The feast day of St. Benedict is this Friday and I am inspired by it to talk a little bit about his history and the history and purpose of monasticism in general.

We live in a society that tends to be very impressed with people who do a lot of things. Accomplishments, awards, activity?all of these are seen as more important than simply living a happy, good life. We like what we can see, what we can produce; and because of this the monastic vocation is often seen as a confusing waste of talent. I have had conversations with people who wonder why, if these men and women are called by God and if they are committed to answering that call, why can?t they become priests in parishes and catechists and school teachers? The short answer is that this is not their vocation. The longer answer has to do with what is really important in life. It is not what we can see or measure. Monks may not be in the active life, but what they are up to is very important and the kingdom of God needs them. What are they doing? They are praying for us.

St. Benedict lived at the turn of the 5 ^th century, born in 480ad. He left his home in order to find a group of men who he could live with who could inspire him to be virtuous. He ended up founding 12 monasteries during his lifetime that followed a new set of rules that he wrote. There are now countless monasteries that follow the Rule of St. Benedict. At the time, though, many monasteries had no rule and the men in them were not sincerely practicing the faith. They were younger sons of rich families who were living almost as if in a fraternity house. One of these monasteries, upon the death of their abbot, asked Benedict to come and take over. They didn't know what they were getting into. He was not a severe man, but his rule was a discipline and the monks quickly came to hate it. The monks tried to poison him; legend has it that they first tried to poison his drink. He prayed a blessing over the cup and the cup shattered (often you will see him in stained glass or other artwork holding the poisoned chalice). Then they tried to kill him with poisoned bread. When he prayed a blessing over the bread, a raven flew in and took the loaf away. Benedict left the monastery and returned to the cave where he had previously lived. From this time his miracles became frequent, and many people, attracted by his sanctity and character, came to him and formed his first, totally successful monastery.

What is monasticism all about? The Benedictine monks who live right here in west county have written that ?the life of a monk is concerned with the one thing: to seek God. Monasticism is the most ancient manifestation of the religious state in the Church, which itself has always been held to be the highest and most privileged means to the universal end of the Christian religion. Through the three vows of Obedience (to obey their abbot in all things), Stability (to stay put and work to make their corner of the world a better place), and Conversation Morum ( this last one is hard to translate, it means a conversation with virtue, or a faithful commitment to the monastic life) a monk pursues the perfect fulfillment of the Gospel precepts. He sacrifices the lesser goods of this world in order to make room for Christ above all and before all, who is Goodness Itself. The monk accepts Christ's words to the rich young man: "If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." (Matthew 19.21)

The monk seeks here and now that union that Jesus Christ shares with the Father. The monk leads a celibate life as a means to this union. This is an eschatological sign of his exclusive dedication to God, the infinite Good. This union grows through prayer and charity, and the daily joys and sufferings of life in this valley of tears. In prayer the monk spends time with the one he loves. In as much as the neighbor is made in the image of God and redeemed by Christ's Precious Blood, the monk practices Christian charity towards his brethren for the sake of God and in God. A similar dynamic occurs in marriage.

The monk seeks God exclusively. Detached from all creatures, he gives himself totally to the Creator. For the sake of Our Lord, he renounces the highest natural goods: marriage, children, and free will. The monk makes an oblation of his whole being to God, intellect and will, body and soul.?

We are not all called to the monastic religious life, but let us thank God that we have brothers and sisters who are so called and who are courageous enough to say yes. They have chosen a heroic path and their prayers and example show us how to live our lives knowing what is really important. It isn?t our possessions or achievements, a person who surrounds themselves with love and prayer, this is a person who is truly rich.