A reflection on St. Benedict’s teaching to “bless those who curse you” (Rule 4.32) by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB
God looks upon us with loving kindness. He wants to bless us. Cursing is of the devil – it’s evil. And sometimes Evil uses us to harm each other. The important thing is to look beyond who is doing it and see who is influencing it. Thankfully, God’s blessing is far more powerful than a curse. So we hear from St. Benedict how to take care of curses: bless! Ask God’s goodness to be poured upon the one who curses you. Ask God to love them abundantly to the point where they are no longer able to do evil because they know how dearly loved they are. What a wonderful remedy. What a wonderful way to see things: to break curses with blessings. Whenever you’re having a difficulty with someone, and you can feel your blood pressure rising, just start asking God to bless them. It will be a challenge, but you’ll be on the right path.
St. Benedict challenges us to good to those who maybe don’t do good to us in return. It’s easy to love those who love you, but it’s a real test of your love when you do good to those who are difficult to love. Good. Do it. Give without expectation of receiving. Love without the expectation of being the most loved. When you feel as though you are the least loved, and yet you try to love everybody else as if they are the most loved, that is really hard work. Try it. You’ll go to bed exhausted. If you can do that, you’ve won. Because remember that we’re going to be judged based on what we’ve done to others, and not what they’ve done to us. And also remember those words of Jesus when He said, “Stop judging and you will not be judged” (Luke 6:37), and just don’t judge anybody!
Statue of St. Benedict by the entrance to our Abbey
A reflection by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB, on how Mary shows us the way to love beyond our hurts
Sun shining on a print of Our Lady of Guadalupe hanging in our cloister hallway
The Office of Readings for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is so important. We see how Juan Diego is called tenderly by Mary to accomplish a special mission for the Church “in words both gentle and courteous.” That is really the speech of heaven—gentle and courteous. We should try to remember that and take it on as well. She calls Juan Diego to build a church so that people may “call upon and confide in me.” That is the call of the Blessed Mother. It’s as if she said, “Confide in me, and I will help you. Do not be afraid to tell me the things deepest in your heart. I will bring you to God.” That call hasn’t changed. She is incredibly loving toward the deepest sinners, because those are the ones to whom God says, “I want you, and I’m not letting go.”
Juan Diego approaches the bishop about building the church, but he is rejected. The next time he needs to pass over the same hill where he met Our Lady, he tries to skirt around the place where he met her last. What’s so beautiful is that the Blessed Mother takes no offence, she simply goes to the other side and meets him with a tender, “Juanito!” It is so lovely how heaven lets us be people, doesn’t hold our humanity against us, but simply goes to meet us where we are. She makes roses miraculously appear on the hilltop and asks him to cut them and bring them as a sign to the bishop to prove God’s will. She sends him forth, calling him her “ambassador, very worthy of trust.”
I pray that she would say the same to each one of us: “You are my ambassador, very worthy of trust.” If you hear those words, can you embrace them, and act accordingly? When you ask a sign from heaven, not because you lack faith, but because you really want to do God’s will, receive it and shout for joy. Embrace it as a total gift. Our Lady truly cares. When you confide in her and ask her help, believe me, she does not leave you alone. And even if you should run round the hill to skirt her, she will just simply run sweetly to the other side and call you. Let us all follow the Blessed Mother’s example of meeting each other where we are, and not having unreasonable expectations for others that lead to us being impatient and frustrated. Remember that “as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,” (Matthew 7:2). So let us be generous in loving one another, even when we feel disappointed or hurt. When you decide to forgive people, you do not have to feel warm and fuzzy toward them, no, your love has to be deeper than that. You have to make up your mind that you want what is best for them, for their healing and salvation, and that you will one day be together in heaven as the people you were created to be. Healing from wounds is a lifetime of work, and we should try to support, not hinder, each other from this process. St. Benedict says in his Rule to pray for the troubled brother suffering from illness of the soul… and who of us is not this brother from time to time? We all need each other’s’ prayer and good will. It is my hope that the next time the occasion arises for you to shut down because someone offended you, you remember Our Lady of Guadalupe and decide to run to meet the person on the other side of the hill with a kind word and a smile.
This November, as the Church remembers in a special way all the departed, Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB, reflects on what it takes to inherit the heavenly kingdom
Sunrise over our monastery
“Heaven is not a place where there is the mere vocal repetition of alleluias or the monotonous fingering of harps. Heaven is a place where we find the fullness of all the fine things we enjoy on this earth. Heaven is a place where we find, in their plenitude, those things which slake the thirst of hearts, satisfy the hunger of starving minds, and give rest to unrequited love. Heaven is the communion with perfect Life, perfect Truth, and perfect Love, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, to whom be all honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Archbishop Fulton Sheen
We have probably all experienced those “thin places” in life where God peeks through and seems to say, “I’m here!” We thank God for those moments, because they make us stop in our tracks and realize His presence. These “thin places” are little glimpses of heaven. I think that hell is more like a house of mirrors. Before Adam and Eve fell, there was something like a clear crystal between them and God, and they saw Him perfectly; but then after they sinned the crystal became a mirror, and they became totally self-centered. And that’s why we go to Confession frequently—to open up that mirror again. They say that heaven and hell have the same banquet, but the spoons are really long, so in hell everyone is trying to feed himself and misses his mouth, while those in heaven get to enjoy the feast because they are feeding each other.
