I would like to apologize for the lack of a reflection on Sunday the 25th, but it was the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. I was blessed to be at the monastery for the Mass and for the Forty Hours Devotion, that is still going on. Much of my day was taken up be two very long sessions before the Sacrament. And so, no discussion of the rule was sent out. My apologies, but I am only human. Tomorrow, Chapter 7, Humility, will have a discussion of two days worth of readings. Chapter 7 1-9 and then 10-12.
May 25
Chapter 6: Restraint of Speech
Let us follow the Prophet's counsel: I said, I have resolved to keep watch over my ways that I may never sin with my tongue. I have put a guard on my mouth. I was silent and humbled, and I refrained even from good words (Ps 38[39]:2-3). Here the prophet indicates that there are times when good words are to be left unsaid out of esteem for silence.
There are times when good words are to be left unsaid? Surely Benedict can't be serious? What about those good words that help to build up the Body of Christ, or the good words we need to say to someone who is in pain, or ....or....or? "Out of esteem for silence." That changes everything. Funny enough, on the first reading of this section all I saw was good words left unsaid. Out of esteem for silence removes the seemingly disregard for giving comfort and friendship to others. How is it then that good words, even for the sake of silence, should not be said?
For all the more reason, then, should evil speech be curbed so that punishment for sin may be avoided. Indeed, so important is silence that permission to speak should seldom be granted even to mature disciples, no matter how good, or holy, or constructive their talk, because it is written: In a flood of words you will not avoid sin (Prov 10:19); and elsewhere, The tongue holds the key to life and death (Prov. 10:19). Speaking and teaching are the master's task; the disciple is to be silent and listen.
Therefore, any requests to a superior should be made with all humility and respectful submission. We absolutely condemn in all places any vulgarity and gossip and talk leading to laughter, and we do not permit a disciple to engage in words of that kind.
So then it is in the monastery that we are to refrain from speech for the sake of speech, out of respect for silence. Every Cistercian monastery has places of silence. They even post signs saying, "this area is silent." Do we respect it? Do you?
In the world, where the Lay Cistercian must live we are bombarded all day long with words and more words. Half of those words we hear, and half that we speak, are just to hear the sound of our own voice, or to spread some news we've heard, but have no proof of it's truth. It is so easy to slip into gossip that we must guard against it day and night. When the subject is someone we don't particularly like, then we glory to hear stories of their failures and humiliations. In this case, Benedict's words are all the more compelling for us. We must refrain form too much chatter for the sake of chatter, lest it become evil speech.
In the world where we live, our words fulfill a different function. As employees, and employers, words are the main form of communication. And we should remember that just because we don't say something nasty, or hurtful, just by having felt that nasty speech which would have hurt, we are just as guilty as if we spoke them aloud. Benedict is calling us to a change of heart! A change of life in a world where nothing is sacred, certainly not our brothers and sisters on earth.
May 25
Chapter 6: Restraint of Speech
Let us follow the Prophet's counsel: I said, I have resolved to keep watch over my ways that I may never sin with my tongue. I have put a guard on my mouth. I was silent and humbled, and I refrained even from good words (Ps 38[39]:2-3). Here the prophet indicates that there are times when good words are to be left unsaid out of esteem for silence.
There are times when good words are to be left unsaid? Surely Benedict can't be serious? What about those good words that help to build up the Body of Christ, or the good words we need to say to someone who is in pain, or ....or....or? "Out of esteem for silence." That changes everything. Funny enough, on the first reading of this section all I saw was good words left unsaid. Out of esteem for silence removes the seemingly disregard for giving comfort and friendship to others. How is it then that good words, even for the sake of silence, should not be said?
For all the more reason, then, should evil speech be curbed so that punishment for sin may be avoided. Indeed, so important is silence that permission to speak should seldom be granted even to mature disciples, no matter how good, or holy, or constructive their talk, because it is written: In a flood of words you will not avoid sin (Prov 10:19); and elsewhere, The tongue holds the key to life and death (Prov. 10:19). Speaking and teaching are the master's task; the disciple is to be silent and listen.
Therefore, any requests to a superior should be made with all humility and respectful submission. We absolutely condemn in all places any vulgarity and gossip and talk leading to laughter, and we do not permit a disciple to engage in words of that kind.
So then it is in the monastery that we are to refrain from speech for the sake of speech, out of respect for silence. Every Cistercian monastery has places of silence. They even post signs saying, "this area is silent." Do we respect it? Do you?
In the world, where the Lay Cistercian must live we are bombarded all day long with words and more words. Half of those words we hear, and half that we speak, are just to hear the sound of our own voice, or to spread some news we've heard, but have no proof of it's truth. It is so easy to slip into gossip that we must guard against it day and night. When the subject is someone we don't particularly like, then we glory to hear stories of their failures and humiliations. In this case, Benedict's words are all the more compelling for us. We must refrain form too much chatter for the sake of chatter, lest it become evil speech.
In the world where we live, our words fulfill a different function. As employees, and employers, words are the main form of communication. And we should remember that just because we don't say something nasty, or hurtful, just by having felt that nasty speech which would have hurt, we are just as guilty as if we spoke them aloud. Benedict is calling us to a change of heart! A change of life in a world where nothing is sacred, certainly not our brothers and sisters on earth.
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