The Work of God...

Seven times a day...can you imagine? Seven times a day, even in the middle of the night, the monastery bell summons the monks to "The Work of God." Saint Benedict invented the term, I suppose, he certainly made good use of it in his Rule.

As an Oblate of Saint Vincent's Archabbey I have tried to be faithful to the promises I made to practice the Rule as much as I can without depriving my church or my family from time they need. But I confess, only on retreat in a hermitage have I managed all seven, and then only by fudging a bit on that middle of the night time.

I begin usually when I arrive at my office, saying the offices for Lauds and Prime together. These are the two that start off the day and I am constantly amazed at how much better my days go when I am able to follow this routine. It's like my feet, my being and soul, are firmly grounded as the day begins. I am reminded of what really matters in this world, that all I am and have I owe to God, and that in Him I "live and move and have my being." I am less troubled by the vagrancy's of life, less bothered by the failures of others, less worried about what may or may not happen tomorrow. That hour in prayer affirms for me that ultimately I am not in control, that all that happens is in God's hands, and that humility is a virtue to be sought after far more than pride ever could be. I can face all things through Christ who strengthens me.

In the evening, last thing before going home, Vespers. The service of the close of the day, thanking God for all that has happened and trusting Him for all that will. Surprising how much better I sleep, how much easier I fall asleep, when I remember simply to pray and trust Him for tomorrow and all the tomorrows to come.

I was asked which prayer book I use recently. Before I share that with you, let me tell you this, if you are wondering which one you should use, and there are many, try some out, take them for a "test pray" or two, and use the one that you will use, the one that seems to express clearly what you would say to Our Lord. Prayer books taking up space on a book shelf are of no use at all. Everyone can find one that can use comfortably. It's a bit like Bible translations, find the one that you will read, not the one that everyone says you should have but which doesn't engage your thought or spirit and so sits there on the coffee table as a monument to a good idea gone bad.

I use the "Monastic Diurnal", which means the day hours of prayer used in Benedictine monasteries for fifteen hundred years up until Vatican 2. That conference led to the creation of the Liturgy of the Hours (LOH) in wide use today. So why Diurnal and not LOH? I like the language, and especially the psalm translations, better in the Diurnal and it was recommended to me by another Benedictine Oblate (Michael Lopiccolo). But again, the point is not what book you pray from...it's that you have that daily encounter with God.

As a small aside, I love the way each session in the Diurnal begins with a short prayer that goes like this, "O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me." Short, sweet, and to the point. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have prayed those words before opening the door into a crisis situation.

Well enough for now. Always remember God loves you, and that prayer is really a lovers conversation.