When we die and stand before God to be judged, it won’t be scary if we already know ourselves and know Him. Do you remember those teachers in school who really tried to help you out before the exams by telling you what to watch out for? Didn’t you love those teachers? Well Jesus in the Gospels does the same thing for us (cf. Matthew 25:31-40). His teaching on our judgment is also outlined in the Catechism: [God will say on that day,] “I placed my poor little ones on earth for you. I, as their head, was seated in heaven at the right hand of my Father—but on earth my members were suffering, my members on earth were in need. If you have anything to my members, what you gave would reach their Head” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1039). This is a beautiful section of the Catechism because it tells us each what we need to do. We are appointed specifically to love the little ones in our midst. The little ones are each one of us, and we have to pay attention to what we place before and in each other, because ultimately it goes to God. So whatever we do to one another, we’ve done to Christ. Choose to do today what you want to do for all eternity. If you spend your life praising God, blessing others, and loving them, that is how you will spend all eternity.
Don’t think the Saints aren’t watching and fighting for you. It’s never too late to turn around; all of the Saints had to. Each Saint has been won by God, and not one of them didn’t have to struggle in life. I bet heaven goes crazy cheering over the ones who hell thought they had. Let God be victorious in you.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” …If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.
1 Corinthians 12:17-26, abridged
Praying in our Chapel
In Chapter 60 of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict we hear the words, “…friend, for what have you come?” (Rule 60.3). That is something we should always keep in mind. Paul knew that his mission was not to baptize, but to preach (cf. 1 Cor. 1:17). Baptizing is so important, but he knew that wasn’t what he was called to baptize. He was called specifically to preach the gospel. There were others to do the baptizing. Even Jesus clarifies that He wasn’t on earth to do everything, but specific things. And we have that also in the Church, where we are all called to different vocations (religious life, married life, single life, the priesthood); and there are religious orders to cover every area of service—those to help the poor, those who care for the sick, teachers, missionaries—you name it, the Church has it. And we as Benedictines are called to seek God continually, as the face of the Church running after Him. Our part is to seek Christ sincerely, with a great deal of love, calling out to Him, “Stay with us!” on behalf of the Church. There are specific things we are each called to do—what a gift that the Benedictine’s is to seek God. We give thanks that there are other people doing their parts to make up for what we lack. Through our lives of prayer, we are included in their works, because we are all part of the same Body of Christ, His Church.
We hear in the parable of the good and wicked servants that the unfaithful one served the master until the master was gone, and then he turned to beating his fellow servants and eating and drinking with drunkards (cf. Matt. 24:46-51). I think that this servant must not have been serving with love, or with good intentions, but had the mentality of, “As long as he’s here, I’ll be good. Wait until he’s gone and I can handle everything differently.”
Our intentions mean so much, and that’s why we should stay far away from judging others, because we don’t know their intentions. Leave that to God. Sometimes we mean the very best, but everything possible goes wrong and it turns out to be a disaster. These things just happen, but we can have confidence in the fact that God knows the secrets of our hearts. He knows what our intentions are. So even if we were to do things outwardly very well, but without good intentions, God knows that too. We hear in the Rule of St. Benedict, “If a disciple obeys grudgingly and grumbles not only aloud, but also in his heart, then even though he carries out the order, his actions will not be accepted with favor by God, who sees that he is grumbling in his heart” (5.17-18). So that is something we can always work on: the purity of our hearts, and the purification of our intentions.
There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops… Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
In the Holy Rule, St. Benedict recommends that we keep death before us daily (Rule 4.47), and the point of this is to keep our eyes on the goal: eternal life. St. Benedict writes in the Prologue, “We shall through patience share in the sufferings of Christ, that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom. Amen” (Rule Prol.50). If you keep your death before you, if you keep your goal before you, it will help you to live more purposefully. It is so important for us to live attentively in the present moment. Every chance you have to love now, you will never have again. And it’s not that there won’t be more opportunities to love, but each specific one, when it passes, is gone. And we don’t want to miss them too many times. We want to be attentive to love, so that we can truly love as Christ does, laying down our lives in a sort of martyrdom, dying to selfishness and living to selfless love of others. The Resurrection of Christ shows us that life doesn’t end with death—death is just a step into eternal life with God. Every single one of us will stand before the door of death one day, and if you have already met it many times throughout your life, there won’t be a question of what you’re going to choose. Live a lifetime of learning how to choose well, so that the final choice will just be the same as you have chosen throughout your life. When He asks us as He asked St. Peter, “Do you love me?”, I hope that our answer will be the same, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you” (John 21:15).
