Tag: Unity

A Lent of Silent Charity

February 28, 2026

A reflection by our Abbess, Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB

This Lent, as we draw closer to the Lord, I pray we’ll know His heart more and more. That we’ll know what He so loves. We read about the desire of Jesus’ heart in John 17:20-26: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one as You Father are in me and I in You. That they also may be in us, that the world may believe that You sent me. And I have given them the glory You gave me so that they may be one as we are Father. I in them and You in me. That they may be brought to perfection as one. That the world may know that You sent me and that You love them even as You love me.”

That was the final prayer of Christ before His passion. That they may be one, and that they may know the love of God in Christ Jesus. And so too in our house, what is the greatest gift we give to God? Our unity. Our unity in love. Our unity in life. And our love for one another. Charity has the highest place. Without charity, you can give all the burnt offerings you want, but it will equal nothing.

It is not for us to scourge one another. It’s for us to love one another. Not to wound. Who does not have wounds here? Who has not had to ask for healing? Who has not had to live through them and learn how to really love, not only others, but ourselves? I don’t think there is one who hasn’t.

From Chapter 31 of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict we read the description of the cellerar (the monk who is assigned to distribute the goods of the monastery), “Above all things, let him have humility. And if goods are not available to satisfy the demands of a brother, let him give at least a kind answer. For it is written, a good word is above the best gift.” Why is it that words stick in our heads? Those things that people have said that just hurt. That have truly wounded. When they say the tongue is a sword, it’s true. But so, too, a healing word is sweet.

Sometimes words are like the scourging. Well, be at the scourging, and join Christ. Be willing to suffer. That’s what makes us live at a different level — A willingness to suffer. A willingness to do things for Christ, that we may be one. Sometimes the hardest suffering is not to run and tell somebody what happened. Not to run and say, “Could you please have compassion on me? This was so bad.” That’s a real suffering. But those moments are those little golden nuggets we should just keep in our pockets, and we can give them to Christ.

In the Prologue of the Rule it says: “If you desire true and everlasting life, keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from words of deceit. Forsake evil and do good. Seek after peace and pursue it, and when you shall have done these things, my eyes shall be upon you and my ears shall be open to your prayers, and before you shall call upon me I will say, “Lo, here I am” (Holy Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue vs. 17-18).

May you all have a very blessed Lent, and may you come to know the heart of Christ more intimately, as He draws us all into Himself.

Lent: Restoring Reverence and Gratitude

February 9, 2024

A reflection by our Abbess, Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB, given to the nuns of the Abbey of St. Walburga in preparation for Lent

The 40 days of Lent are such a wonderful gift that we give to God because we love Him.  Rather than being a big burden, Lent is really a joyful time, a time to look forward to and get excited about.  It’s a time to give to God in a very special way, and we do it in union with the whole Church – It’s so much bigger than just us.  This Lent, let us focus on amending the things we do which harm relationships, because unity is a very serious thing to God, who prays “that they may be one, as we are one,” (cf. John 17:22).  As you prepare your Lenten resolutions, ask, “How can I improve?”  Specifically, let’s consider how we can grow in the areas of reverence and gratitude.

Reverence seems to be a lost art, which I think Benedictines are truly called to bring back.  St. Benedict expects reverence from us: reverence for God, reverence for one another, and reverence for the abbot/abbess/those in authority.  I don’t think we learn this very well in our society today.  Rather than treating all people with dignity and respect, there is this idea that anyone can say anything they want to anyone they want, and just lay it all out there, and there is little consideration of those in authority.  What people don’t understand regarding authority is that it’s the office that is respected.  Even if we don’t respect the person, we treat them with respect because of the office they hold.?Whether we agree with a person in authority or not, it is not our place to tear them down and speak disparagingly of him.  Listening is an important part of respecting one another.  You have to put yourself aside and recognize Christ in another, even if you go blind because you’ve strained your eyes so much trying to do it. 

Keeping our rooms in good order is also a part of reverence.  We hear Christ tell His disciples to “come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).  One such deserted place should be our cells (the monastic term for “bedrooms”).  Our cells should be “deserted” in the sense that they are free from clutter, so that we are truly able to rest in them.  We should be able to sit down and rest a while – and notice that it doesn’t say to stay there all day, but just a while.  This coming Lent we should really take care to get rid of the things we don’t need, so that we are able to come into our cells and sit down and be quiet and know the Lord’s presence there.  If we come in and we just ask to be in God’s presence, the walls of our rooms will pick up that peace.  It will be as if “The Peace of Christ” is written on your walls.  And think about the pictures/artwork you have on your walls, and that they too will reflect on you – Do they foster the sense of God’s presence?  I truly hope that they do.

Another thing to think about this Lent is gratitude.  Try to rejoice and love the gifts of God.  I don’t think God wants us to walk around like Eeyore all day, saying, “Oh poor us” or “Don’t be too happy.”  We belong to God – there is every reason to be joyful!  Don’t be afraid to express joy.  Don’t be afraid to be happy.  I know sometimes people are afraid to be happy because they’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop, and so they’re afraid to rejoice.  But if we take everything from the hand of God, then it won’t matter.  We will accept with gratitude whatever it may be, because we know the Lord, and we trust the Lord, and we are not afraid of anything, because we have put everything into His hands.