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Benedictine Oblate-Winter 05 Y L R E T R A U Q Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB, reads and signs the oblates’ Bona Opera cards at the start of Lent. Fidelity: The challenge to remain faithful “Christmas in July” is abhorrent to me. usual celebrating routine. We strained to Taking a holy feast that celebrates the find faithfulness in prayer by coming fidelity of God choosing to become one with together in new ways. humanity and turning it into not just one occasion for rapacious consumerism, but a I thought of the first Passover. God told the second event in the middle of the year, Jews to stay home! They were to mark their leaves me exasperated. homes and eat their meal in a way not done before. We had to do that. We found Remaining faithful to the intention of our communion in distance and desire in holy days and not the hype with which our separation, and we felt a loss over not being culture surrounds them is one focus for able to receive the sacraments. fidelity. Lent was about to begin as I first wrote this. The chocolate bunnies were Examining what is truly important in our already in all the stores. celebrations became a discussion. St. Paul puts it, “May the God of steadfastness and Walter Brueggemann states, “As Paul spoke encouragement grant you to live in …, he knew about a world of fickle harmony with one another, in accordance deception and betrayal, as do we. The world with Christ Jesus, so that together you may of advertising, of ideology, of euphemism with one voice glorify the God and Father offers us endless phoniness that coerces and of our Lord Jesus Christ” ( Romans 15:5f ). manipulates and invites into a virtual world that has no staying power.” Beyond society’s ephemerality is our God of fidelity, who makes and keeps promises. And then we faced a fidelity challenge This issue of the Benedictine Oblate beyond our imagining. Our lived faith got Quarterly will examine fidelity and its grace upended in a way not experienced in our in which we are all called to dwell. lifetimes. Being faithful demanded new forms and inventive intention. Fidelity Kathleen Polansky, oblate forced us to dig deeper than following our New Salisbury, IN QUARTERLY FOR BENEDICTINE OBLATES OF SAINT MEINRAD Summer 2020, Volume 26:3 A POINT TO PONDER FROM Fidelity: I know it when I see it Asked to define Saint Meinrad, Fr. Theodore died in 2009 fidelity, I wouldn’t at the age of 108. He “retired” at the age The Rule first turn to the of 70, but then spent the next 19 years as dictionary. I’d turn pastor of one of our small country When they are to be to my memories. parishes. Then he kept on learning. And received, they come I’d turn to some of reading. And praying. Things he felt he before the whole the memorable had to do. He knew what he was doing. community in the people I have known. Asked to define fidelity, I’d think oratory and promise Archabbot Kurt especially of so many of our medical Stasiak, OSB stability, fidelity to the Asked to define professionals during this pandemic. How monastic life, and fidelity, I’d think first of my Dad. He many stories have we come across where, and Mom were married for 43 years. asked by others what keeps them going obedience. This is done Other couples have been married longer, into the hospital “battle zone” day after in the presence of God of course. But my Mom and Dad were day, at ever-increasing risk to themselves, and the saints to impress married as long as possible – right up to they answer, “I’m a doctor; I made a my Mom’s stroke and her death in promise to do my best to heal.” “I’m a on the novices that if intensive care some six weeks later. nurse; it’s what I do.” These people know they ever act otherwise, what they are doing. they will surely be My Dad visited her in the hospital every day. He would read her the paper. He I’m still not sure how I would define condemned by the one would say the Liturgy of the Hours with fidelity. But I know there are certain they mock. her. He would go through the mail. Was virtues I’ll always associate with it. Duty. she aware of what he was doing? We Selflessness. Sacrifice. Love. Sanctity. Rule of St. Benedict, 58:17 don’t know. But it was something he Define fidelity? I know it when I see it. Our hearts are laid open to wanted to do. Something he had to do. He knew what he was doing. be reformed in the tradition Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB of monasticism. Fidelity Asked to define fidelity, I’d think also of Saint Meinrad Archabbey allows our failures to become Fr. Theodore Heck, OSB. A monk of steps of growth toward holiness. Fidelity: How we are faithful to our promises As oblates, our The oblate who needs to be at the office promise of “fidelity by 8 a.m. may need to have an abbreviated Ben edictine Oblate Quarterly is published to the spirit of the morning prayer. four times a year by Saint Meinrad Archabbey. monastic life” can Editor: Mary Jeanne Schumacher be perplexing to We are not promising fidelity to the Designer: Tammy Schuetter some because it monastic life, but to the spirit of the Oblate Director: Janis Dopp isn’t black and monastic life. And what is that “spirit”? It Oblate Chaplain: Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB white. There isn’t isn’t about fleeing to the monastery and Editorial Staff: Kathleen Polansky, Brenda one right way of hanging out there. It is about looking at Janis Dopp Black, Angie McDonald doing it. For each the place we call home and realizing that Send changes of address and comments to oblate, the demands will be different, is our monastery. The Editor, Development Office, because for each of us, our lives have Saint Meinrad Archabbey, demands that are specific. It is the sacred space God has provided us 200 Hill Dr., St. Meinrad, IN 47577, and where the community of family and (812) 357-6817, fax (812) 357-6325 A woman with small children will have friends keeps us honest and committed to or email [email protected] to view the requisite daily prayer with a a life of holiness. It is where our time is www.saintmeinrad.org more flexible eye than the one who is not our own, but rather belongs to God. ©2020, Saint Meinrad Archabbey living a more relaxed life of retirement. 2 So many times, we think of fidelity as The “how” of those 50 years is as permits. While it will look a bit what we have, rather than what we crucial as the initial promise of different for each of us, the promise is do. Fidelity is defined as how we are faithfulness itself. Have I been open to the same, made within the real hope faithful to our promises and duties. a life of changing possibilities and that, as one year melts into the next, My husband, Jack, and I recently realities? Have I been steadfast in my we will become the promise that we celebrated our 50th wedding loving? Have I been forgiving? have made. anniversary. It is no mere hope that is realized in that celebration. We make a promise to stay true to our Janis Dopp commitments as our state in life Oblate Director Musings from the Chaplain: A life of fidelity If we are living a This faithful undertaking is good and oblates. As oblates, you are called to life of fidelity, is blessed by God. If we make be faithful to your promises and duties then we are mistakes and do not live up to what and other responsibilities. faithful people. the quest requires of us, then we ask It means that we for forgiveness and apply ourselves Fidelity has to do with perseverance, are “doing what again. If we learn something from our because sometimes it is difficult to be we are supposed mistakes and become more faithful faithful. Doing the same things day to be doing.” people, then we are better able to help after day, we confront challenges and This concerns others to be faithful. setbacks. When we persevere and Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB important continue being faithful, we affirm that undertakings such as vows, promises Whether married or single, monk or ultimately our lives have meaning; and other commitments we have oblate, we are all called to be faithful. that what we do or don’t do matters; made. To be faithful is to invest our I am called to be faithful to my vows that we are virtuous people. hearts, our souls and our lives in a of obedience, stability and conversion supremely important quest or journey of life. I am also called to be faithful Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB through life. to my brother monks and to the Oblate Chaplain Notes for Novices: Finding fidelity in uncertain times Fidelity binds us quarantining. Recall how Benedict in world history. Whether you are to God in good insists that members of a monastic praying Lauds or Vespers in private, and uncertain community should be mutually watching Saint Meinrad’s Mass over times alike, but obedient to each other ( RB 71 ). the internet, or encountering the it also binds us divine presence when washing dishes, to each other so Just as we are mutually obedient to God’s grace has been abounding all we can be each other so that we can lead each the more ( Romans 5:20 ) during our Christ to one other to God, so should our vows and less-than-willing quarantine.
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