Oblate News Spring 2021.qxp_Benedictine Oblate-Winter 05 3/16/21 9:25 AM Page 1 Community: We are a gift to each other “But wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Luke 10:29 Reaching out to friends and colleagues through social media has provided a connection beyond the walls of home. Livestreaming Mass and Vespers has provided a blessing in this time of disconnection. It is an extension of our need to be connected to others. Ten months in quarantine: a theme of community seems both curious and yet crucial. Developing a stronger, more honest relationship with those in our homes has been a blessing for many; for others it has been a tough reality of aloneness, isolation, abuse, depression. Community means people Br. Martin Erspamer, OSB who know each other, who sense belonging, who provide means to make a living. A successful community is a must recognize the gift we are to one safe, prosperous, happy place. This pandemic another. forces us to re-form our very foundation of community. We have lived individualism far Pope Francis recently tweeted, “God too long. overcomes the world’s evil by taking it upon himself. This is also how we can lift others We need a communal conscience to be truly a up: not by judging, not by suggesting what community. As St. Paul states in 1Cor 12:14, to do, but by becoming neighbours, “The body does not consist of one member empathizing, sharing God’s love.” but of many.” He emphasized in his letters the corporeal nature of the Church as the St. Benedict calls us to live Gospel values Body of Christ. and to ask, as did the lawyer, “And who is my neighbor?” The toll this pandemic is having on people includes food lines that extend for miles, Kathleen Polansky, oblate homelessness, job loss, sickness and death. As New Salisbury, IN a community of Benedictine Oblates, we QUARTERLY FOR BENEDICTINE OBLATES OF SAINT MEINRAD Spring 2021, Volume 27:2 Oblate News Spring 2021.qxp_Benedictine Oblate-Winter 05 3/16/21 9:25 AM Page 2 A POINT TO PONDER FROM We must ask: What can I do? “And who is my around and asks him, “Who was the neighbor?” That’s neighbor in this story?” In other words, what the lawyer who acted accordingly to the one – the “Whenever weighty asks Jesus, as man in the ditch – who so desperately recorded in the needed someone to be a neighbor to him? matters are to be 10th chapter of St. The Rule Luke’s gospel (v. It all comes down to how we look at transacted in the 29). It’s not as ourselves and our relationship with those monastery, let the Archabbot Kurt innocent a question around us. We can ask ourselves in any Stasiak, OSB as it might seem. given situation, “What do I have to do? Abbot call together It’s a question What are my obligations?” the whole designed to “protect” us from doing too much good. That’s not a bad place to start, but Jesus community, and would have us take those few extra steps make known the St. Peter may have asked with a similar until we arrive at that place where we ask purpose in mind, when he inquired of ourselves, “In this situation, what can I do? matter which is Jesus, “How many times must I forgive What opportunities do I have to do what to be considered.” my brother, as many as seven times?” needs to be done?” Perhaps Peter thought he was being Chapter 3, verse 1 gracious and generous. After all, he was St. Benedict does not refer to the parable willing to forgive his brother not just once of the Good Samaritan in his Rule for or twice, but over a half-dozen times. Monks. He does, however, make much the At home, we call this a same point of the parable when, in his Of course, Jesus immediately sets him chapter on the “Tools for Good Works,” family meeting, which takes straight. “Not seven times, but seventy he states simply, “Never turn away when place at the kitchen table times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). In someone needs your love” (4:26). and discusses important other words: you don’t measure out your forgiveness like you do flour or salt for a Miracles can happen when people don’t matters of concern. recipe. Forgiveness must come from the ask, “What must I do?” but rather, “What heart, not from your calculator. can I do?” “So, who is my neighbor?” the lawyer Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB asks. Jesus famously turns the question Saint Meinrad Archabbey Ben edictine Oblate Quarterly is published We cannot find four times a year by Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Editor: Mary Jeanne Schumacher Designer: Tammy Schuetter holiness without community Oblate Director: Janis Dopp I have found When it was easily found, I took it for Oblate Chaplain: Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB myself adjusting to granted. I did not treasure it enough when Editorial Staff: Kathleen Polansky, Brenda Black, Angie McDonald, Eunice Taylor so many life it was unerringly present. Then the changes in the past pandemic forced us to make hard Send changes of address and comments to year. For the most decisions that have left us isolated and The Editor, Development Office, part, I have not hungry for those easy hugs and Saint Meinrad Archabbey, found it difficult. spontaneous group gatherings. 200 Hill Dr., St. Meinrad, IN 47577, However, there is Technology can get us only so far. We can (812) 357-6817, fax (812) 357-6325 one part of my life exchange information with one another, or email [email protected] Janis Dopp www.saintmeinrad.org that I have missed but something has been missing. ©2021, Saint Meinrad Archabbey terribly – community. 2 Oblate News Spring 2021.qxp_Benedictine Oblate-Winter 05 3/16/21 9:25 AM Page 3 What is it that has been so impossible Perfection in holiness is to be found claim to be self-sufficient and live as to duplicate? It is what St. Benedict by pursuing life in community, in islands: in these attitudes, death knew we needed – each other. In relationships where we are challenged prevails” (Fratelli Tutti, 87). Chapter 72 of the Rule, he explained to be more than we can ever dream we that good zeal “leads to God and can be. We cannot do this alone. We I trust that the day is coming when we everlasting life.” How is this good zeal need to cultivate patience, obedience, will once again have community to be cultivated? By sharing our daily respect and compassion – virtues that within our grasp. When it does, we lives with others. demand that we stretch our hearts in will be able to live life to its fullest and generous love for others. most satisfying extent. May we He says, “They should each try to be the treasure this gift fully and guard it first to show respect to the others (Rom Pope Francis addresses this need in his lovingly, because it is our surest path 12:10), supporting with the greatest most recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. to wholeness. patience one another’s weaknesses of He says, “Human beings are so made Janis Dopp body or behavior, and earnestly that they cannot live, develop, and Oblate Director competing in obedience to each other. find fulfillment except ‘in the sincere No one is to pursue what he judges gift of self to others’ … Life exists better for himself, but instead, what when there is bonding, communion, he judges better for someone else.” fraternity … there is no life when we Community: Coming together for common purpose A dictionary It seems that a common thread three are gathered together in my definition of attaches members of a community. name, I am there in their midst” “community” is: Members have one or more things in (Matthew 18:20). A group of common. The etymology of people living in “community” tells us that it is from an Whether these are meetings of a the same place old French word, communité. It parish, a religious order, an oblate or having a ultimately derives from classical Latin, chapter, or any faith community, the particular communitas, meaning “common,” guarantee that God is present is when they meet in the name of the Lord. Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB characteristic in “public.” We derive our word for common. A community from this. When the members have Jesus in feeling of fellowship with others, as a mind, they are a blessed gathering indeed. result of sharing common attitudes, The members of a faith community interests, and goals. would meet as a group in the name of Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB the Lord. Jesus said, “Where two or Oblate Chaplain Notes for Novices: Awareness and the blessings of community God made man wired to be in community with each have known that at the time. and woman to other. St. Benedict knew this fact of be social human nature well (see RB 72:4-7). When my grandfather died in 2017, I creatures, telling was about three months into my year- them to be By God’s grace, I recently professed long novitiate. I was still settling into fruitful and my solemn vows as a monk of Saint our community, yet that stopped no multiply (see Meinrad Archabbey. During my four one from offering their support for me Gen 2:15-25). years in formation, I was given many during such a difficult time.