. your emptiness, that God can fill you up camp and proceeded to blast their with Himself. Souls of prayer are music, TVs and, to my astonishment, Then, by divine design, I visited my souls of great silence.” VCRs. My plan was now an friend, a seminarian studying at Saint evanescent memory. I cried. Meinrad. The quiet of the Abbey hit Filling our time, and consequently my ears first. They rang with a sound our living, with doing and noise, we I taught high school for 36 years. At I seldom heard. It was the throbbing are blocking our openness to a the end of a school day, I was usually of my own head. At prayer I was conversation with God. Real first to arrive home. My retired in- caught by the pace. A turtle could run communication demands not just laws, who lived with my husband and faster. The phrase about a snail’s pace speaking but listening and hearing. If

4 we expect to hear God in our lives, it Silence of the mind , by opening it to Silence of the heart , by loving God is imperative that we open ourselves the truth and knowledge of God in with our heart, soul, mind, and to listening. prayer and contemplation, like strength; loving one another as Mary who pondered the marvels of God loves; and avoiding all “The essential thing is not what we the Lord in her heart, and by selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, say but what God says to us and closing it to all untruths, and greed. through us. In that silence, He will distractions, destructive thoughts, listen to us; there He will speak to our rash judgments, false suspicions of “We cannot put ourselves directly in soul, and there we will hear His others, vengeful thoughts, and the presence of God if we do not voice.” (St. Teresa) desires. practice internal and external silence.”

My life took amazing turns after that Kathleen Polansky, oblate first visit to Saint Meinrad Archabbey New Salisbury, IN many years ago and it continues to do so. Thankfully, I still crave silence. I believe it is part of God nudging me to hear. Returning often to Saint Meinrad to pray and retreat is one of the gifts of my life.

I learned that the way to silence encompasses a greater quiet beyond environment into choices and decisions made. A great source of information on these choices is beautifully captured in the words of St. Teresa in a newly released edition of her book, In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers .

According to St. Teresa, to make possible true inner silence, practice: Saint Meinrad guests walk to the Archabbey Church for on the Feast of St. Benedict. Silence of the eyes , by seeking always the beauty and goodness of God everywhere, and closing them to the faults of others and to all that is Christmas time: sinful and disturbing to the soul. Thoughts for those alone Silence of the ears , by listening always to the voice of God and to the cry Think of those this Christmas, Jesus, we pray you touch them and of the poor and the needy, and those who are without a home. bring them back this day. closing them to all other voices that Show a little compassion for those come from fallen human nature, who’ll spend this Christmas alone. Know there is a merciful God such as gossip, tale bearing, and Think of those whose homes have looking down from his heavenly uncharitable words. absolutely no heat. Think of those seat, tugging at your heart to show whose only home is on the street. love to those feeling hopelessness Silence of the tongue , by praising and so much defeat. Christmas God and speaking the life-giving There are those who’d do better time, Christmas time! Spread a little Word of God that is the truth, that only if they could; take a look cheer! Christmas time, Christmas enlightens and inspires, brings around you, you might see some in time! Smile throughout this coming peace, hope, and joy; and by your own neighborhood. Those that New Year! refraining from self-defense and seem to have lost their way, Lord Ron Lewis, oblate every word that causes darkness, Branchville, IN turmoil, pain, and death.