A reflection on the call to loving obedience by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB
Linocut artwork of St. Benedict by one of our Sisters
We hear over and over in the Old Testament the words of the prophets calling the people to return to the Lord. It makes me think of our Holy Father St. Benedict—could he not be considered one of the great prophets as well?
In chapter five of the Rule we hear about St. Benedict’s teaching on obedience. It has a value and a power far beyond our little means, because it is united with Christ. It can be a golden tool in our lives if we allow it to be. If we think only of being “forced” to obey, we will not get very far. But if we think of being obedient because Christ was obedient, and to counter the fall in Eden, which happened out of disobedience, then we will be using the gift of obedience for the highest good. If we cherish Christ above all, cherish Him deeply, we will carry out all our duties as if we heard them from God Himself.
The Rule tells us that monks who truly practice obedience abandon their own concerns, leaving whatever they have in hand unfinished, in order to hearken to the signal for the Divine Office (Rule 43.1). If we don’t practice this form of obedience in the little things, we will be tempted to reason our way out of everything. It is love that impels us to pursue everlasting life and the narrow road, no longer living by our own judgment or giving in to our own appetites, but saying with Christ, “I came…not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me” (John 6:38). Christ’s love working in us impels us to act as He did. Love alone will give us this grace.
And when we feel that we cannot handle the obedience being asked of us, we can look to Christ’s example on the Mount of Olives. He cries out to the Father for help, “Father, take this cup away from me,” but ultimately surrenders Himself with the words, “but not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
“At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, ‘Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.’”
Matthew 18:1-5
We know what it means to be a child: a child can’t provide for itself. A child is watched after. A child is fed. A child is wrapped in light as in a robe. A child is kept warm. A child is cared for. A child is loved. Or it should be. That’s what is means to be a child.
Unfortunately we live in an age of entitlement, in an age of “I deserve…”. And if that’s the approach, nothing will be gift, because “I’ve deserved it, it’s just mine.” Instead we should try to practice gratitude, because everything is gift. Nothing is yours to keep, but for you to use for the glory of God. When we live this way, there is a real freedom of detachment. We are so cared for as God’s children, and in return we have One who deserves all our love. Thank Him! Never stop answering His call to be His child. How fully are you giving yourself to Him who has given you everything?
I think it’s so delightful in the Gospel of John when Jesus says to His apostles, “A little while, and you will no longer see me; and again a little while, and you will see me” (John 16:16). Doesn’t that sound like the spiritual life? A little while and you won’t see Him…and it’s so true. You find yourself asking, “Where are you, Lord? Where is Your voice?” and then He pops in all of a sudden and reminds you that He’s right there and He’s been there the whole time. But in those times of seeming darkness we can really focus on hearing and seeing God in our neighbor. A good word from someone is often His word. A look of kindness is His look. A little gesture of love is from Him.
God loves that disappearing and reappearing act. You see it all through the Gospels as Christ comes to and then vanishes from His disciples after His Resurrection. I think it helps us to always look for Him. It keeps our heart searching and attentive. It’s as in the Song of Songs where she “sought him but could not find him” (Song of Songs 3:2), but then she went out on the streets looking and there he was. Seek God with all your heart and you will find Him, and you will truly be a happy soul.
Artwork by one of our Sisters inspired by the Song of Songs (Chapters 2-3)
A reflection on 1 Kings 17:7-16by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB
In the Book of Kings, we hear that the brook near where Elijah was hiding had run dry because no rain had fallen. As we know, there is a real test of hope when it’s really dry, because there’s the sense that it’s really out of our hands. So Elijah leaves his cave and goes to Zarephath and asks the widow he meets there for a small cup of water to drink. Water was precious in the drought, so you notice he doesn’t ask for a few gallons, or even a large glass of water. He is sensitive to the situation, so he asks for a small cup. This scenario reminds me of how God is with us—He knows what we can give and what we can’t give. He’s well aware of when it’s difficult, and of the things we struggle with. He doesn’t put a load on us heavier than we can carry—He’s very sensitive to us. He too says, “Bring me a small amount. Bring me even the little you may feel like you don’t have. Just a little bit, please bring Me.” It’s like the times when we are so tired and ready to leave the chapel, and yet what do we do? We turn around and kneel, just for a minute, to say, “I love you,” and ask for His blessing. Or there may be a time when someone has been particularly nasty to us, but we have a moment of grace and, before we end our time together, we have the charity to say, “Thank you.” It’s just a small thing, but these small things give life. They mirror the tenderness of God. When we know God’s tenderness we are tender toward each other. However tender you are, that is how tender God is toward you that you’ve noticed. It’s not that He isn’t tender—it’s that you haven’t always noticed. Pay attention to the tenderness of God, because it will stretch your soul to holiness. Start to notice the little ways in which God blesses you throughout the day.
Illustration by one of our Sisters of Christ feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-13)
