Words of Light and Hope from Tony Foottit
Words of Light and Hope from Tony Foottit.
Wood Avens – July 11th – Benedict.
Wood Avens is also called Herb Benet. Benet is a contraction of Benedict. This plant grows under hedgerows in shady places. From a rosette of rich green leaves rise slender stems of yellow star-like flowers which soon become little balls of hooked seeds. Passing animals act as unwitting disseminators. Herb Benet is named after St. Benedict (c.480-543).
Benedict was a monk of Monte Cassino in Italy. The genius of St. Benedict was to encapsulate a way of living the Christian life in the ordinary affairs of every day. Most human beings need an ordered community, a stable foundation and the opportunity to grow in their lives. It is not surprising therefore that good human endeavour needs Benedict’s principles. Even businesses sometimes study his advice. Thomas More called a perfect community Utopia. Such a heaven on earth often fails without rules to prevent human selfishness or greed. The first great Benedictine principle is obedience. This is expressed especially in a daily programme and rule of life. Benedictines also provide a model of good leadership. The Abbot should always prefer mercy to judgement and not be restless or anxious, not over-demanding or obstinate, not a perfectionist or full of suspicion. The word obedience means listening. Listening should be the flavour of Christian obedience. The tonsure of a monk is a symbol of his submission and obedience. The second principle is stability, which means staying put and being part of the place. It is no accident that a monastery and indeed many churches seem to grow out of the very ground on which they are built. Their foundation is a result of a prayerful sensitivity to their surroundings. With stability goes the stewardship and maintenance of resources. Benedict taught that things as well as people should be treated with reverence and care – the earth, space, time, buildings, food, tools and the wildlife around us…….. A Calendar of Wild Flowers (part).
Thanks be to God for St. Benedict.