5 Experiencing the Rule in jail ministry

Even before I “Love one another.” Not only do we I watch these women find the courage was an oblate, I welcome the person into our lives, but to go inside themselves to that place was attracted to we then listen to their story. To listen of pain in their lives. As they share Benedictine effectively, we must also be silent. their stories, we sit in silence and spirituality with listen as they address the wounds of its emphasis on For the past two years, I have been their past, grounding themselves in hospitality and able to use both directives from the the present, as they rework the abuse listening. I Rule in my jail ministry. Our team and abandonment issues that led know this was works with female inmates at the them to the current choices of Nancy Bartkowski learned in county jail using a program called violence and addictive behaviors. childhood, mostly from my mom, “Healthy Living Skills.” It is patterned who was forever welcoming people after the Trauma Recovery Program Sometimes minutes will go by when into our home, serving dinner or created by Fr. Kenneth Schmidt and they sit silently and then the tears snacks, and listening to them. It was Sharon Froom in the Diocese of begin to fall. I would like to think done cheerfully and with great care Kalamazoo in 2002. that, in that silence, they are for the person. reconnecting with their inner child The program, originally developed to before the wounds of life hurt them As an adult, I try to incorporate that help victims of sexual abuse to heal and with the God who can heal them. same service and hospitality in my life from the abuse, has been adapted to They may wonder if they have the and career, first as a children’s services include any type of childhood trauma. strength to make the changes and how worker for the State of Michigan and It currently is being facilitated in their life might be different if they do. now as a college instructor. I try to many dioceses throughout the United welcome the person in both body and States and internationally. Both the inmates and the facilitators spirit by giving them a safe place to understand that in the listening, the express their feelings and concerns. Over the years, the program was pondering, the teaching, and the There are many times when their adapted to work with inmates at the silence, a space has been created for stories make me cringe and hospitality county jail. Skills taught the inmates healing. And in that, our team demands a lot from me emotionally. include teaching them to calm incorporates St. Benedict’s Rule into Listening to their stories, no matter themselves when triggered by the work we do: “All guests who how sad or painful, is part of emotions, identify and integrate their present themselves are to be welcomed hospitality. feelings, challenge their cognitive as Christ (RB 53.1),” and “Listen distortions, grieve their losses, and carefully, my son, to the master’s When I began the journey to begin the process of forgiveness. oblation, I learned more about both hospitality and listening as part of the Rule of St. Benedict . It spoke to me in ways I could never imagine. I know that, in both careers, listening for facts and events is critically important, but now I know listening with my heart is entirely different.

It goes deep into what the person is saying to what cannot be articulated with words. It is listening sometimes to what they want to say, but seem hesitant to voice out loud. I began to realize that the call to hospitality and listening with the ear of my heart were two aspects of Jesus’ call to Fr. Justin DuVall, OSB, celebrates Mass at an Indiana prison.

6 instructions, and attend to them with Some will tell us they found the What I have learned from using the the ear of your heart (Prologue 1).” courage to work on those wounds, Rule of St. Benedict is that it is not just ones they didn’t even know they had for prayer and monastic use, but for The women will tell us it took them at the beginning of class, because we all human interactions. The more we time alone, in the silence of their own listened to them and gave them the open ourselves to another person, thoughts, before all of what we teach tools and the space to heal. I think listening to them sometimes in makes sense – not just on an maybe it is the listening in silent silence, the more God is present in educational level, but on a much solidarity with the women that has the that interaction, be it in a monastery, deeper emotional level. To watch most impact on healing. God can fill our career, family, or volunteer work them blossom and hear them realize the silence in ways words cannot. It in a jail. that they can heal and make better helps all of us become more open to choices is beautiful and full of God. God’s mercy and grace working in us Nancy Bartkowski, oblate and through us as we heal each other. Portage, MI Quieting the noise to find a sacred space

Sitting on my sound. We are overwhelmed with confronting ourselves, but silence sunporch at words – printed words, spoken words, speaks the language of the heart. home during a painted words, neon words … Silence and solitude are what really fall rain doing assaulted with noise … there is that bring us into contact both with daily Morning noise within – the endless, busy ourselves and with others.” Prayer and lectio dialogue we carry on in our own divina , I find the minds, a dialogue that may surprise us A modern hymn in my United quietness that when we reflect on it in silence.” Methodist faith tradition says, “Come becomes a sacred and find the quiet center, in the Bill Wilson space of silence. We all yearn for those times in our crowded life we lead, find the room lives to quiet the noise. I find myself for hope to enter, find the frame My lectio occupies the experience: in the quiet of a rainy day on the where we are freed: clear the chaos sunporch letting go and realizing and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know God’s holy presence. It is truly what can see all the things that really that I am God” Sr. Jeremy describes as “real silence.” matter, be at peace, and simply be.” Psalm 62:5: “For God alone my “(Silence) is a positive receptivity, a soul waits in silence …” creative waiting, a welcoming Reflection Questions Ecclesiastes 3:7: “… a time to be openness. It is openness to God, to 1. How do I avoid or resist silence? silent, a time to speak” our deepest selves, to others, both as 2. Do I find myself filling silence Lamentations 3:26: “It is good that individual persons and as the human with sound? one should wait quietly for the community, and to the Word who is 3. How much time each day do I give salvation of the Lord.” God’s Son,” she writes. to silence (i.e., no words, devices, 30:15: “In quietness and news, etc.)? trust is your strength.” Silence is difficult and, for some, 4. Where do I have silence with Mark 6:31: “Come with me by often avoided. Sr. Joan Chittister, God’s presence in my life? yourselves to a quiet place and OSB, writes, “It is difficult to find get some rest.” silence in an age of technology and William (Bill) Wilson, oblate information. Silence challenges our Huntington, WV We struggle in our culture for times cultural addictions to amusement, to quiet ourselves, to stop the hustle words, music, advertising, noise, and bustle of our lives, and experience alarms and voices. the sacred space of silence. Smugmug “Silence asks for patience and waiting. Sr. Jeremy Hall, OSB, (St. Benedict And both silence and waiting make us Monastery, St. Joseph, MN) says in For more photos of uncomfortable. They seem Saint Meinrad events, visit: her book, Silence, Solitude, Simplicity , unproductive. Noise protects us from “… we today are inundated with http://saint-meinrad.smugmug.com 7 The Busy Benedictine Silence is where we can find the truth

