Saint Benedict's Rule has one short chapter sharing his teachings and recommendations on how to live out the season of Lent. The emphasis is a call for balance between the communal offerings of the monks and the individual offerings each might add to his conversion of heart.
The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent. Since few, however, have the strength for this, we urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times. This we can do in a fitting manner by refusing to indulge evil habits and by devoting ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial. During these days, therefore, we will add to the usual measure of our service something by way of private prayer and abstinence from food or drink, so that each of us will have something above the assigned measure to offer God of his own will with the joy of the Holy Spirit. In other words, let each one deny himself some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing.
Everyone should, however, make it known to the abbot what he intends to do, since it ought to be done with his prayer and approval. Whatever is undertaken without permission of the spiritual father will be reckoned as presumption and vainglory, not deserving a reward. Therefore, everything must be done with the abbot's approval. (Rule of Benedict 49)The goal of communal practices in our monastery is encourage "compunction of heart" and reflection, support "self-denial", and continual conversion so as to "look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing". The practices are simple: outside of prayer, silence is kept in the hallways and refectory until 8:00 AM; Wednesday nights we have a simple supper of soup and bread without the usual homemade pie; and we also continue the Church's recommendations such as simple liturgies and Fridays abstaining from meat.
It all begins today with our Ash Wednesday celebration of the Eucharist with our sisters, the students from Mount Marty College, and other faithful folk from the area. Later this evening, we will also place our Lenten resolutions in a basket before the altar in the Peace Chapel before Vespers. The prioress will bless these resolutions and they will remain by the altar all throughout Lent as a continuous offering of our conversion of heart. Blessings,
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