The Narrow Way

Greetings,

Pope Francis' Sunday Angelus invited us all to pass through the narrow gate into life with Jesus.

"The image of the gate recurs several times in the Gospel and is reminiscent of home and hearth, where we find safety, love and warmth.  Jesus tell us that there is a gate that allows us to enter into God's family, into the warmth of the house of God, of communion with Him.  This gate is Jesus himself.  He is the gate.  he is the gateway to salvation...Don't be afraid: He's waiting for you.  Be lively, have the courage to enter through His gate.  All are invited to pass through this gate, to pass through the gate of faith, to enter into His life, and to allow Him to enter into our life, because He transforms it, renews it, the gifts of full and lasting joy."

The loving call of the Holy Father is reminiscent to us of how Saint Benedict closes his Prologue to the Rule of Benedict.  He challenges the monks and nuns to follow the narrow way of love through life in the monastery, the school of the Lord's service.

"And so we are going to establish a school for the service of the Lord.  In founding it we hope to introduce nothing harsh or burdensome.  But if a certain strictness results from the dictates of equity for the amendment of vices or the preservation of charity, do not be at once dismayed and fly from the Way of Salvation, whose entrance cannot but be narrow.   For as we advance in the religious life and in faith, our hearts expand and we run the way of God's commandments with unspeakable sweetness of love.  Thus never departing from His school, but persevering in the monastery according to His teaching until death, we may by patience share in the suffering of Christ and deserve to have a share also in His kingdom."

Blessings,