The Busy Benedictine is an occasional column about trying to be like a monk when you’re working and taking care of kids.

The universe is Contemplatives pursue silence as well. In the silence of our hearts, the mostly empty. What are they doing there? Fighting. combat is naked and merciless. There For the atheist, Unlike the artists, who see in are no prisoners there. The casualties emptiness proves nothingness a deep truth, the pile up on all sides. Cherished ideas, the absence of Christian sees there is not a final truth deep-seated desires, comforts, lies. The God. For but an eternal contest, a contest soul is emptied until, in the darkest Aquinas, too, between true and false, beautiful and hour of faith, a song is faintly heard. who taught that ugly, good and evil. It grows in strength and power. The Edward Castronova evil is the nothingness is filled, but completely, absence of good, The greatest members of our order utterly, because all other things were emptiness is significant. Where there went into the desert to fight alone wiped away. is no good at all, evil reigns supreme. against the Devil in the form of their own silent thoughts (RB 1). Silence is The gambit of Christian When the serial abuser decides at the the proving ground. contemplation is that, by going last moment to let the seducing words bravely into the dangerous silence, the out of his lips, when he finally allows Contemplative silence removes soul opens itself most radically to the his hands to go where they should distractions, the barriers behind which eternal song. not, he does not have vile feelings for devils hide, the obstructions that keep his victim; he has no feelings at all. angels away. Nothingness is not the Edward (Ted) Castronova, oblate end of the story: It is the beginning of Bloomington, IN The utter lack of sympathy is the most the final conflict. The emptiness of chilling thing about a serial killer. the universe proclaims that the Like us on Chill is the absence of heat. The struggle of humanity is not about absolute zero of the heart is where atoms; it is about souls. Facebook man is empty of God.

Far more than what the atheists believe, he is there worse than an animal. A human utterly without God is not a simple ravenous beast, but rather a demon who will hurt other people even though it hurts himself, something no animal would do.

Therefore the land of nothing is dangerous territory. The Devil lives there. When John Cage asserted that 4’33’ of silence was music, he thought he was performing a neat intellectual trick. He was, however, opening the door on the abyss. In the art of nothing, no truth or judgment is to be found; it makes no comment on the heartless killer; it condones, passes by, accepts the deed in silence. Br. James Jensen, OSB, speaks about accountability during the Bloomington Oblate Chapter Meeting in September at St. Charles Borromeo Parish.

8 Dear Abbey: Have questions? We have answers! Do you have questions for Abbey? If so, submit them to [email protected].

Dear Abbey,

I made my oblation 10 years ago. It truly was one of the most meaningful experiences in my life, along with my marriage and having my children, to make that kind of a promise – a promise truly from my heart to God and to all of those of the Saint Meinrad community.

It was such an amazing day. My family was with me. We were on the Hill. Fr. Meinrad gave me my blessing. But that was 10 years ago. How do I recapture that feeling? That connection? That special moment?

Yours truly, Looking to recapture that feeling

Dear Looking,

Abbey says, “Celebrate your day!” We celebrate all sorts of special and meaningful moments in our lives and your oblation anniversary should be one of them. Abbey asked around and here are a few suggestions from other oblates:

• Keep your oblation anniversary on your calendar and celebrate it much like you would any other anniversary: go out to dinner, maybe buy yourself a little something special as a remembrance, eat cake. • Keep a journal just for your oblation anniversary. Each year write a reflection about where you’ve been in your oblation journey and where God might take you next. Reflect on goals or promises you’ve made privately or to the community and write those in your journal. • Finally, you could try a little retreat just for you. Visit the Hill and spend a couple of days just for you with the community of Saint Meinrad praying, helping in the Oblate Office, enjoying the surroundings, or anything else that might help make this special.

Whatever you do, remember that you are special and this promise you’ve made to Saint Meinrad and the oblate community is also special.

In Benedict, Abbey

9 Oblate News

Oblate Council meets to discuss Oblate Office are positive, God and to help others,” Kellams said. timely initiatives especially for the guidance on “I’m not sure there’s any difference The Saint Meinrad Archabbey Oblate praying the Liturgy of the Hours. when I’m out on the bench. My is Council met on July 7 and October • The prison ministry at Branchville to help others in one way or another.” 20, 2018, to discuss several important Correctional Facility led by Br. initiatives. The following are Zachary Wilberding, OSB, is Oblate receives Roncalli Award highlights from those meetings: benefitting prisoners who became On September 26, 2018, Archbishop

Saint Meinrad Archabbey oblates Joseph E. Kurtz of the Archdiocese of • “Accountability” became the or oblate novices. The prisoners Louisville, KY, presented the Roncalli theme for oblates for September are using Liturgy of the Hours Award to oblate Donald W. Coffman 2018 through 2019. As is done in books donated by the Oblate of Liberty, KY. the monastery by the monks, the Council. theme’s purpose is to focus our • Janis Dopp reported there have O BLATIONS thinking about how to amend our been 56 oblate investitures and 44 faults by being accountable to oblations from September 2017 September 2, 2018 – Deacon Jose C. others and ourselves for our through September 2018. She “Sonny” Ungco of New York, NY; actions. The oblate chapter deans anticipates there will be 25 Marlyn Batan and Gilbert “Gill” will address this in their talks to investitures and 29 oblations in West , both of Bronx, NY the chapters during the year. December 2018. There are nearly September 22, 2018 – Harriett Akins- • Oblate Director Janis Dopp 1,500 oblates of Saint Meinrad Banman of New Albany, IN; Dr. Sean reported that the second of the Archabbey. Next year marks the Alexander of Pompano Beach, FL; regional conferences with other 140th anniversary of the oblate Constance Anders of Pendleton, IN; monasteries on leadership and community. Stacey Bowling , Loogootee, IN; John leadership development was held Brooks of Columbus, IN; Jaime at Saint Meinrad. The purpose of Ronald DeMarco, oblate Chunda of Grandview, MO; Thomas these conferences is to discuss Cincinnati, OH Garcia of Connersville, IN; Anne Hall steps to promote leadership of New Palestine, IN; Jacqueline development in the various oblate Judge retiring after 38 years Henderson of Tallahassee, FL; communities. Oblate Judge Marc Kellams from William Hobbs of Brandenburg, KY; • The MCC 2019 Conference is Bloomington, IN, is retiring after 38 Patricia McGee of Anderson, IN; R. scheduled for June 21-23, 2019, years on the bench. “My church would Harold Medsker of Sullivan, IN; to discuss oblate chapter tell me that my goal in life is to love Thomas Mehigan of McLean, VA; development. All chapter coordinators are invited to the MCC conference. We want you and your articles! • New guidelines have been added to the oblate novice program. Self- The Benedictine Oblate is looking for current news and happenings about you evaluations by the novices have or your oblate chapter. Whether or not you are connected to a chapter, you been added, as well as regular are connected as an oblate to Saint Meinrad, and we want to hear what’s encouragement to each novice going on with you. from Br. Stanley Rother Wagner, You are invited to submit news and information about your chapter, write an OSB, the oblate novice mentor. article about your Benedictine journey, submit a book review for the Reading This is an important part of his Room column, or send in photos of you or your chapter engaged in oblate mission. The program now sets a activities. maximum of two years to Some of them we will publish right away and others we will file and complete the lessons. An oblate coordinate with upcoming themes for the newsletter. Please submit all articles novice retreat was planned for and images with explanations to Becky Boyle at [email protected] or January 4-6, 2019. Brenda Black at [email protected]. The next deadline is February 15 • A new Oblate Novice Companion for the spring edition to be published in April 2019 with the theme of (second edition) has been Awakening. N completed. Reports back to the 10 Martin Morasch of Indianapolis, IN; IN; James Cooper of Kouts, IN; UPCOMING EVENTS Martha Seibert of Manchester, MO; Laura Jean Flaherty of Orlando Park, March 9, 2019 : Saint Meinrad Day LeRoy Stewart of Hope, IN; Holly IL; Kirk Graham of Three Rivers, MI; of Service Vaughan of Bellmont, IL; Jareb Colonel Mark Smith of Indianapolis, Youngstafel of Lebanon, IN IN; Margaret A. Theis of Homer March 20-23, 2019 : Retreat by Fr. Glen, IL; Diane Frances Walter of Cisco, OSB, at Saint Meinrad October 12, 2018 – Larry Hembree Archabbey of Greenfield, IN N Georgetown, KY; Pam Washburn of Mishawaka, IN June 10-13, 2019 : Oblate Study Days TRANSFER OF OBLATION October 5, 2018 – Steven Sharrett of presented by Br. John Mark Falkenhain, OSB, at Saint Meinrad September 22, 2018 – Frances Chigi Skanida, MI N Archabbey N of Greenburg, IN N DEATHS VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATED INVESTITURES Elizabeth “Betsy” Jones , Louisville, Recent volunteers in the Oblate Office KY, December 30, 2017 September 2, 2018 – Christine Scheer were Br. Stanley Rother Wagner, OSB, and William Scheer , both of Margaret “Peggy” Morehouse , Ann Smith, Mary Campanelli, Fr. Farmingdale, NY Farmingdale, NY, September 9, 2018 Mateo Zamora, OSB, Ted Castronova, September 22, 2018 – Barbara Allen, Morow , of Indianapolis, IN, Cathey Byers, Becky Boyle, Michelle Carol Herzog and Joyce Voegerl , all September 13, 2018 Blalock, Bill Hobbs, Dave Archer, Ruth of Jasper, IN; John Awrey of Holland, Engs, Novice Christian Lumsden, OSB, Alice Jean Chamberlain , of MI; Christopher Buchanan of Candidate Dennis Reyes, Marie Kobos, Haubstadt, IN, October 19, 2018 Campbellsville, KY; Cynthia Campbell Bill Wilson, Ron DeMarco, Dr. Laura of Louisville, KY; Jim Clerc and Debbie Storer , of Georgetown, OH, Bridge, Catherine Funkhouser and Marilyn Clerc , both of Columbus, November 8, 2018 N Clayton Nunes. N

Left, Christopher Buchanan of Campbellsville, KY, prays during his investiture as an oblate novice on September 22. Top, sixteen people were invested as oblate novies and 19 people made their final oblations in a ceremony in the Archabbey Church. Bottom, Barbara Allen of Jasper, IN, recieves the Rule of St. Benedict from Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB. 11 Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE NEWSLETTER PAID Permit #3 St. Meinrad, IN 200 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, IN 47577

Reading Room

Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of “Precisely because our deepest identity is hidden with Christ Contemplation by Martin Laird (Oxford University Press, in God and beyond the grasp of comprehension, the 2006) experience of this ground-identity with God will register in our experience, if indeed it does register, as an experience of This is a luminous and compelling no particular thing, a great flowing abyss, a depthless book. The very phrase “into the depth.” (p. 14) silent land” evokes mystery and awe, and the book will speak best The marvelous world of thoughts, sensation, emotions and to those who already have an inspiration … are all patterns of stunning weather on the established contemplative practice. holy mountain of God. But we are not the weather. We are the mountain … Mount Zion.” (p. 16) Benedictine lectio divina is, of course, an excellent way of “As [the poet] R.S. Thomas puts it: ‘The silence holds with contemplation, and the one to its gloved hand the wind hawk of the mind.’” (p. 23) which we are committed as Benedictine Oblates. “This silence, as R.S. Thomas tells us, ‘is when we live best, According to Laird, the fundamental human illusion is within listening distance of the silence we call God.’” (p. 45) that we are separate from the Divine. Probably the best thing I can do to show the enchantment of this book is to “The present moment is a gateless gate opening onto a quote from it. pathless path.” (p. 53)

“People who have traveled far along the contemplative For most of us most of the time, entry in the silent land will path are aware that the sense of separation from God is be a rare thing, but how blessed and welcome when it itself pasted up out of a mass of thoughts and feelings. occurs! When the mind comes into its own stillness and enters Melanie Isaacson the silent land, the sense of separation goes.” (p. 10) Bloomington, IN